Team Leader
EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE HE) programme
1.Background
In today's interconnected world, promoting exchanges and fostering people-to-people connectivity is increasingly vital for sustainable development and global collaboration. The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have a long-standing history of working together in trade facilitation, regional economic integration, transport, and people-to-people connectivity in education and research. Over the last four decades, both have emerged as dynamic regional blocs, fostering economic growth, cultural diversity, and cooperation among their member states. Both strive to balance economic and financial stability with environmental responsibility while ensuring society benefits from connectivity. In 2022, the EU and ASEAN have concluded a strategic partnership.
Access to higher education has expanded in the ASEAN region, enrolment rates have risen, and the quality of education has improved over the last four decades. However, challenges remain in realising the full potential of Higher Education, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and research, such as quality assurance, equitable access to education and training, skills gaps, and strengthening research capacity.
As part of the European Union's Global Gateway Initiative, Nuffic Southeast Asia and DAAD have designed a new EU-funded programme for Southeast Asia. EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package Higher Education (SCOPE-HE) programme will aim to strengthen human connections between ASEAN and the EU by focusing on gender equality, women's empowerment, digital skills, and green skills within the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC). Through this initiative, individuals, institutions, and societies in both regions will benefit from enhanced knowledge-sharing, inclusive practices, and a more robust global partnership.
The SCOPE HE programme consists of 3 components that will strengthen:
- Student, academic staff and researcher mobility, intra-ASEAN and between the EU and ASEAN, complementing the Erasmus+ programme in line with the relevant ASEAN strategies and action plans.
- EU-ASEAN cross-regional university networks to tackle global challenges jointly by fostering research on the Green Transition, Blue Economy, and Digitalisation.
- ASEAN regional network of Vocational Education Institutions, strengthening linkages with the private sector for sustainability and delivering skills and connections relevant to the ASEAN labour market. The thematic focus in these components will also be on supporting the Green Transition, Blue Economy, and Digitalisation.
The SCOPE HE programme will do so by:
- Providing capacity building for Higher Education Institutions (HEI), TVET institutions, and individuals.
- Providing technical assistance where and when external input is needed on relevant matters.
- Organising policy dialogues to exchange ideas, share best practices, and align strategies to achieve common goals in education, skills development, and research within the ASEAN region and between ASEAN and the EU, and
- Facilitating networking to connect individuals and institutions.
The programme will take an impactful approach based on evidence and adaptability, relying on four core principles:
- A demand-driven approach adjusted to the specific needs and potential risks identified and aligned with the SEA region's demand.
- Inclusion of regional and national partners to maximise the impact and create synergies by combining regional-level cooperation with key ASEAN bodies and targeted actions at the country level.
- A multidimensional approach to identify possible leverage, particularly on economic development, environmental sustainability, and digital connectivity with the other workstreams of the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity package and the ASEAN Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space 2025.
- An impact-oriented approach includes collaboration, open communication, and information exchange.
Nuffic Southeast Asia seeks a responsible, proactive and results-driven individual who combines an entrepreneurial attitude with good communication skills and knowledge of programme management and the education sector to lead the implementation of its EU co-funded SCOPE HE programme, to the value of EUR 9.3 million over four years.
The SCOPE HE programme Team Leader will be pivotal in successfully implementing this programme. This role requires a strategic thinker, exceptional leadership skills, a thorough understanding of ASEAN and Europe's higher education and vocational training sectors, and a proven track record in managing sizeable projects. The role involves steering programme implementation and developing innovative approaches and activities. It also consists of building successful and inclusive relationships with regional sector partners and stakeholders, including EU and ASEAN higher education and vocational education training institutions, international development organisations, and private and public sector representatives. S/he will represent SCOPE HE in dedicated forums and work closely with NUFFIC and DAAD programme managers to gather best practices and lessons learned and advocate for the programme's successes.
The interested candidates must be able to work with a high level of autonomy and flexibility, drawing on previous practices and policies and leading on strategic planning, coordination, team management, stakeholder engagement, financial oversight, advocacy, communications, and continuous learning.
- Responsibilities and Main Duties
The Team Leader will be accountable for implementing SCOPE HE's, strategic direction, technical outcomes and results to EU and Nuffic's standards. S/he will serve as the Programme's representative and key point of contact for Nuffic, DAAD, the European Union Delegation to ASEAN, and other relevant stakeholders. S/he will be responsible for:
Strategic Direction, Technical Oversight and Quality Review
- Liaise with the beneficiary and the contracting authority.
- Providing technical and strategic leadership in close liaison with Nuffic, DAAD, the European Union Delegation to ASEAN, ASEC and ASEAN bodies.
- Ensuring timely delivery of the programme and alignment with the logical framework, theory of change, intervention logic, sustainability strategy, baseline survey, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) strategy, gender strategy, communication strategy, and policy briefing papers.
- Providing a technical quality review of all project-related documents, including terms of references, calls for proposals, training curricula, policy dialogues agenda, etc.
- Leading and supervising the Programme team to deliver the three programme result strands and ensuring alignment with the procedural and contractual obligations of the contracting authority.
