Senior Education Specialist (TVET and Skills Development)

Reference Number 250338

‍Position Level TI2

‍Department Sectors Department 3

‍Division Human and Social Development Sector Office

‍Location Asian Development Bank Headquarters

‍Date Posted Thursday, April 24, 2025

‍Closing Date Friday, May 9, 2025 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

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Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

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Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.


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Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

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The position of Senior Education Specialist (TVET and Skills Development) is assigned in the Human and Social Development Sector Office (SG-HSD) within the Sectors Department 3 (SD3). SD3 aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in finance, human and social development, and public sector management and governance in the region and with ADB’s clients. SD3, which is comprised of three sector offices, delivers or supports sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RDs) and resident missions (RMs) in engaging with developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.

SG-HSD leads policy dialogue, initiatives, and solutions in the human and social development sectors (education, health, social protection, and in broader social development initiatives). SD-HSD is responsible for (i) conceptualizing, processing, and administering lending, grant, and technical assistance (TA) operations; (ii) developing and delivering knowledge services and products to DMCs; and (iii) leading technical work on sector diagnostics and road maps and contributing to business development efforts.

You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

You will report to the designated Director, SG-HSD or Senior Director, SG-HSD and will oversee junior Technical Local staff.

Your Role

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As a Senior Education Specialist (TVET and Skills Development), you will lead the formulation and articulation of policy and strategies in the education sector in the DMCs, particularly on technical and vocational education training (TVET), skills development and labor market interventions to strengthen the link between training and jobs. You will also lead in identifying, developing, processing, implementing, and administering loans, grants, and TA projects, and provide relevant stakeholders with necessary technical support and knowledge for projects. You will forge necessary technical and financial partnerships at regional and global levels to bring innovative practices and reinforce development results.


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You will:

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• Lead processing and administering subregional and DMC-specific loan, grant, and TAs in TVET, skills development and labor market interventions, with due attention to the country’s development policies. Collaborate as team member in flagship projects in the education and skills sphere, but also in other sectors, such as water, urban, energy and transport to develop innovative joint operations.
• Lead policy dialogues with government officials and development partners on TVET policy sector reforms, labor market programs, and other related issues on growth opportunities for skills for the green economy, boost private sector development and optimize digital technologies in TVET.
• Collaborate with other sector offices and departments in ADB to propose integrated solutions in response to DMC needs.
• Work closely with RDs, RMs, Office of Safeguards, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department in identifying, developing, implementing, and administering loans, grants, and TAs.
• Assess strategies and policies for TVET and labor market interventions with a view of ensuring comparability to international best practices, smart solutions and technological advances, and responsiveness to development needs of DMCs.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external partners for knowledge and co-financing opportunities.
• Lead in generating and disseminating knowledge solutions from ADB operations, international best practices and country or region specific cross-learning on TVET and labor market issues. In particular, consider skills development in emerging areas and sectors, such as skills for eMobility, smart cities, AI-driven workplaces and other new strands for skills development.
• Lead the development of new tools to bring state-of-the-art methodologies to design skills for jobs, such as labor market forecasting through real-time labor market information systems, using online job portals to facilitate timely training for emerging occupations and job placements and career counselling.
• Participate in and contribute to internal and external training and conferences on the TVET sector, labor market issues, and other activities for advocacy, knowledge sharing and knowledge co-creation.
• Lead, oversee, and support reporting staff, including their performance and development.
• Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff. Mentor junior staff and support their learning and integration into SG-HSD.
• Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in staff’s workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in education, economics, engineering , or related fields; or University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in TVET, and in project preparation and administration of projects, practical knowledge, and experience in integration of financial, economic, social, institutional, and safeguard requirements and issues in project design and execution.
• Two years of relevant experience outside ADB within the past five years is required. Years as an ADB-engaged consultant or contractor are considered experience outside of ADB.
• Broad experience in the preparation of investment projects and analysis of relevant development policies, including knowledge on procurement and consultant recruitment.
• Managerial skills and experience leading professionals, teams, and missions for technical matters, projects, decisions in education sector management.
• Knowledge of human and social development issues in Asia and the Pacific and expertise within a specific area of ADB's operations (economic, sector, or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• International experience working in several countries.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for TI2.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

• Housing and education allowance (if applicable)
• Expatriate benefits (if applicable)
• Retirement plan
• Paid leave (including parental)
• Medical and health benefits
• Life and other insurance plans
• Staff development

Additional Information

This position is crucial to the Workforce Rebalancing Framework (2022-2027), a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing ADB's in-house expertise previously sourced from the external workforce. The role seeks seasoned experts with substantial field experience capable of leading policy dialogue, and projects focused on delivering knowledge solutions. Successful candidates may occasionally undertake short-term assignments in other groups or departments when required.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of three (3) years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. At the end of the initial period, this appointment may be renewed for a period of up to three years or not renewed. There is no limit on the number of renewals. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 69 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 69 members.

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