Introduction

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Office in Bangladesh is assisting the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), under Technical and Madrasah Education Division (TMED) to implement the Promoting Gender Responsive Enterprise Development and TVET Systems (ProGRESS) project to contribute to the promotion of women’s economic empowerment in Bangladesh through policy reforms, TVET services, entrepreneurship promotion, and skills development with gender equality and green skills at the core of its strategies. The project targets Chattogram, Sylhet, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachari, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and coastal belts of Khulna and Barishal divisions which suffer from high rates of poverty and low levels of economic development. The project is based on the market system approach to value chain development, which is the promotion of strategically planned and locally driven partnerships for the creation to productive employment and decent work for women, youth and persons with disability. The project will run for five years starting from 2022-2027. The project is funded by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

The ProGRESS Project focuses on the following areas:

1. Adoption and implementation of National Strategy on Gender Equality in TVET (2012), TVET Development Action Plan; NSDP 2021, national budget and operational systems which promote gender equality particularly in terms of digital access, enterprise development and green job;
2. Increased opportunities for wage and self-employment of women within selected value chains and market systems, particularly in the green growth sectors
3. Improved availability of accessible, inclusive, sustainable and green skills training opportunities for women, youths, persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups.

The main objective of the ProGRESS Project is to support the economic empowerment of female work force of Bangladesh in order to improve their economic wellbeing and maximize their contribution to the national economic growth. In particular, it aims to increase number of women in Bangladesh employed with decent work in a broader range of occupations (10,000 young women and men out of which 50% are women, 5% persons with disabilities and 3% ethnic communities).

Private Sector Engagement Officer: Roles and Functions  

The inclumbent plays a critical role of  supporting and coordinating the implementation, scaling, and institutionalization of two high-impact innovations under the ILO ProGRESS Project. The overarching goal is to effectively bridge the skills mismatch and enhance the employability of Bangladeshi youth, women, and marginalized groups

       Guidance and Supervision

The National Project  Officer – Private Sector Engagement Officer will work under the overall management and supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor of ProGRESS Project and under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer for Skills Development.

Description of Duties

1. Skills Need Anticipation and Employment Support Service System (ESS & SNAs). To ensure the development, integration, and utilization of the digital platform to provide real-time labour market information and employment support. The responsibilities include:  

1. Stakeholder and System Integration Management. To coordinate and facilitate real-time data exchange among all platform users: employers, job seekers, TVIs, and government agencies. Ensure interoperability and integration with national systems such as BTEB’s GTMS, NSDA’s NSP, UNDP’s Future Nation, BANBEIS, and BBS labour surveys5.
2. Private Sector Engagement and Adoption. To secure and maintain active participation from selected employers, investors, and HR professionals.   Drive the use of the platform's ESS component for job matching, vacancy posting, and accessing a pool of qualified candidates.
3. Technical Requirement Translation. Support the technical team in applying data analytics and AI forecasting for the SNA component to identify and anticipate emerging skill needs. Translate these insights to policymakers and TVIs to inform evidence-based curriculum adjustments and training program updates
4. Governance and Sustainability.  Support the establishment of a public-private partnership model for the governance and management of the system, to be eventually housed in the MOLE, to ensure long-term sustainability and alignment with national strategies.

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b. Industrial Attachment (Pilot) Program. To strengthen the collaboration between technical education and industry by managing the structured Industrial Attachment model and supporting its national scaling. The responsibilities include: 

1. Partnership Development and Maintenance. Strengthen strategic partnerships between BTEB, industries, and chambers. Engage with employers and HR professionals to secure high-quality, supervised industry placements for diploma students, ensuring the attachment meets employer expectations
2. Program Quality and Implementation Oversight. Support BTEB in implementing the structured model, including the one-month pre-attachment phase (digital/soft skills training and readiness assessments) and the three-month supervised attachment across six sectors in Chattogram.
3. Post-Placement Support. Coordinate retention interviews and career placement services for students through industry chambers and HR networks.
4. Scaling and Institutionalization. Assist in expanding the model to other institutions and certification levels, supporting the national scaling efforts expressed by TMED. Provide technical support to elevate the system into the country’s Apprenticeship System, following the ILO Quality Apprenticeship Recommendation (2023).

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c. Other duties

i. Carry out regular programme related support functions including planning, organizing and facilitating workshops, training events and consultative meetings.

ii.  Prepare work plans and reports according to the prescribed formats and methodologies.

iii. Provide inputs on related-matters required from time to time by the Country Office, DWT and ILO HQ.

iv. Actively contribute to the Jobs and Social Protection Cluster.

v. Perform any other related duties as required, or as maybe assigned by the supervisor from time to time.

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in public policy or Business Administration with a focus on workforce development and a strong foundation in private sector development. 

Experience

Two years of experience in programme support activities with private sector on related work. Demonstrated skills and experience in working with women and underprivileged communities will be an added advantage.

1. Demonstrated strong social capital engaging industries/employers in Chattogram and in other major economic hubs of Bangalesh.
2. Knowledge of the labor market dynamics, education and skills development landscape in Bangladesh
3. Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the employment system in Bangladesh with focus on education, skills development, employment services system
4. Workforce development or with digital skills development programs would be highly valuable.
5. Minimum 10 years of experience in data management system preferably in the field skills development, employment services, or vocational education.
6. Demonstrated ability to reach out to the public-private institutes, relevant private sector organizations and relevant stakeholders in the Education and TVET systems
7. Working experience with international development partners/donor/UN agencies will be added value.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of Bangla and English

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work in the programme development services.
• Demonstrated ability to use word processing software.
• Ability to use other software packages will be an advantage.
• Thorough knowledge of skills development practice and procedures.
• Proven ability to communicate with the government, private and workers organizations.
• Proven experience to deal with and respond to requests from officials from government offices, ministries, ILO constitutes and project partners.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.