Project/Language Assistant, EU4Skills: Better Skills for Modern Ukraine

Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), Kyiv, Ukraine. Fixed term (30 July 2023)

Job Title: Project / Language Assistant
Expected Start Date of Assignment: March 2021
End Date of Assignment: 31.05.2023
Working time: Full time, 8 hours a day
Salary: 1 000.00 – 1 600.00 €/month depending on the expertise of the candidate. The expert is expected to cover any necessary tax, pension and insurance costs.
Duty Station: Mostly in the GIZ Office, 20 Velyka Zhytomyrska St, 01001 Kyiv.
Citizenship: Ukrainian
  

Reports to: Key Expert (KE) Dr. Pasi Reinikainen  

Project: Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) is looking for a Local Project/Language Assistant for the EU4Skills: Better Skills for Modern Ukraine project co-financed by the European Union and its Member States.

EU4Skills supports the reform of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Ukraine. The aim is to make training more responsive to the labour market needs and help young people and adults to live up to their potential.

The EU4Skills project supports the reform of vocational education and training in Ukraine. EU4Skills is a multi-donor action of the European Union (EU) and its member states Germany, Finland, Poland and Estonia. The EDUFI is responsible for the implementation of Finland’s contribution. Further information on the project can be found https://mon.gov.ua/eng/news/eu-programme-eu4skills-supports-ukraine-reforming-system-vocational-education-and-training.<

Finland will contribute to the following four result areas of the project: development of qualifications, curriculum development, teacher training and school manager training.

Job Description: The Project/Language Assistant is -contracted by the EDUFI and is positioned in Kyiv. However, since the project will work in 7 focus regions: Zaprizhzhya, Vinnytsya, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Rivne, and in Chernivitsi oblast, the job might also require some domestic travelling.  

The Project/Language Assistant will support KE in the daily operations and administration of the project. The KE has the main responsibility for coordinating Finnish project activities (such as workshops and trainings) and finances (home office in Finland has the major responsibility) towards the goals of EU4Skills project. This will be done in close collaboration with the EDUFI, Finnish contractor that provides trainings and international experts of EU4Skills project. In Ukrainian side our closest partners are MoES’s and VET organizations and authorities. Carefully planned and conducted trainings will be provided to curriculum developers, trainers of trainers, teachers and principals.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assisting KE in day-to-day administrative and operational issues concerning implementation of the project work plan.
• Assisting KE in organization of webinars, experts’ missions, trainings, seminars, workshops, Steering Committee meetings, and other project events.
• Drafting of written materials in relation to organization of the project in Ukrainian and English, keeping and archiving project documentation, editing the monthly, quarterly and final project reports and any other relevant documents.
• Overall management of the office administration, including filing, organizing trainings, Short Term Expert (STA)missions, local travels, general desk office work etc.
• Organization of meetings and training events in cooperation with Ukrainian partners and Finnish Contractor, preparing meeting agenda and taking minutes.
• Developing and maintaining close working contacts and relationships with Ukrainian officials involved in each of the activities.
• Assisting in handling of budget accounting and financial information.
• Act as a translator and interpreter when needed (larger jobs will be outsourced)
• Drafting and editing minutes of meetings, assisting to the KE in drafting and editing monthly, quarterly and final project reports and any other relevant documents
• Arrangement of travel, booking accommodation and organization of study visit
• Office management and general correspondence.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: University degree in relevant field (preferably university degree in public administration, project administration, education or any other discipline relevant for the position) or equivalent qualification/practical experience.
• Linguistic skills: Mother tongue Ukrainian. Fluent in spoken and written English. Fluent spoken Russian is an asset. In addition, previous experience of translation and interpretation of educational contents is an asset.
• Professional experience: Proven experience, at least 2 years, in office management and administration; Practical experience in organization of events, seminars, trainings, study visits; Practical experience in day-to-day provision of translation and interpretation support to international advisors/experts. Previous work in international projects.
• Skills and knowledge: Good computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Internet, Power Point, etc.); excellent organizational and communication skills; capacity to work  independently as well as a part of multicultural team; Highly motivated and readiness to work hard and flexibly as part of an international result-oriented team; The Project/Language Assistant may not have or recently (past six months) have had any contractual relation with the beneficiary administration.
• Willingness to travel within Ukraine.
• WILL BE CONSIDERED AS AN ASSET:  Previous experience of working with MoES and/or GIZ; Knowledge of VET sector; Knowledge of EU4Skills.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
EDUFI will contract a full-time assistant for administrative support to the project. He/she will be contracted on the EDUFI rules through an open tender procedure. Interviews will be held with minimum three candidates. The assistant will act as a principal assistant to the KE and visiting short term experts. Successful applicant will be an independent consultant and undertake full responsibility for the payment of all taxes and obligations deriving from the legislation in force, including for those related to medical and social insurance. The salary will be paid and the working contract will be signed according to the EDUFI Contract. The assig the Project/Language assistant contract will run from the date of the signature throughout the period of implementation of the Finnish project, considering any possible prolongation of the project. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The interviews will take place in Zoom or TEAMS meetings, the exact date and time will be communicated with at least one week notice in advance.

THE APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE: a short (maximum 1 page, 2000 characters) motivation letter in English; a CV (Europass format) in English with detailed description of professional experience and education with exact dates; Copies of relevant documents (university degree, reference letters etc.) as appropriate. http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae/templates-instructions

Applications should be sent by e-mail to the following address: [email protected] by the deadline of 29.03.2021.

For further information:

Pasi Reinikainen

Key Expert, EDUFI

+358 41 5052633 (phone, WhatsApp, Signal)

[email protected]