Vocational Training Specialist

Job description:

The Vocational Training Specialist is responsible for the vocational training program implementation within static CP teams/units, and within the community, within Salahaddin Governorate, (including surrounding areas as required by the project). S/he works under the direct supervision and overall guidance from the CP and Education Program Manager and Deputy, and in collaboration with other CP teams of Tdh. The VT Specialist is a focal point for establishing coordination and cooperation with the existing training centers within the project target area and manages the appropriate space and environment are made available for project beneficiaries arranged and ensure the quality of the trainings. S/he is responsible for the quality and safety of activities delivered in the the implementation sites under his/her supervision, according to the Tdh mandate and relevant international standards.

Main responsibilities:

1.    Planning, implementation and supervision of activities

1.1   Develop an action plan under the supervisition of PM/DPM and in coordination with CP supervisor for delivery of training within UNICEF Life Skills and Citizen Education (LSCE) framework, including employability skills, life skills, digital skills and citizenship and entrepreneurship skills.

1.2   Build cooperation and ensure coordination with the existing training centers, suggest to the project necessary upgrading of the training centers capacity as needed.

1.3   Prepare training materials considering UNICEF Life Skills and Citizen Education (LSCE) framework as wel as other business development related onces that are oriented to business activities having current need and/or business skills that can find a good niche for future sutainability of the selected business activities.

1.4   Following the market assessment reports, prepare and provide specialized training to the beneficiaries that highly contributes to the creativity capacity of beneficiaries and encouragement of establishing and running successful businesses.

1.5   Coordinate with private sector and relevant government departments to  ensure that youth (18-24 years) are selected for an internship or work placement program following successful completion of the trainings. Liaise with the relevant leaders of the internship or apprenticeship (in selected skills including manufacturing, service provision which includes all sectors) to monitor the overall progress, safety and dignity of the youth involved.

1.6   Ensure frequent visits and follow up sessions with the beneficiaries involved in internship and apprenticeship further to provide objective feedback for adjustments for improvement.   

1.7   Work closely with Civic Engagement Monitor and Innovation Lab Monitor to prepare criteria and implement beneficiaries selectiton by ensuring the transparency and equality.

1.8   Encourage critical thinking, team building and trust among participants by using activities and exercises directly connected to self-development, inter and intra-communal conflict management, respect for diversity and acceptance of others, social dialogues and peacebuilding, changing of mind-sets, as well as communication, leadership, and healthy lifestyles.

1.9   Promote and encourage the apprenticeship highest involvement which is the most important part of beneficiaries’ initial step for practical learning of the selected business activities.

1.10                        Proactively promote the participation of adolescents girls, children with disabilities, marginalized children in project activities.

2.    Child Safeguarding

2.1     Implement measures to deter unauthorized entry into the activity sites.

2.2     Support the CP Supervisor in the identification of child protection issues and trends, and communicate these in a timely manner, and with utmost respect for confidentiality and dignity concerns.

2.3     Ensure that timely and appropriate action is taken to mitigate child protection risks.

2.4     Monitor the functionality and adequateness of feedback and complaint mechanisms, their safety and accessibility.

2.5     Make sure that child safeguarding considerations are systematically taken into account in activity planning and implementation. Raises through appropriate channels of communication any child protection and child safeguarding concern that arises during the project period.

2.6     Identify problem and bottlenecks associated with the delivery of the programme and timely inform the line manager, proactively participating to suggest solutions.

3.    Resource Management, Reporting and data collection

3.1     Manage, store and protect Tdh material, equipment, and information.

3.2     Ensure that the space, the material and equipment are safe and appropriate to children/adolescent needs according to their age, gender and abilities. Communicate with line manager of any damage or disservice to Tdh space and/or material.

3.3     Ensure meticulous data collection on children and youth’s attendance in the project, as required by the project rules, including the daily collection of registration froms at activities and the management of data. Support volunteers in their registration and data collection, and verify correctness.

3.4     Effectively  use training planning and training report tools. Ensure appropriate storage and communication of relevant information.

4.    Community Mobilisation

4.1     Ensure participation of children, youth, parents, and the community in order to promote understanding and acceptance of Tdh CP activities, as well as their appropriateness and relevance.

4.2     Promote awareness of CP issues within the community and disseminate means to raise concerns and feedback.

4.3     Motivate volunteers, facilitate their work and commitment.

5.    Networking and Coordination

5.1   Work collaboratively with Tdh case workers, case managers, and other CP staff.

5.2   Coordinate with CP teams, education teams and WASH team, in line with guidance from CP anagers.

5.3   Under the supervision of the CP Managers, network with local authorities, existing businesses, (worshops/manufacturers, service providers) and with the community. Represent Tdh professionally and in accordance with his/her competencies.

5.4   Participate in identifying new partnerships and collaboration/coordination opportunities to broaden the impact of Tdh’s CP activities and promote child protection mainstreaming (in agreement with and with support from his/her line manager).

Competencies: This function requires the mastery of Personal, Social and Leadership Competencies (PSLC), Technical and Methodological Competencies (TMC) and Management and Strategic Competencies (MSC)

In particular:

·         Be able to evaluate specific needs and to develop action points for individual protection cases.

·         Be able to identify the problems associated with the delivery of the programme and inform line manager, HR, logistics, and beneficiaries, in line with guidance from line manager.

Job description:

The Vocational Training Specialist is responsible for the vocational training program implementation within static CP teams/units, and within the community, within Salahaddin Governorate, (including surrounding areas as required by the project). S/he works under the direct supervision and overall guidance from the CP and Education Program Manager and Deputy, and in collaboration with other CP teams of Tdh. The VT Specialist is a focal point for establishing coordination and cooperation with the existing training centers within the project target area and manages the appropriate space and environment are made available for project beneficiaries arranged and ensure the quality of the trainings. S/he is responsible for the quality and safety of activities delivered in the the implementation sites under his/her supervision, according to the Tdh mandate and relevant international standards.

