World University Service of Canada (WUSC) ,Country Director Jobs in Sri Lanka

Job description
BACKGROUND:
World
University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization with
a mission to foster human development and global understanding through
education and training. We are a network of professionals, students,
volunteers, faculty, and community leaders who, together, provide opportunities
to some of the world’s most disadvantaged youth. Our programs and

services
improve access to and quality of education, expand employment opportunities and
foster empowerment for youth. We work with and through our southern partners –
government, civil society and the private sector.

The
WUSC Country Director Sri Lanka has overall responsibility for the vocational
training project: Advancing Specialized Skills for Economic Transformation
(ASSET). ASSET is a multi-year vocational training reform project with the Sri
Lankan Ministry of Highways, Higher Education and Investment Promotion that is
financed by the Government of Canada (DFATD). The project began in 2014 and
will end in 2019.
KEY
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
The
Country Director position provides continuity in terms of the relationships
with the Government of Sri Lanka, DFATD and other stakeholders and is the prime
point of contact with DFATD in Colombo and Government of Sri Lanka ministries.
Reporting
to the WUSC Director of Programs in Ottawa, the Country Director is responsible
for the overall management and administration of ASSET.
Management
and Programming
  • Working
    with WUSC Ottawa to set policy and planning priorities for ASSET;
  • Managing
    and leading ASSET project management team in Sri Lanka;
  • Supervising,
    directing and evaluating the work of the WUSC-SL staff and consultants in
    coordination and consultation with team leads;
  • Overseeing
    management issues such as questions of employment practices, taxation,
    banking controls NGO Secretariat and the line ministry, MHHEIP (WUSC
    is aiming to have consistency in HR policies and practices across all
    country programs);
  • Recruiting,
    maintaining and directing the required administrative and project
    infrastructure of staff, field offices (North, East, South and Colombo)
    and equipment as well as making decisions on administrative policy,
    planning and procedural matters;
  • Providing
    ongoing project direction and monitoring.
Security
Preparedness
  • Ensuring
    that WUSC security policies, procedures and preparedness remain relevant
    for the current context in Sri Lanka.
Government
of Sri Lanka (GOSL) INGO Registration Requirements
  • Ensuring
    WUSC retains a good open and transparent working relationship with GOSL;
  • Ensuring
    that WUSC in Sri Lanka meet GOSL memorandum of understanding (MOU),
    registration, reporting, audit and transparency requirements;
  • Responding
    to information requests related to WUSC as an INGO in Sri Lanka.
Liaison,
Representation & Public Engagement
  • Liaison
    with all key stakeholders related to ASSET in Sri Lanka;
  • Representing
    project interests at meetings with donors, the UN and INGOs. This
    currently involves principally the Canadian government and officials of
    the Sri Lankan government;
  • Interacting
    on a continuous basis with a range of players – UN, ADB, bilateral,
    I/NGOs, national government – in meetings and conferences that advance
    coordination and collaboration.
  • Responding
    to inquiries regarding WUSC and ASSET in Sri Lanka.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education
  • A
    post-graduate university degree in international development; education;
    management; economics; or other relevant social science. An undergraduate
    university degree plus equivalent experience could be considered.
Experience
and Competencies
  • A
    minimum of ten years of progressively more responsible assignments related
    to management of development projects involving technical/vocational
    training and/or small-scale income generation activities, at least five
    years of which must be overseas (preferably in South Asia);
  • Proven
    managerial, administrative and organizational leadership skills, including
    the knowledge of financial and narrative reporting procedures and a solid
    track record in strategic program and project planning and implementation;
  • Proven
    knowledge and experience in the TVET sector in a management capacity;
  • Proven
    knowledge and experience in facilitating links between private sector
    actors and TVET training institutions;
  • Proven
    knowledge and experience in social marketing and community engagement;
  • Proven
    experience managing a large, multi-disciplinary and multi-ethnic team of
    staff;
  • Diplomatic
    skills and the knowledge of inter-ethnic issues are necessary, as are
    proven intercultural and interpersonal skills. Experience working in a
    post-conflict environment would be an asset;
  • Complete
    fluency in English, including excellent oral and written communication
    skills are required;
  • Proven
    experience of adaptability to a challenging and constantly changing
    environment requiring iterative planning on a regular basis;
  • A
    solid knowledge of computer software programs and in particular Internet,
    word processing and spreadsheet software. WUSC uses MS Office as a
    platform in Sri Lanka;
  • Proven
    knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality;
  • Experience
    in capacity building with local partner organizations and a commitment to
    a participatory partnership approach to development; and
  • Experience
    working within a CIDA/DFATD supported project including a solid
    understanding of Results Based Management (RBM) and knowledge of DFATD’s
    environmental and gender policies and reporting requirements.
Language
  • Superior
    oral and written skills required in English. Bilingualism (English and
    French) is an asset.
How to apply
WUSC
is an equal opportunity employer. Only those candidates selected for an
interview will be contacted. If you wish to apply for this position, please
send your resumé with a covering letter quoting reference number 15/01 to
: jobs@wusc.ca .
No
telephone calls please.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *