Vocational Skills Development Expert

Position Summary

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), in collaboration with the World Bank (WB), is implementing the 30 -months Economic Acceleration and Resilience (EARN) project to engage NEET (not in education, employment, or training) youth, with a special focus on women, in rural and semi-urban areas of Bangladesh. The project aims to economically empower NEET youth through education, skills development, employment, and enterprise support. It provides women centric facilities, enhances employability by building employer linkages, and offers upskilling in Socio-Emotional Behavior (SEB) and Entrepreneur Development (ED). Additionally, incubation support for employment and entrepreneurship will be provided. To ensure the inclusion of women and underserved groups, the project will create an enabling environment through awareness raising, community engagement, family-based planning, and monitoring.  

About the Role

The Vocational Skills Development Expert will lead the design and implementation of vocational training strategies under the EARN project. This role will focus on establishing and managing Village-Level Training Centres (VLTCs), fostering community engagement, aligning curriculum with labor market needs, and ensuring high-quality training delivery. The Expert will collaborate with government counterparts, private sector partners, and implementing agencies to create sustainable pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for NEET youth. The role also integrates gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches aligned with national TVET policies and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Implementation 

• Design and implement strategies for vocational skills development, in alignment with national policies and EARN project objectives.
• Conduct community and labor market assessments to tailor skills training to local economic needs.

Training Centre Establishment & Oversight 

• Lead the setup, operationalization, and quality assurance of VLTCs across target districts.
• Monitor VLTC operations to ensure adherence to health, safety, and training standards.

Curriculum & Training Delivery 

• Provide technical input to the Curriculum Development Committee on trade-specific course design and revisions. 
• Oversee assessment and certification processes to ensure quality and credibility of training outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination 

• Facilitate strong coordination with Upazila Coordination Committees (UCCs), Community Groups (CGs), and other field-level stakeholders. 
• Establish partnerships with local enterprises, institutions, and industry actors to create employment and internship pathways. 

Inclusion & Beneficiary Management 

• Develop and enforce inclusive beneficiary selection criteria with a focus on gender balance and representation of disadvantaged groups. 
• Promote culturally appropriate engagement strategies in hill district communities.

Monitoring & Reporting 

• Ensure regular progress tracking against project KPIs and technical deliverables. 
• Contribute to technical reports, donor updates, and knowledge products showcasing project achievements. 

Safeguarding Responsibilities 

• Champion the safeguarding policy to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment. 
• Train staff and partners on safeguarding protocols and respond promptly and appropriately to reported concerns.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in Sociology, Social Work, Business Studies, Anthropology, Development Studies, or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience working in donor-funded development programmes.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in youth skills development and TVET focused projects.

Skills and other competencies

• Demonstrated expertise in vocational curriculum development, life skills training, and training  delivery models. 
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities in multi-stakeholder, cross-cultural  environments. 
• In-depth understanding of TVET pedagogy, gender-responsive approaches, and rural employment dynamics.
• Experience in overseeing large-scale donor-funded projects, with excellent financial and operational oversight. 
• Fluent in English and Bangla; familiarity with local hill district dialects is an asse