Asia Regional Coordinator

Position title: Asia Regional Coordinator

Position location: Ottawa, with frequent travel to Montreal and internationally

Reports to: Uniterra Program Director,

Deputy Director of Programs, WUSC

Level: Level E ($60,000 - 70,000)

Application deadline: October 3rd, 2018

Background:

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization focusing in three programmatic areas: Economic Opportunities, Education, and Empowerment. Our vision is a better world for youth - a world where all young people, especially women, are empowered to secure a good quality of life for stronger families and communities. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $45 million. We have a staff of over 90 people in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank. Globally, we collaborate with a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty and community leaders that work with us to achieve our mission.

The Uniterra Program is a volunteer cooperation program jointly implemented by WUSC and CECI supporting economic empowerment of women and youth through volunteer engagement and partnerships. Under the direction of the Uniterra Program Director, the Regional Coordinator is responsible for the implementation of the Uniterra Program and accountable for the delivery of results for the countries in the Asia Region (Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam).

In addition to managing the Uniterra program in Asia, the Asia Regional Coordinator works closely with the Deputy Director, Program Strategy and Implementation and the Deputy Director, Program Design, Quality and Learning to support the management of WUSC programs in the Asia region and to identify and develop new programming opportunities.

WUSC understand that this combination of roles will present at times conflicting priorities. Both supervisors are committed to working with the successful candidate to minimize these challenges. Both supervisors and the successful candidate will need to proactively communicate priorities, deadlines and timelines to ensure that core priorities are achieved. The successful candidate will require excellent communication, strong prioritization and multitasking skills.

Responsibilities, Uniterra Program (75%):

1. Strategic Program Coordination in the region:

• Oversee the efficient and effective management of the Uniterra Program in the region, according to the procedures outlined in the Program’s Management Guidelines;
• Ensure the achievement of Program results in the region by: planning, following through on activities, reporting on results and establishing agreements with partners following the principles of Results Based Management;
• In collaboration with Country Coordinators, prepare budgets and monitor the Program budget for the region;
• Approve the budget plans and Annual Work Plans in order to reach anticipated results;
• Ensure the completion of analysis and strategic planning exercises, including sub-sector research, intervention strategies and partner capacity assessments;
• Leverage additional resources into the program through partnership building and program development.

2. Ensure Program Quality

• Ensure the integration of gender equality in all Program activities and, if necessary, organizing training;
• Ensure the integration of youth employment strategy in Program activities and, if necessary, organizing training;
• Ensure the quality of volunteer mandates, including their relevance to partner capacity development plans and subsector intervention strategies;
• Ensure that volunteer resource quotas and Human Resource (HR) commitments are respected;
• In collaboration with Operations Unit, participate in volunteer mobilization process to ensure appropriate country and mandate specific preparation;
• Supporting country coordinators in the development of annual work plans narratives;
• In collaboration with Communications coordinator, oversee the establishment of a communications system with volunteers in-post in order to collect, document and disseminate relevant Program information;
• On an ad-hoc basis, as part of the Management Committee, contribute to the development of Program implementation tools;
• Ensure fluid communication between Management Committee and Country Teams to ensure input from country teams in administrative and program decisions and coherent implementation of decisions within country Programming.

3. Country Program Office Oversight

• Ensuring the establishment, updating and application of the emergency and security procedures established by WUSC and/or CECI as they relate to volunteers and Program personnel;
• Directing, planning and coordinating meetings, in head office or in the field, to ensure coherent programming and establish connections and synergy between the Program and other WUSC and CECI programs in the region;
• Managing Program personnel, including recruitment, training, and evaluation of outputs, according to the policies in force at WUSC and/or CECI.

Responsibilities, Program Development and Program Management (25%):

4. Contribute to the implementation of WUSC’s Theory of Change through the development of new programming in Asia:

• Scan and identify relevant funding opportunities from a variety of donors active in the region;
• Build new partnerships with potential strategic partners, including the private sector, development organizations and other key stakeholders, to add value and expertise to WUSC’s programming in Asia;
• Keep track and share information with relevant colleagues on donor trends and priorities and provide recommendations on how to engage donors;
• In conjunction with WUSC’s university and college team, identify opportunities to integrate WUSC’s institutional members (colleges, universities, CEGEPs) in the development of new programs;
• In concert with PD management, liaise with potential funders in the design and presentation of new programming initiatives. 

5.  Coordination of WUSC program implementation and operations in Asia

• Collaborate with various teams and departments within WUSC (university and college programs, volunteer cooperation programs, campus engagement) to draw appropriate linkages across the organization’s program areas;
• Identify opportunities for learning and sharing across all of WUSC programs, especially in WUSC areas of thematic focus;
• Promote innovative thinking within our program teams and facilitate ways to capture and scale up innovations;
• On behalf of WUSC, participate in key meetings, conferences and relevant working groups;
• Prepare and deliver presentations about WUSC’s programs as required;
• Network and collaborate with donors, partners and other external stakeholders;
• Provide back- up and support to Asia project management as needed.

Qualifications:

• Seven years of experience in the development and/ or management of projects/programs and teams in the international development sector;
• One year of experience integrating gender equality and empowerment into international development programs;
• Two years of overseas experience in a developing country context, knowledge of and experience working in Asia, particularly Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam an asset;
• Extensive technical experience in WUSC’s areas of programming: inclusive education, skills for employment, inclusive market systems development, youth empowerment, women’s economic empowerment;
• Knowledge of accountability, protection, women and children’s rights frameworks and best practices;
• Proven ability to work productively with a variety of stakeholders to run participatory processes and meet tight deadlines with an emphasis on producing quality products;
• Excellent capacity building skills, with demonstrated experience in effective training, coaching and facilitation.

Competencies:

• Effective interpersonal and influencing skills, including the ability to build relationships, network, communicate effectively in a cross-cultural context are essential;
• Flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities;
• Commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in policy design and implementation;
• Passion and commitment to volunteer cooperation, gender equality, women’s and youth empowerment;
• Superior oral and written communication skills: clear, concise, persuasive writing style.
   

Education/ training:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (social sciences, international development, women’s/ gender studies, human rights);
• Master’s degree in a related field an asset.
   

Languages:

• Fluency, oral and written in English and French is essential; knowledge of a third language (Spanish) is an asset.

Why work with us?

The WUSC office is centrally-located in Hintonburg, Ottawa. We offer competitive benefits, four weeks of annual leave (for full-time employees), safe and healthy working conditions, and fair compensation.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. We believe youth have the potential to provide for their families, build strong communities, and create positive social change for future generations. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

Applications:

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

If you wish to apply for this position, please follow this link to register on WUSC’s candidate database.