ThaiNGO

Position:   Program Manager – Vocational Training
Contract duration:  1 year renewable
Location:  Mae Hong Son
Starting date:  January 2016

Closing Date: 31/12/2015

I. Background on ACTED:

ACTED (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development) is a non-governmental organization with headquarters in Paris, founded in 1993. Independent, private and not-for-profit, ACTED respects a strict political and religious impartiality and operates according to principles of non-discrimination and transparency.

ACTED’s vocation is to support vulnerable populations affected by wars, natural disasters and/or economic and social crises, and to accompany them in building a better future; thus contributing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The programs implemented by ACTED in 30 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context.

ACTED Thailand is growing and we look forward to having fresh ideas and new talents in the organization. You have set high ambitions for yourself? You want to excel in your area of expertise? You want to be valued for your ability to deliver results in a fast-paced organization? You look for an extra dimension and want to have social impact? You may be the one we are looking for! By joining ACTED, you will be joining more than 4,000 motivated people around the globe who are proud to be working to assist vulnerable populations in building a better future.   

II. Background of Program:

Today, Thailand hosts some 90,000 refugees from Myanmar, as well as an estimated 52,000 unregistered asylum seekers in nine closed camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. The first refugees arrived in Thailand in 1984 and since then, a large number of refugees have arrived at different moments and under different circumstances.

The situation of the Burmese refugees in Thailand is one of the most protracted in the world. This is largely due to the fact that the Thai government does not allow these refugees to move outside the camps or to integrate themselves in the surrounding communities. Those found outside the camps are subject to arrest and deportation. In this context, the refugee population finds itself uneducated with few skills and very little opportunity to engage in professional activity. Feelings of frustration, borne from the inability of the refugees to realise their full human potential, together with the restrictive nature of the camps, have led to the development of alcohol and drug abuse, sexual and gender-based violence and psycho-social issues.

The recent developments in Myanmar, a myriad of steps towards good governance and democracy, have created new hopes among the many Burmese refugees living in Thailand that they may soon be able to return home. ACTED plans to support the refugees by launching a vocational skills development program in Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province. Through this initiative, the refugee population will learn self-reliance and will also acquire the necessary skills to be able to access employment opportunities once they return to Myanmar.

We are therefore looking for professionally confident, self-motivated, experienced and committed team players to join our team to support the implementation of this program.

III. Responsibilities:

The Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating the vocational training and non-formal education intervention for Myanmar refugees in Ban Mai Nai Soi and Ban Mae Surin refugee camps, Mae Hong Son Province. The position includes project implementation, development of work plans, monitoring of project spending, monitoring and reporting, staff supervision, representation and internal and external coordination.

Program:
• Develop overall project work plan as well as monthly work plans for project implementation;
• Review the quality and relevance of existing VT courses to meet the educational needs and income opportunities of target refugees and support the development/adaptation of VT curricula suitable for the context of refugee camps;
• Lead the development of a set of new VT courses relevant to access livelihood opportunities in a wide variety of contexts, with a focus on repatriation;
• Identify camp-based VT trainers and provide ToT and regular refresher courses in collaboration with partners;
• Establish/upgrade VT centers in the refugee camp;
• Coordinate the provision of vocational training materials and supplies with logistics and partners;
• Regularly survey the labour market and vocational training needed for young refugees;
• Lobby Thai authorities to allow expansion of VT, incl. use of equipment for practical training sessions and allowing refugees greater access to the Thai labour market
• Liaise with partner in Myanmar on internship placements of VT graduates in Myanmar ;
• Facilitate the development of contacts between Thai and Myanmar VT training centers;
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between Thai OVEC and Myanmar DTVE officials with regards to VT course curriculum, certification and accreditation between the 2 countries.

Monitoring & Evaluation, Reporting
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites to monitor progress of implementation;
• Compile and submit monthly narrative and progress report;
• Budget forecasts and monitoring project spending.

Staff Supervision
• Participate/lead recruitment of new staff and volunteers;
• Conduct training /mentoring /coaching for project staff and volunteers;
• Evaluate team performance through individual staff appraisals.

Coordination and External Relations
• Represent ACTED at relevant coordination meetings (CCSDPT, livelihood working group, etc.);
• Develop/establish relations with the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) Ministry of Interior/Operations Center for Displaced Persons and the Nawamintrachine Mae Hong Son Industrial and Community Education College to explore possible cooperation in the frame of the education and vocational training;
• Liaise and coordinate with other camp actors.

IV. Qualifications:
• Minimum Bachelors degree in any one of the following or a related field from a recognized university: Education, Social Sciences, MBA, or Development studies.
• Extensive experience (5 years +) in vocational training and non-formal education working for an NGO in refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border;
• Proven vocational training and education programme management, implementation and monitoring experience in a refugee context;
• Substantial team management and capacity-building skills and experience;
• Strong interpersonal, representation and negotiation skills;
• Solid diplomatic skills: the ability to effectively manage a variety of internal and external relationships, especially with partners;
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Burmese language skill an additional advantage;
• Ability to produce timely and high quality reports in English;
• Self-motivated, able to take initiative, resilient and able to work independently.

V. Submission of application:

Applications in the English language , including; 

i) a resume of not more than 3 pages;

ii) a cover letter expressing the motivation to work with an NGO and addressing each of the required qualifications with vivid examples;

iii) Copy of the university degree and iv) Contact details of 3 references

The files attached to the e-mail should not exceed 1.5 MB.

The application should be submitted by e-mail to bangkok.office-manager@acted.org.