Project Officer

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Project Officer
Location: Chittagong
Country: Bangladesh
Deadline Date: 30 November 2024

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to promote social justice and fair labor practices. Established in 1919, the ILO has a mission to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. The ILO operates in over 180 countries and has a diverse workforce of approximately 3,300 employees. The organization is committed to promoting gender equality and empowering marginalized groups, including women and persons with disabilities, in the labor market.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer will play a crucial role in coordinating and supporting the implementation of the ProGRESS project, which aims to promote women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh through policy reforms, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) services, entrepreneurship promotion, and skills development. The position requires a proactive individual who can engage with various stakeholders, including private sector partners, educational institutions, and government agencies, to facilitate workplace-based learning and employment support services. The Project Officer will be responsible for identifying key private sector partners, developing learning modules, and supporting the capacity building of stakeholders involved in the project. The role also involves monitoring the implementation of the project and synthesizing learnings and best practices for scaling up the initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify key private sector associations and enterprises willing to practice workplace-based learning for young job seekers.
• Engage relevant intermediary institutes to advance workplace-based learning.
• Collaborate with selected universities and training firms to develop a workplace-based learning system for graduates and unemployed youths.
• Support the preparation of learning modules, guidelines, and systems for implementing workplace-based learning.
• Facilitate capacity building of stakeholders on the workplace-based learning program.
• Develop a business model through dialogue among stakeholders.
• Coordinate and monitor the piloting of workplace-based learning, liaising with relevant training centers.
• Synthesize learnings and good practices for scaling.
• Prepare a work plan for establishing Employment Support Services (ESS) and Skills Needs Anticipation System (SNAS). 1
• Conduct workshops to gather input from industry HRs, TVET/Academia, and other collaborators. 1
• Support the design and rollout of ESS and SNAS, including capacity building workshops. 1
• Conduct policy advocacy workshops to present findings and recommendations from the ESS/SNAS pilot.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, economics, or business administration with a focus on workforce development.
• At least five years of working experience with the private sector, preferably in a similar role within the United Nations or an international organization.
• Demonstrated experience working with private sector employers in Bangladesh and existing networks in Chittagong.
• Knowledge of labor market dynamics and the education and skills development landscape in Bangladesh.
• Experience in data management systems related to skills development or vocational education.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder engagement.
• Technical expertise in designing questionnaires and conducting focus group discussions.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in public policy, economics, or business administration is required, with a strong emphasis on workforce development and private sector development. Advanced degrees may be preferred but are not mandatory.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant experience working with the private sector, particularly in roles that involve collaboration with educational institutions and government agencies. Experience within the United Nations system or international organizations is highly desirable.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of Bengali, the working language of the duty station, is mandatory, along with good knowledge of English. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is a short-term contract lasting for 10 months, with the possibility of extension based on funding availability and project needs. The role is full-time and based in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The ILO values diversity and encourages applications from qualified female candidates and individuals with disabilities. The recruitment process is open to both internal and external candidates, with specific local recruitment criteria for National Officer positions.