Vietnam Skills for Employment Project (VSEP)
Canadian Field Project Director (CFPD)
Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd. is seeking a Canadian Project Field Director for its Vietnam Skills for Employment Project (VSEP), a $20 million Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) funded project to support reform of the technical and vocational education system in Vietnam. This is a full time position, located in Ho Chi Minh City, starting in January 1, 2016. The position will be for a 2 year term, renewable until the end of the project, January 31, 2020. Agriteam is seeking an individual with strong international project management skills and significant experience in managing Overseas Development Assistance projects, at least some of which is in the education sector.
Deadline for application: September 29, 2015
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Background
VSEP is a $20M Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD Canada) – funded project to strengthen Vietnam’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, implemented by Agriteam Canada in partnership with the College of the North Atlantic. The project’s goals are to strengthen Vietnamese capacity for TVET leadership and management at national and provincial levels through two closely linked project Components. Component One will support the establishment of two Training Centres for Advanced Management (TCAMs) to serve as the focal point for the development and transformation of the TVET system. Component Two will strengthen management of the TVET system in three provinces (Binh Thuan, Hau Giang and Vinh Long) and improve the performance of one Community College in each province by developing exemplary market‐driven College level programs in each.
Scope of Work
The full‐time Canadian Field Project Director (CFPD) is based in the Project Field Office, collocated with the Central Project Management Unit, in the Vietnamese National University ‐ Ho Chi Minh (VNU‐HCM). As a decentralized DFATD project, the CFPD represents Agriteam Canada at the highest level and works closely with the Director of Cooperation/Counsellor (Development) of DFATD based in Hanoi. S/he has the overall day‐to‐day responsibility and leadership of the project in collaboration with the Vietnamese Project Director designated by the Government of Vietnam.
The CFPD is supported by a team of administrative experts from Agriteam Canada based in Gatineau and Calgary and 5 full time administrative staff in the field. In addition, each Component is supported by a three‐quarter time Technical Expert. As VSEP is a capacity development project, several consultants, firms and institutions will be deployed over the life of the project who will be teamed with Vietnamese experts to deliver technical assistance. The project started October 28, 2014 and will run until January 31, 2020. The CFPD position will begin in early January, 2016 through a two‐year renewable contract.
Specific Responsibilities
- Oversee the development of annual workplans and budgets and coordinate the implementation and monitoring of approved project activities in collaboration with the Vietnamese Project Director
- Manage the strategic, operational and results‐based management activities of the project in collaboration with the Vietnamese Project Director
- Oversee the timely and accurate preparation of progress reports using results‐based management approaches in collaboration with the Vietnamese Project Director
- Oversee the integration of DFATD’s cross‐cutting themes (gender equality, environment, and governance) into all aspects of the project
- Liaise and maintain good working relationships with other Government of Vietnam partners, key donors, and other relevant stakeholders
- Monitor project progress and results; identify issues/challenges in project implementation; and implement corrective measures in collaboration with the Vietnamese Project Director
- Liaise with DFATD with respect to all matters of administration, narrative, and financial reporting, accountability and budget control
- Identify, recruit and contract all technical specialists, resource institutions and local project staff to be engaged by Agriteam in close consultation with Vietnamese Project Director
- Share technical views on institutional capacity development and change management at the strategic level with key government partners
- Supervise the team hired by Agriteam
- Represent Agriteam and its partner in relevant events/meetings such as Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings, conferences, roundtables
- Other responsibilities as determined through the Project Implementation Plan (PIP) and approved by DFATD.
Gender Equality
A key goal of the Vietnamese government is to expand access to technical and professional skills training for women and ethnic minority groups. VSEP has committed to a Gender Mainstreaming approach to achieve this goal. The CFPD will be responsible to ensure all project staff and consultants contribute to the achievement of this goal.
Minimum Requirements for Qualification
- A Master’s degree in education, in business administration or in public administration / management.
- Minimum 7 years of experience in a management role in a large‐scale international development project, preferably in the education sector.
- Minimum 5 years of experience working in a low or middle income country in one or more development projects in the education sector, ideally in technical and vocational training. Field experience in Vietnam or the ASEAN region is an asset.
- Excellent oral, written and cross cultural communication skills.
- Demonstrated competence using the Microsoft Office Suite of programs.
Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and CV to: staschereau@agriteam.ca
Deadline for application: September 29, 2015