Senior Manager, Skills and Livelihood at BRAC

About the Role:

• BRAC International (BI) is seeking a Senior Manager, Skills & Livelihood, BRAC International in Kenya who is aligned with it’s ethos of working in partnership with communities to create impact for scale. The Senior Manager, Skills & Livelihood, BRAC International is part of BRAC International’s core programme team and will enhance skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood interventions across various countries within BRAC International programs with a special focus in delivering these objectives for the AIM Program in Kenya. S/he will be responsible for providing hands-on technical support, developing operational guidelines, and building the capacity of and providing technical oversight/supervision to country teams to effectively implement skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood interventions in projects such as AIM and others. S/he will also ensure that the core Values and Mission of BI are upheld, promoted, followed, and applied across AIM (Mastercard Foundation Accelerating Impact for Young Women in Partnership with BRAC) Program.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Development:

• Provide overall technical leadership and develop systems, tools, and guidelines to integrate TVET, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, enterprise development, and Market Systems Development (MSD) approach in the livelihood and economic empowerment pathway of BRAC programmes. This will also include bringing more focus on entrepreneurial skills building in both farm and non-farm-based livelihood participants.
• Assess skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood intervention needs and opportunities, design interventions, and support budget preparation, for portfolio expansion in different BRAC International countries.
• Provide support/engage with concept note/ proposal development for integrating skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood interventions.

Technical support and quality assurance during implementation:

• Provide hands-on technical support to BI country teams, particularly AIM implementing teams, in planning and executing skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood interventions through standard operating procedure, curriculum, implementation/ work plan development and implementation etc.
• Support country teams to build partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, Training Service Provider (TSP), private and public sector employers for training and job creations, particularly for AIM, AIM Dreams partnership and other projects.
• Conducting periodic field visits and meetings with country teams to follow up on the implementation of skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood interventions and ensure timely achievement of key project milestones
• Establish a supportive supervision and monitoring system and regularly check the progress, impact and effectiveness of skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood interventions in BI programmes.

Capacity building:

• Work closely with country program teams and relevant country-based technical sectoral specialists to assess the capacity-building needs, and build capacity of staff involved in skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood projects.
• Create learning platforms and partnerships to build capacity of both the programme and country teams on standardized best practices in skills, entrepreneurship, and non-farm livelihood development

Other:

• Support harvesting implementation experience, knowledge and learnings and represent the organization in relevant forums, conferences, and meetings to disseminate the knowledge, cultivate partnerships and engage in advocacy.
• Support country teams for active participation in national and international advocacy efforts on skills, entrepreneurship , and non-farm livelihood interventions.

Safeguarding:

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the programme’s goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance, and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote, and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, and encourage others to do so.

Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies, or in a related field from reputed Universities

Required Skills, Competencies & Knowledge:

• Excellent writing and facilitation skills.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time efficiently.
• Strong interpersonal communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly mobile & flexible to work from distant location. (Relevant for specific role)
• Overseeing and travel to project site when required.
• Possess high ethical and moral standards.
• Sensible and adaptive to diverse work culture.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate with multicultural teams, fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment.
• Openness to learn and explore new ideas with a deep commitment to quality
• Ability to think strategically and drive innovation in program design and implementation
• Ability to thrive in dynamic and fast-paced environments, demonstrating a high level of adaptability to changing circumstances and priorities
• Proficient in using Microsoft and google online tools including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive, for seamless productivity and collaboration
• Possesses strong critical and strategic thinking, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a client-oriented service mentality
• Experience of providing technical guidance and supportive supervision to a large geographically dispersed team
• Capable of working both individually and as part of a team
• Excellent communication (written, verbal, negotiation, and presentation skills), facilitation and presentation skills
• Fluent verbal and written communication skills in English

Experience Requirements:

• 7-10 years of experience in the development sector and at least 5 years of experience in implementing skills, entrepreneurship , and non-farm livelihood interventions, including in humanitarian settings.
• Extensive professional knowledge and understanding on TVET, apprenticeship, wage and self-employment; 21st century skills programme, entrepreneurship development and private sector-led skills development interventions; across humanitarian and development setting
• Proven track record in designing, implementing and managing skills, entrepreneurship development, and/or market systems development/initiatives.
• Experience in leading capacity-building initiatives in skills, entrepreneurship , and livelihood
• Ability to manage complex projects and budgets.
• Proven experience in building and managing partnerships with donors, partners, government and private sector actors
• Strong knowledge of international standards and best practices on skills, entrepreneurship , and non-farm livelihood interventions