Specialist in Skills Development and Digitalization

The position is located in the Inter-American Centre for Knowledge Development in Vocational Training (ILO/CINTERFOR). CINTERFOR is a technical service of the ILO, with the mission to develop a community of continuous learning and horizontal cooperation among the national organizations in charge of vocational training. It operates as the core of a network of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions belonging to ILO Member States in the Americas and beyond. 

In line with the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019), CINTERFOR is dedicated to strengthening the capacities of all people and enterprises to benefit from the opportunities of a changing world of work through capacity development, effective lifelong learning and quality education and skills development for all. CINTERFOR is pursuing an innovative strategy aligned with transformations in the world of work and new skills requirements, with a focus on accelerating the use of digital technologies in (i) anticipating skills needs and requirements of enterprises and labour markets of Member States; (ii) the design, development, delivery and certification of new training courses, products and services, and (iii) strengthening the capacity of TVET institutions for the integration and effective use of digital technologies, as well as new pedagogies and teaching methodologies in their training activities. 

The Specialist will contribute toward promoting CINTERFOR’S innovative role in the vanguard of these new trends in TVET design, development and delivery to promote the development of digital skills and the digitalization of TVET in the Latin America and the Caribbean region. He/she will lead CINTERFOR’S work on the design, development and implementation of digital, hybrid and face-to-face training and capacity development, aimed at the core clients of TVET institutions and ILO offices in Latin America and the Caribbean. This will also include informing and guiding decisions and investments in the digital learning infrastructure as well as course and content development. In addition, the Specialist will actively explore new partnerships and target audiences for CINTERFOR tools, products and services among actors in the public and private sectors and social partners, in the Americas region. 

The Specialist reports to the Director of CINTERFOR and will work in collaboration with the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. Technical guidance and advice will be provided by the Skills Branch in the Employment Policies Department (EMPLOYMENT) at ILO headquarters. The Enterprises Department (ENTERPRISES) will also provide technical guidance and advice. 

1. Lead CINTERFOR’s activities in the design, development, implementation and certification of a range of digital, hybrid and face-to-face training and capacity development courses, products and activities, aimed at the core clients of TVET institutions, ILO constituents and ILO offices in Latin America and the Caribbean. Special attention will be given to the rapid and quality-oriented supply of digital and blended courses and solutions, given the high demand for training from institutions. 
2. Oversee the development and continued updating, as required, of CINTERFOR’s digital platform for delivery of training products and services, knowledge generation and dissemination, interaction between staff, partners and users, in addition to responding to emerging skills demands and training opportunities. 
3. Offer technical assistance and lead research activities regarding the developments and trends in labour market digitalization and its different manifestations in the way it affects occupations, required skills and new forms of employment, as well as impacts on training programmes for skills development.
4. Monitor skills needs and emerging training requirements among TVET institutions and other actors, with the aim of identifying competencies, knowledge and skill sets to be addressed by CINTERFOR’s supply of courses and capacity development, through activities such as tracking data, indicators and recent studies conducted by ILO and other institutions concerning new occupational categories, anticipated skills requirements and skills gaps. 
5. Develop distance learning solutions on issues of concern for TVET institutions and other actors and collaborate with ILO departments at headquarters, field offices and the ILO International  Training Centre in Turin, while drawing broadly upon expertise from TVET institutions, academia, the ILO and other international organizations. 
6. Oversee and coordinate a team of staff and external collaborators engaged in the analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation, certification and support functions of CINTERFOR’s distance learning and capacity building activities. 
7. Maintain updated knowledge and expertise in methodological concepts and techniques, new models of curricular development, teacher training and new learning methods, in particular active and inquiry-based learning approaches. Ensure high value-added, innovation and quality of training activities delivered using digital, blended and face-to-face modalities. 
8. Actively seek and propose new partnerships, strategic alliances and collaborations for boosting the delivery of a set of digital products and services using machine learning, artificial intelligence, learning management systems, and other digital tools.  
9.  Seek and attract new member institutions and target audiences for CINTERFOR’s digital and blended learning tools, products and services among public and private institutions. 
10. Elaborate Terms of Reference and identify potential consultants and partners in course design, development and delivery, monitor the successful progress of these contracts and validate the quality of outputs in collaboration with relevant technical specialists.
11. Perform other relevant duties as assigned. 
     

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

1. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation. 
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Advanced university degree in the field of education, training, economics, information technology or related field. 

Eight years of professional experience at the national level or four years at the international level in TVET and skills development, including technical assistance and the management, development and delivery of digital and blended training.

Excellent command of Spanish and English. A working knowledge of Portuguese and/or French would be an advantage. 

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical competencies:
Demonstrated capacity to formulate new concept and methodologies;
Demonstrated capacity to develop training materials in digital, hybrid and face-to-face formats; 
Demonstrated capacity to develop project proposals and to frame training in a policy-oriented framework;
Demonstrated capacity to interact effectively with training institutions and their teaching staff and ILO Constituents, with an effective client-orientation;
Demonstrated knowledge of the training needs and digital skills gaps in the Latin America and Caribbean region; 
Demonstrated capacity to identify solutions for training delivery and meeting upskilling/reskilling requirements as expressed by training institutions and other stakeholders in the Latin America and Caribbean region. 
Demonstrated capacity to design and deliver high quality training materials for a diversity of target audiences. 
Demonstrated capacity to establish goals and monitor progress towards agreed milestones;
Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and decent work teams.
Ability to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators, general service staff and young professionals in the area of specialization.
Good negotiating and communication skills. 

Behavioural competencies:

Ability to work in a team and capacity to work on own initiative. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.