Project Officer - TVET Work-Based-Learning (NPSA 9)

The Project Officer supports the implementation of work-based learning activities under the MASAR project in Iraq, coordinating with employers, TVET institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure quality placements and alignment with project objectives. The role involves planning, coordination, capacity-building, monitoring, and reporting to strengthen TVET systems and improve employment outcomes for youth and vulnerable groups.

Responsibilities

• Support planning, coordination and day-to-day implementation of MASAR work-based learning activities in Iraq, ensuring alignment with the overall MASAR workplan, project objectives and guidance from the National Project Coordinator.
• Support engagement and maintain effective working relationships with employers, chambers, sector associations, selected TVET institutions, workplace supervisors, career service units and relevant public counterparts to ensure ownership, placement quality and timely implementation of WBL activities.
• Support coordination of implementation partners, local consultants, technical experts and service providers supporting WBL delivery, ensuring clear deliverables, timely follow-up, quality outputs and alignment with MASAR procedures.
• Assist in developing, adapting and implementing of WBL frameworks, procedures, manuals, templates and implementation tools, including employer readiness checklists, learner placement procedures, supervision tools, safeguarding arrangements, feedback forms and quality assurance mechanisms.
• Assist in coordinating employer mapping, engagement and assessment of workplace readiness in construction, hospitality/tourism and related green or climate-responsive occupations, ensuring that host employers can provide relevant learning tasks, adequate supervision, safe conditions and credible transition pathways.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of WBL agreements, placement systems, learner matching procedures, workplace task plans, attendance monitoring, issue-resolution mechanisms and supervision arrangements between TVET providers, employers and learners.
• Support the establishment, orientation and capacity-building of workplace mentors, supervisors and provider WBL focal points on learner supervision, task assignment, occupational safety and health, safeguarding, feedback, assessment coordination and communication with TVET institutions.
• Coordinate and monitor learner placements, workplace supervision, WBL completion, employer feedback and quality assurance of WBL activities, proactively identifying bottlenecks and proposing practical solutions to the National Project Coordinator and relevant component leads.
• Support strengthening career services and transition-to-employment functions within participating TVET institutions, including employer matching, job-readiness support, graduate follow-up, referral linkages and use of tracer data to improve school-to-work transition outcomes.
• Collect and track WBL performance indicators, including placements secured, attendance, completion, employer satisfaction, conversion to employment, self-employment or further training, and job retention; document lessons learned and support the institutionalization, sustainability and scale-up of effective WBL models across MASAR workstreams.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international development, economics, education or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in the above subjects in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, coordination, implementation, administration or a related area is required.
• Experience in work-based learning, apprenticeships, career services, employment programmes or related areas.
• Experience engaging employers and supporting workplace learning, apprenticeship or placement initiatives is desirable.
• Experience supporting workplace mentors, supervisors and training provider focal points through practical guidance and capacity-building is desirable.
• Experience establishing work-based learning partnerships with Iraqi employers and TVET institutions is desirable.
• Experience with construction, hospitality or tourism employers, including SMEs is desirable.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English is required.
• Knowledge of Kurdish is an asset.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the duty station where the position is located.

Skills

• Project Management
• Programme Coordination
• Work-Based Learning
• Apprenticeship Programmes
• Career Services
• Employment Programs
• Employment Engagement
• Capacity Building
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Monitoring and Reporting
• TVET Systems Strengthening
• Workplace Learning Support
• Training Provider Liaison
• Partnership Development
• Youth Employment Promotion
• SME and Start-up Engagement
• Construction Sector Knowledge
• Hospitality Sector Knowledge
• Travel and Tourism Sector Knowledge
• Arabic Language
• English Language

Languages

Arabic, English