National Project Coordinator, Young Futuremakers Malaysia

Introduction

The COVID-19 crisis has negatively impacted the labour market prospects of youth in Malaysia through disruptions to education and training, job disruptions through reduced working hours and unemployment, and disruptions in transitioning from school to work. These disruptions also risked exacerbating pre-existing inequalities, especially related to gender. Even before the crisis, young women in Malaysia were in a vulnerable labour market situation and encountered a rapidly changing world of work with increasing technological changes and skills demanded by employers, in addition to persisting gender disparities in the labour market and skills development.

The ILO collaborates with Standard Chartered Foundation to implement the Young Futuremakers Malaysia project (2022-2023) with a focus on promoting the employability of young women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Malaysia. The project takes an integrated approach in supporting the employability of young workers as well as technical vocational education and training (TVET) trainees and graduates. It aims at (i) providing up/reskilling training opportunities, especially for young women, with a focus on industry demand-driven tech-oriented STEM and core skills towards their career advancement and (ii) supporting TVET graduates’ labour market transition through awareness raising on up/reskilling and career opportunities as well as strengthened post-training employment services. 

Anchored in the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, the project takes a gender-responsive, systemic and inclusive approach to strengthening existing labour market structures, services and institutional capacities, while building linkages between government, training centres, employment offices, the private sector and young people. The project is well aligned with objectives of the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (2021-2025, 12 MP), the Malaysia United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 (UNSDCF) and the Malaysia Decent Work Country Programme 2019-2025 (DWCP). The 12 MP recognizes the need for developing future talent, accelerating technology adoption, and improving the TVET system, while tackling inefficiencies in the labour market, gender disparities in labour force participation, and the impact of COVID-19 on youth employment.

The project will build on the lessons and seek synergies with ongoing ILO development cooperation projects in Malaysia such as the Skills for Prosperity programme in Malaysia which focuses on increasing skills development and TVET system’s readiness to meet future skills needs and those of vulnerable groups, by increasing national capacity for inclusive economic growth through more future-ready TVET/skills training systems and the promotion of equality and diversity.

Description of Duties

a)    Ensure effective project implementation by providing technical, administrative and programmatic inputs; and planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of project activities in a timely manner, in line with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines in particular the DWCP 2021-2025 and relevant Country Programme Outcome, and administrative and financial procedures.

b)    Provide technical advice and coordinate with national stakeholders, implementing partners, contractors and other stakeholders in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, in coordination with ILO colleagues. 

c)    Develop and update the project work plan and monitor timely and quality project delivery. Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation framework for results-based project management, including detailed M&E plan and tools as well as risk management strategies.  

d)    Provide knowledge and information management support for activities throughout the project cycle, including designing and implementing the inception phase and situation analysis. Assemble and edit basic data required for planning, reporting and negotiation of project activities, considering different approaches and alternative methods for project design, management, problem identification and problem resolution.

e)    Provide knowledge in developing strategy and identifying innovative interventions and approaches for delivering the project objectives in consultation with relevant stakeholders.  Review and analyse national development plans and priorities, relevant policies and programmes, legislation, socio-economic and labour market data, reports and other information relevant to the implementation of the project.

f)    Provide inputs to and draft portions of the terms of reference, research, tools, guidelines and other materials developed by the project.  Prepare background information, reports, subject matter related technical reports and statistical data on status of project activities and relevant developments in the country.

g)    Prepare training materials and conduct seminars, workshops and consultations. Contribute to training and strengthening of relevant stakeholders supported by the project.

h)    Under the guidance of the ILO Regional Youth Employment Specialist (ROAP), the Senior Programme and Partnership Officer (ROAP) and other ILO colleagues, seek opportunities to enhance partnerships and maintain close liaison with governments, workers' and employers' organizations, UN organizations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders on a broad range of country programmes and projects. Maintain working contacts and collaboration with multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and support resource mobilization efforts through preparation of project proposals on youth employment.

Description of Duties (continued)

i)    Contribute to the ILO’s leading role on youth employment through technical assistance, knowledge development, partnerships, advocacy and resource mobilization, including in the context of the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.

j)    Co-ordinate closely, promote linkages and share best practices and lessons learnt with other relevant ILO projects at national and regional level, ILO units and external stakeholders.

k)    Promote ILO policies regarding the project/programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards through effective coordination with a range of relevant national policies and the strategies of various projects, including those being undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.

l)    Provide inputs to the communications activities.

m)    Undertake missions in relation to project implementation.

n)    Undertake other duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in social sciences, economics, development studies or related fields with demonstrated expertise or equivalent experience.  

Experience

Minimum of three years of professional work experience in the national and/or international level development sector or related sectors. Experience in project management and implementation, and technical expertise on youth employment and skills development are desirable.

Languages

Excellent command of English, ability to draft reports in English. Good knowledge of the local language.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:

-    Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors and policies/programmes that would affect youth employment and skills development in Malaysia.
-    Good knowledge of the project cycle (planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation), results-based management (RBM) principles and resource mobilization.
-    Ability to provide technical advice and to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators, general service staff and young professionals in the area of specialization. Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies for project activities. Ability to conceptualise, design and implement research techniques and analyse complex cross-national practices and data sets covering a wide range of issues in the specialized technical field. Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation and ability to provide technical support to specialists regarding research, project formulation and implementation.
-    Excellent organizational skills. Excellent drafting skills and ability to communicate clearly.
-    Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
-    Proficient with Microsoft Office, knowledge of statistical software packages would be desirable.
-    Ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate well with key stakeholders, including government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, private sector, development partners, civil society, youth, academia and media on issues related to youth employment and skills development. Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and multi-disciplinary teams.
-    Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ability to manage competing priorities. Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines. 
-    Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and take initiative and responsibility, while also being a team player. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.  Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
-    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.