Job Summary

RTI is currently accepting Workforce Skills Development Advisor candidates for a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded higher education project in Laos—the USAID/Laos Higher Education for Accelerated Development (LEAD) project—that will be implemented through September 2027. The project office and staff will be based out of Vientiane, Laos. Some in-country travel will be necessary for this position, potentially up to 30%.

LEAD intends to improve access in Laos to high-quality, market-relevant higher education that supports socio-economic development in Laos. It will do so by concurrently strengthening the capacity of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), helping these institutions modernize their academic programs, and advancing 21st-century skills. It will accomplish these objectives in part by providing scholarships to Lao students and professionals that support full-time academic degree programs and by awarding grants to five HEIs to support capacity development reforms.

This Advisor is one of a limited number of technical specialists who will ensure that LEAD is able to immediately and continually provide targeted technical assistance to Government of Lao and HEI stakeholders, ensuring that LEAD most fully achieves the goals of the Government. The Workforce Skills Development Advisor will provide technical assistance to HEIs specifically to improve HEI ability to produce 21^st century employability skills.

Responsibilities

• Map relevant higher education institution providers in the relevant sectors and engage them in project activities; collaborate with higher education institutions and other Government of Lao stakeholders to establish sector-focused Learning and Innovation Networks that enable these providers and private sector partners to meet and exchange information, innovations, and learnings to promote spread and uptake of innovations being pursued at various levels; on an annual basis, assess network performance and inform adaptations.
• Lead the analysis of 21st century employability skills that employers in Lao PDR see as lacking.
• Support HEIs in Lao to conduct knowledge and skills gap assessments of their leadership, staff, and faculty and to develop 21^st century employability skills.
• Based on capacity assessments, provide capacity strengthening for HEIs in gold-standard approaches to developing 21^st century employability skills, including designing innovations to strengthen such skills, such as designing virtual or digital education offerings and virtual offerings that improve inclusivity.
• Design and provide initial short course offerings (virtual and in-person) on 21^st century employability skills through LEAD project staff and Master Trainer and Advisors, based on identified needs.
• Lead the piloting of LEAD grant and technical assistance activities that are designed to leverage private sector support to expand and enhance the Lao PDR education market for 21st century employability skills.
• Facilitate annual, sector-specific public-private dialogues to promote private sector engagement in strengthening HEIs.
• Perform other tasks as needed.

Qualifications

Masters degree and 10 years of experience or Bachelors Degree and 12 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills & Abilities

Below are skills and abilities required to perform the essential duties of this job.

• Demonstrated experience working on issues of 21^st century skill development, preferably in the education sector.
• Experience working with USAID or other donor-funded projects preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain professional relationships with host country government counterparts as well as NGOs, community groups, and key stakeholders involved in higher education and workforce development.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan, guide, and implement work with demonstrated experience in mainstreaming GESI for improved equitable benefit from program activities.
• Reading, speaking, and writing proficiency in both Lao and English required.
• Ability to work throughout Lao.
• Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

“The employment date is subject to the MOU signing date”