Senior Specialist in vocational education and training (VET) policy and system development - Hoofdinhoud

The Department

ETF operational work is divided into three departments, each with specific responsibilities contributing to the mission of the ETF.

The Thematic Expertise Development Department (TED) defines and develops thematic policy approaches and methodologies to HCD reform; it supports regional teams in the application of those approaches and methodologies in partner countries; and places ETF as an international centre of expertise.

The Geographical Operations Department (GEO) defines and implements the annual work programme in the countries and regions and is the main interface with partner countries and the EU external policy services.

The Evidence Based Policy Making Department (EBPMD) develops approaches to capacity building, evidence based policy making including the analytical framework for the Torino Process and knowledge management.

The activities of each department are shaped by the human capital development needs of each country, the priorities of the EU, and the developments of international organisations.

For more detailed information, please refer to the ETF Work Programme 2012.

As senior specialist in VET policy and system development in TED, the jobholder will be expected to:  

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  Lead in the provision of policy analysis and guidance to EU institutions and partner countries;
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  Undertake in-depth country and regional analyses in the fields of VET system assessment and VET policy development;
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  Design, lead and facilitate policy learning processes with partner country stakeholders, including capacity building;
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  Lead in the development of ETF thematic knowledge and methodologies by drafting position papers,

contributing to internal and external thematic development initiatives and keeping abreast of international and EU developments;  

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  Guide the work of specialists and junior specialists in the fields of VET system and VET policy development; 
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  Participate in the work of country teams to design and deliver partner country strategies.

In addition, the jobholder may also be asked to lead a project team including taking the responsibility for the sound management of resources. 

To be considered eligible, applicants must satisfy the following requirements on the closing date for the

submission of applications:

• 1. 

  Be a national of an EU Member State or ETF partner country or territory;
• 2. 

  Enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• 3. 

  Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by law concerning military service;
• 4. 

  Be physically fit to perform the duties linked  to the post;
• 5. 

  Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least four years attested by a diploma, followed by at least twelve years of appropriate professional experience;

or

Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma, followed by at least thirteen years of appropriate professional experience;

• 6. 

  Have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the Communities and have a satisfactory knowledge of another, to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

Candidates are required to possess the competences and skills listed below:

TECHNICAL 

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  In-depth proven knowledge and experience in VET policy and system development as well as in at least two of the following areas: 
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  Quality in VET; 
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  Teaching and learning, including key competences;
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  Governance and financing; 
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  VET system assessment.
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  Excellent skills in guidance and analysis of national VET policy and system development; 
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  Very good skills in policy guidance and analysis of EU VET policies, instruments and tools;
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  Excellent project and process management skills;
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  Excellent writing, reading, speaking and listening skills in English.  

CORE 

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  Excellent analysing skills – i.e. the ability to grasp and analyse complex and wide-ranging questions, issues or information, to tackle issues and problems in a logical, step by step way, to have a systematic approach to analysing ETF issues;
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  Excellent communication and negotiating skills – i.e. the ability to organise and present (in oral and written terms) information, express opinions, views and concepts in a concise, understandable and interesting way for a variety of multi-cultural audiences within the ETF and/or externally bearing in mind the ETF’s context;
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  Very good service orientation skills - i.e. the ability to discover ETF customer/stakeholders’ underlying needs and/or to deliver solutions that meet needs, to provide added value and exceed expectations. To take care of both internal and external customers and to be able to anticipate their needs;
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  Excellent adapting skills – i.e. the ability to adapt programmes and views to meet contextual needs;
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  Very well developed organisational and executional skills – i.e. the ability to design and implement suitable solutions, to achieve tangible results while fulfilling commitments (deadlines, budgets, objectives etc.) and respecting high standards of quality and performance;
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  Very good team working skills – i.e. the ability to establish and maintain excellent working relations at all

levels in the multicultural context of the ETF both at team and individual levels. The ability to share a common goal and the responsibility for achieving it within a group.

Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have one or more of the assets listed below:

ASSETS

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  Good knowledge4 of French, and/or Arabic, and/or Russian and/or any other language spoken in the ETF partner countries; 
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  Knowledge of the context of the ETF partner countries.