Position: Senior Counsellor, Vocational Training (ECHO REACT Project)
Term: Full-time (100% workload)
Location: Based in Yerevan with frequent trips to project locations
Starting date: 01 September 2021
Duration: 12 months with the possibility of extension
General position summary:
Reporting to the Project Manager based in Yerevan, and with technical guidance from PINs Knowledge amp; Learning Department and the TVET Project Manager, the Senior Counsellor, Vocational Training will supervise the activities of 5 Vocational Counsellors (Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk) as they implement the project component relating to economic integration of up to 1000 eligible beneficiaries. This will be achieved by providing counselling/guidance on appropriate career paths to follow and enrolment in relevant Vocational Training Courses paid for under this program. This initiative will provide eligible beneficiaries with the opportunity to find a long-term career path that will generate regular income and assist the family to achieve economic stability, improve their living conditions and provide a pathway for gradual transition to early recovery.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Participates in the recruitment process for the 5 Vocational Counsellors;
- Plan, oversee and coordinate the activities of the 5 Vocational Counsellors through regular coordination meetings;
- Develop clear and fair beneficiaries selection criteria and methodology for implementation;
- Ensure information about the project vocational component is clearly stated and shared with all relevant stakeholders, including Employment agencies, municipalities, active CSOs, etc;
- Identify eligible beneficiaries and maintain proper documentation and database relating to project target for the Vocational Training Program
- Conduct market research and Labor Gap Assessment to identify needed vocational skills that will most likely to lead to job opportunities;
- Provide on-going consultations / job counselling to beneficiaries on their most viable career path based on Needs Assessment and market research that will lead to steady sustainable employment;
- Identify the Vocational Training Courses (up to 3 months duration) that are preferred by the eligible beneficiaries;
- Cooperates with TVETS and other Training Institutions for development of courses and enrolment of PIN beneficiaries.
- Ensure all needed documentation including contracts with beneficiaries and training institutions are prepared prior to start of the trainings and all terms amp; conditions clearly communicated with all parties
- Conduct regular ad-hoc visits to trainings to ensure they are organized as to prior agreed schedule and curriculum
- Proactively collect feedback both from the trainers and trainees to be sure both parties are satisfied with the quality
- Identify the types of livelihood kits and their contents that will be required for graduates on successful completion of their chosen course. (i.e. mechanics tools, carpenter’s tools, agricultural seeds/tools, sewing machine etc.)
- Organize necessary internal ‘soft skills’ training and/or career counselling for beneficiaries that will be taught by the Vocational Counsellors to ensure that beneficiaries have the skills requirements for their career path
- Prepares reports on project implementation status, statistics etc. as required or upon the request of the Project Manager.
- In consultation with the Mamp;E Department, regularly monitor and evaluate the impact and results of the Vocational Training component to ensure targets and indicators in the Project Proposal are being achieved;
- Provide regular updates to the Program Manager on the progress/challenges in project implementation making recommendations for improvements to the program while respecting the targets and objectives set out in the Project Proposal;
- In consultation with the Program Manager, monitor budget expenditures to ensure costs are within approved budget limitations;
- In consultation with the Program Manager, ensure that all VT documents, reports etc. are archived in accordance with established PIN procedures.
- Ensure that interactions with PIN support departments (Finance/Mamp;E/Logs/HR) remains positive and cooperative throughout the project.
- Prepare Performance Evaluations for the 5 Vocational Counsellors in accordance with PIN established procedures;
- Monitor the performance of the 5 Vocational Counsellors throughout the project to ensure they receive appropriate job-related training and guidance.
- In consultation with the Program Manager, represent PIN at external meetings and with local authorities and training institutions.