The National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) is the primary voice for people who use cooperative businesses to build a better world and a more inclusive economy in the United States and globally. In the last 65 years, NCBA CLUSA has worked in over 85 countries in the areas of food security, agricultural development, strengthening of communities and farmer organizations, community-based health, natural resources management, and empowerment of smallholder farmers, women, and youth. Our community-led development approach empowers communities to identify, promote, and manage sustainable, locally generated solution. We currently work in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

NCBA CLUSA is recruiting a Skills Development Specialist for an anticipated USAID-funded Program in Timor-Leste. The activity will focus on launching an entrepreneurship and employment Center to strengthen the workforce readiness, and technical and entrepreneurship skills of Timorese youth and adult women.

The Specialist will help plan, develop, and administer skills development programs that are aligned with the needs of employers as well as the aspirations of the youth and adult women in Timor-Leste.  The Specialist will be responsible for all phases of curriculum development and measurement of achievements of learning objectives. The Specialist will apply best practices and proven approaches in content management and use for course materials development and management. Together with the management team of the Center, the Specialist will identify techniques and processes for measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of curricula and courses and recommend course or program revisions after evaluation feedback. Skills are defined broadly and can encompass work readiness skills, soft skills, sector-specific technical skills, and entrepreneurial skills, among others. The Specialist will also collaborate/guide local instructors to deliver training programs through the Center to improve the skills and knowledge of enrolled students. The skills development program will be delivered through the Center and two other satellite locations.

The expected duration of the Program is five years. This will be a contract expected to begin in June-July 2023. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in relevant field is required
• At least 8 years of experience in designing, creating, and facilitating curriculum development initiatives, ideally in skills, education, and youth development programs.
• Proven expertise in designing curriculum for courses and training products using sound instructional principles, strategies, and techniques, particularly targeting youth and adult learners, required. 
• Experience designing and creating training manuals, online learning modules, and course materials, preferred.
• Experience assessing training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, employers, or consultations with managers or instructors, desired.
• Experience in delivering training/guidance to instructors using a variety of instructional techniques to ensure effective delivery of skills training and self-employment courses.  
• Assist in the evaluation of skills development courses/training programs.
• Experience designing, creating, and facilitating capacity-building programming to deliver market-relevant training.
• Strong team player, with demonstrated ability to positively motivate team members to success.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills and demonstrated ability to find viable solutions to complicated problems in a flexible, time-sensitive and creative manner.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience working in Timor-Leste preferred.  
• Fluent in written and spoken English required and Portuguese preferred.

To be considered applicants shall forward Cover Letter and CV in English to [email protected] not later than June 05, 2023, with the subject line: “WYCF_Skills Development Specialist”.