- Managing and overseeing robust programme monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems and processes.
Programme Implementation
- Oversee the preparation of work plans and schedules of the different programme strands.
- Managing the successful inception phase, collaborating with Nuffic and DAAD country teams and experts.
- Identify short-term experts to support the delivery of the programme.
- Leading and coordinating the implementation of all programme activities outlined in the Description of Action and annual work plans.
- Overseeing technical and financial aspects of design, preparation, quality assurance, monitoring, and reporting.
- Suggesting and implementing programme approaches and activities that enhance effectiveness and relevance,
- Ensuring the alignment of budget and financial planning to support programme delivery, in close coordination with the Senior Programme Manager.
- Developing, maintaining, and regularly updating a risk management strategy.
- Contributing to internal and external reporting.
- Providing overall strategic guidance and policy guidelines and assessing aspects of programme progress against targeted results at the annual Project Steering Committee.
Representation and Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement
- Initiating, facilitating, and strengthening relationships with regional sector partners on 'green transition', 'digital transformation' and 'blue economy', stakeholders, EU, ASEAN higher education institutions, international organisations, the private sector, and government representatives.
- Representing the programme internally and externally.
- Working closely with the M&E Manager and Communications Manager to communicate the programme results and collect best practices and lessons learned.
- Advocating for the programme's successes in the sector.
Team Management
- Contribute to the recruitment and performance management of the SCOPE HE Team, including line-managing 4 staff in the Programme Management Office (PMO), as well as occasional consultants (short and long-term).
- Ensure coherence and a 'one team' management approach in SCOPE HE between Nuffic and DAAD (14 full time and 3 parttime staff, in total).
The post holder will report directly to the Director of Nuffic Southeast Asia and the Programme Board regarding activities and results and work closely with colleagues in ASEAN and Europe and occasionally in other parts of the world.
3.Specifications
The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal and intercultural skills, allowing her or him to navigate complex relationships easily. With a profound understanding of Southeast Asian and European Union contexts, s/he approaches people with an open and constructive attitude, fostering positive collaborations. Her/is strategic mindset and situational awareness enable the ideal candidate to act pragmatically and with a results-oriented approach.
As a flexible and independent professional, s/he can travel beyond traditional office hours. Familiarity with the role of large programme technical manager and your ability to maintain objectivity during stakeholder engagement are crucial aspects of Her/is skill set.
English is this post's work language; knowledge of any ASEAN member state language(s) would be considered valuable.
Nationals of ASEAN member states are particularly encouraged to apply for this position.
Education and Professional Background
- Advanced degree in education, social sciences, development management, or equivalent in professional experience. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- A minimum of 10 years of professional experience working in the field of education, policymaking and/or capacity building.
Leadership and Management Experience
- Previous experience in managing or being part of an EU-funded programme is highly desirable.
- Familiar with the procedures and contractual obligations of EU-funded programmes (especially INTPA).
- A minimum of 10 years of experience working with public bodies.
- At least five years managing a team of professional colleagues.
- At least five years in a leading position in large regional programs, including grants schemes.
Programme Design, Implementation, and Stakeholder Engagement
- At least five years of experience designing and implementing programmes to influence public policy and practice.
- Established network of educational, public, and private stakeholders in Southeast Asia and the European Union on at least one of these topics: 'Green Transition', 'Digital Transformation' and 'Blue Economy.'.
- Experience in bilateral donor-funded projects, preferably EU-funded, related to education, gender, and/or civil society engagement and working with international partners.
- At least five years of experience contributing to monitoring and evaluating international projects.
- Experience with the challenges of managing multinational teams.
- Experience in addressing capacity gaps and challenges in the post-secondary education sector.
- Good understanding of private sector development issues in the ASEAN region.
- Knowledge of or experience with priority areas or cross-cutting themes in the programme.
Competencies required.
- Leadership
- Synthetic and Analytical skills
- Collaborating
- Politically sensitive
- Writing skills
- Communication
4.Location and Duration
The Team Leader will be based in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the duration of the programme, with associated country travel. A total of 48 months is budgeted for this full-time post. The selected individual shall be paid monthly, commensurate to experience and salary history. The expected start date is the 1st of March 2024.
5. Our offer
- A dynamic and international work environment.
- The opportunity to shape the future of people-to-people connectivity in the ASEAN region in the fields of 'Green Transition', 'Digital Transformation' and 'Blue Economy.'
- An attractive salary of up to IDR 75.000.000 gross monthly rate.
- Additional benefits, including health insurance and support for relocating to Jakarta from within the ASEAN region
- A one-year contract under Indonesian labour law, with the possibility to extend to four years.
How to apply?
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate.
- How they have successfully created open, honest, and effective relationships, and
- how they intend to use their learning and experience towards achieving the outcomes of this programme.
For more information about the position, please contact: pvantuijl@nuffic.nl
If you want to apply, please submit your motivation letter, including how you respond to the required qualifications, a CV as well as the names and contact information of three references to: sea.recruitment@nuffic.nl and put SCOPE TL in the subject line. The deadline for applications is 19 January 2024. We will contact shortlisted candidates only
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