Swisscontact Vacancy for Technical Officer

Swisscontact, established in 1959 in Switzerland, is a leading partner organisation for the implementation of international development projects. The organisation promotes inclusive economic, social, and ecological development to make an effective contribution towards sustainable and widespread prosperity in developing and emerging economies. It strengthens the competencies of people, improving their employability, increases the competitiveness of enterprises, growing their business, and fosters social and economic systems, promoting inclusive development.

Swisscontact, registered as an International Non-Governmental Organisation has been operating in Nepal since 1991. Currently, Swisscontact Nepal has six development programmes across all seven provinces.

Quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training for Youth (QualiTY), Phase 1 project is a bilateral initiative between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Switzerland. It is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training at the Federal level and Ministry of Social Development / Education at the Provincial level. Swisscontact Nepal provides technical assistance to the project through the Project Support Unit (PSU) at Federal and Provincial level on behalf of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 

Swisscontact invites applications from the committed and experienced Nepali citizens for the following position.

Technical Officer

Numbers: 4 (Four) 

Location: Each at Janakpur, Hetauda, Surkhet and Dhangadhi with frequent field visits 

Reports to: Province Manager Time: 100% (8 hours a day and 5 days a week) 

Duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance 

Purpose of the Job The 

Technical Officer is responsible for coordination and collaboration with local government and TVET schools as per the designed Yearly Plan of Operation (YPO). The Technical Officer collaborates with chosen TVET schools to accompany them to improve their performances towards meeting the national quality standards. Key roles of the Technical Officer-Province are also aligned with the key tasks in each Yearly Plan of Operations (YPOs). 

The Technical Officer works closely with the Province Manager and Technical Coordinator. The Technical Officer reports to the Province Manager. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

1. Compliance to the policies, rules/regulations, and guidelines 

• Adhere to relevant policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and guidelines of Swisscontact Nepal (Financial and Operation Manuals, Code of Conduct Against Corruption, Conflict of Interest, Basic Operating Guideline (BoG), Local Security Management Plan, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Guideline, guideline on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH), Communication Guideline and other specific policies guidelines and manuals applicable to Swisscontact Nepal).

2. Technical Assistance on Programme Implementation 

• Collaborate with TVET schools to accompany them to improve their performances towards meeting the national quality standards. 
• Facilitate the development of TVET schools strategic plans in close collaboration with the respective school principals and other staff as adequate. 
• Support TVET schools to plan capacity building of their existing instructional and managerial staff. 
• Support MoSD/E (especially Project Coordination and Implementation Unit (PCIU-P) in planning the project activities. 
• Support MoSD/E (especially PCIU-P) in developing the joint monitoring plan, conducting field monitoring, and preparing field reports. 
• Contribute to the effective implementation of project activities as per the agreed YPO and Project Implementation Manual at province level and local level. 
• Facilitate inputs of actors and stakeholders of QualiTY and the team members for various provincial level events and prepare event reports. 

3. Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting

• Support Province Manager for programme planning, budgeting, and reporting. 
• Implement the Monitoring and Evaluation plan with given procedures and tools for the quality assurance of the project activities at province and local levels. 
• Maintain project internal database by regularly updating, providing feedback for improvement and communicating immediately about glitches that might occur. 
• Organise orientation to the TVET schools and local governments regarding the accreditation procedures in close collaboration with the Technical Coordinator-Province. 
• Support to organise capacity building activities for personnel from local governments in close collaboration with Technical Coordinator-Province. 
• Document the processes, lessons learned, best practices, case studies and other relevant information regularly and feed into the project’s reporting and knowledge management system. 
• Support Technical Coordinator-Province to prepare key meetings, workshops and related activities and support in project outreach activities at local and province level. 
• Lead regular monitoring and follow-up of the project activities assuring the qualities through close collaboration with PCIU-P and/or joint monitoring team at assigned province. 
• Prepare field visit reports including feedback from the field experience to the project management and its stakeholders.

4. Coordination, Collaboration and Networking 

• Support Province Manager and PSU-P team to establish coordination and collaborations to implement the project activities and strategies at province and local level. 
• Collaborate with respective local governments, TVET schools and private sector stakeholders/associations to implement. 
• Support to strengthen the coordination with other SDC in-house projects’ team and other likeminded project/programmes in the respective province to create a synergetic result. 
• Be proactive on establishing a good network among the stakeholders to increase the ownership and to advocate for the QualiTY at province and local level.

5. Financial Monitoring, Administrative and Logistic 

• Support to Finance & Admin Officer to carry out all operations required for authorising and effectuating expenditures. This includes making calculations, requesting funds, collecting, checking supporting justifying documents, as required. 

6. Other Specific Responsibilities 

• Professionally discharge other tasks assigned by the Province Manager. 
• Be proactive in bringing innovation and taking new initiative in the project in coordination with project management. 
• Proactively seek and contribute to inter-project collaboration with other inhouse projects of Swisscontact Nepal where possible. 

Qualification, Experience, and Skills 

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in relevant field (Education/Management/Business Studies/Development Studies). 
• Minimum of two years of work experience (including at least one year of experience in project implementation and/or monitoring particularly in TVET programmes/projects) in relevant field (i.e., development cooperation and/or TVET sector programmes). 
• Ability and willingness to work in a team to deliver high quality outputs within deadlines in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment. 
• Proficiency in MS Office and Internet use. 
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently for field visits.

Competencies 

• High level of motivation and good communication, social, and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a politically sensitive environment. 
• Knowledge on development and gender and social inclusion issues. 
• Competency in training and facilitating various programmes. 
• Respect and sensitivity towards cultural, gender, ethnicity, and religious diversity. 
• Focuses on impact and results and responds positively to feedback. 
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities. 
• Demonstrates ability for self-development and initiative-taking. 
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity. 
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork. 
• Informed and transparent decision making. 
• Client oriented, internally, and externally. 
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali languages are a must. Working Condition and Environment 
• This will be applicable in accordance with the Swisscontact Finance & Operations Manual.

Application Procedure 

Please submit online Job Application Form by clicking the link below. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d0776064fa61444ba2dcd0ac36153bf0 

The deadline for form submission is 11:59 PM Nepali time, 25 December 2024. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the selection process. Swisscontact Nepal reserves the right to reject any or all applications. 

Swisscontact Nepal shall not entertain any phone inquiries or other solicitations for these positions. Swisscontact Nepal promotes workforce diversity and applies positive discrimination to candidates from discriminated groups (Women, Dalit, Janajati, Madhesi/Terai, and other minority communities), thus we encourage people to apply from these backgrounds. Priority will be given to local candidates.