Main responsibilities:

1.    Planning, implementation and supervision of activities

1.1   Develop an action plan under the supervisition of PM/DPM and in coordination with CP supervisor for delivery of training within UNICEF Life Skills and Citizen Education (LSCE) framework, including employability skills, life skills, digital skills and citizenship and entrepreneurship skills.

1.2   Build cooperation and ensure coordination with the existing training centers, suggest to the project necessary upgrading of the training centers capacity as needed.

1.3   Prepare training materials considering UNICEF Life Skills and Citizen Education (LSCE) framework as wel as other business development related onces that are oriented to business activities having current need and/or business skills that can find a good niche for future sutainability of the selected business activities.

1.4   Following the market assessment reports, prepare and provide specialized training to the beneficiaries that highly contributes to the creativity capacity of beneficiaries and encouragement of establishing and running successful businesses.

1.5   Coordinate with private sector and relevant government departments to  ensure that youth (18-24 years) are selected for an internship or work placement program following successful completion of the trainings. Liaise with the relevant leaders of the internship or apprenticeship (in selected skills including manufacturing, service provision which includes all sectors) to monitor the overall progress, safety and dignity of the youth involved.

1.6   Ensure frequent visits and follow up sessions with the beneficiaries involved in internship and apprenticeship further to provide objective feedback for adjustments for improvement.   

1.7   Work closely with Civic Engagement Monitor and Innovation Lab Monitor to prepare criteria and implement beneficiaries selectiton by ensuring the transparency and equality.

1.8   Encourage critical thinking, team building and trust among participants by using activities and exercises directly connected to self-development, inter and intra-communal conflict management, respect for diversity and acceptance of others, social dialogues and peacebuilding, changing of mind-sets, as well as communication, leadership, and healthy lifestyles.

1.9   Promote and encourage the apprenticeship highest involvement which is the most important part of beneficiaries’ initial step for practical learning of the selected business activities.

1.10                        Proactively promote the participation of adolescents girls, children with disabilities, marginalized children in project activities.

2.    Child Safeguarding

2.1     Implement measures to deter unauthorized entry into the activity sites.

2.2     Support the CP Supervisor in the identification of child protection issues and trends, and communicate these in a timely manner, and with utmost respect for confidentiality and dignity concerns.

2.3     Ensure that timely and appropriate action is taken to mitigate child protection risks.

2.4     Monitor the functionality and adequateness of feedback and complaint mechanisms, their safety and accessibility.

2.5     Make sure that child safeguarding considerations are systematically taken into account in activity planning and implementation. Raises through appropriate channels of communication any child protection and child safeguarding concern that arises during the project period.

2.6     Identify problem and bottlenecks associated with the delivery of the programme and timely inform the line manager, proactively participating to suggest solutions.

3.    Resource Management, Reporting and data collection

3.1     Manage, store and protect Tdh material, equipment, and information.

3.2     Ensure that the space, the material and equipment are safe and appropriate to children/adolescent needs according to their age, gender and abilities. Communicate with line manager of any damage or disservice to Tdh space and/or material.

3.3     Ensure meticulous data collection on children and youth’s attendance in the project, as required by the project rules, including the daily collection of registration froms at activities and the management of data. Support volunteers in their registration and data collection, and verify correctness.

3.4     Effectively  use training planning and training report tools. Ensure appropriate storage and communication of relevant information.

4.    Community Mobilisation

4.1     Ensure participation of children, youth, parents, and the community in order to promote understanding and acceptance of Tdh CP activities, as well as their appropriateness and relevance.

4.2     Promote awareness of CP issues within the community and disseminate means to raise concerns and feedback.

4.3     Motivate volunteers, facilitate their work and commitment.

5.    Networking and Coordination

5.1   Work collaboratively with Tdh case workers, case managers, and other CP staff.

5.2   Coordinate with CP teams, education teams and WASH team, in line with guidance from CP anagers.

5.3   Under the supervision of the CP Managers, network with local authorities, existing businesses, (worshops/manufacturers, service providers) and with the community. Represent Tdh professionally and in accordance with his/her competencies.

5.4   Participate in identifying new partnerships and collaboration/coordination opportunities to broaden the impact of Tdh’s CP activities and promote child protection mainstreaming (in agreement with and with support from his/her line manager).

Competencies: This function requires the mastery of Personal, Social and Leadership Competencies (PSLC), Technical and Methodological Competencies (TMC) and Management and Strategic Competencies (MSC)

In particular:

·         Be able to evaluate specific needs and to develop action points for individual protection cases.

·         Be able to identify the problems associated with the delivery of the programme and inform line manager, HR, logistics, and beneficiaries, in line with guidance from line manager.

As well as the following specific professional competencies:

·      University degree in social science, pedagogy, business administration, youth development or relevant field.

·      At least one year of professional experience in child protection, vocation trainings, life skills trainings or other related area with a minimum of 6 months work experience with NGOs.

·      Good command of Arabic is essential. Knowledge of Kurdish or Turkman is desirable. Knowledge of English is of added value.

·      Prior experience with UNICEF projects is an added value

·      Ability to work in unstable, uncertain or potentially dangerous environments, independently and in a team.

·      Strong cross-cultural communication and resilience skills.

Child Safeguarding Policy

·           Raising awareness within the Tdh Foundation on violence against children.

·           Providing guidance to employees and others and defining expectations when it comes to preventing, raising, denouncing and responding to issues of child abuse.

·           Reducing the risk of child abuse by selectively recruiting employees and others.

·           Reducing the risk of child abuse by developing a culture of open and informed leadership within the organization and in our work with children.