Director, Center of Excellence

The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) in Timor-Leste, collaborating with the Government of Timor-Leste and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the Government of the United States of America, is responsible for implementing the $420 million Timor-Leste Compact, which, together with an additional contribution of $64 million from the Government of Timor-Leste, represents a total $484 million investment in Timor-Leste. The Compact aims to address human capital development as a binding constraint to economic growth in Timor-Leste through two projects: the Water, Sanitation, and Drainage (WSD) Project and the Teaching and Leading the Next generation of Timorese (TALENT) Project.

The TALENT Project aims to improve student learning outcomes by investing in teacher and school leader education and training. The TALENT Project will establish Timor-Leste’s first formal pre-service teacher training and certification institution for secondary education: the Center of Excellence (CoE). The project will also seek to increase the number of women in secondary school teaching and leadership positions through a Women’s Economic Empowerment in Education (WEE) activity.

The Development Director of the Center of Excellence (CoE) will serve in two capacities: as the CoE Development Director responsible for setting up an autonomous public institution, and as key staff for the MCA. In their capacity, they will be tasked with legal, administrative, and physical establishment of the new institution with the assistance of a contractor until such time at which a permanent Institutional Director is hired. It is not expected that a permanent Director will be hired within the first year or two of Compact Implementation. It should be noted, the Development Director will not be prohibited from applying for the permanent Institutional Director position. When a permanent Director of the CoE is hired, MCA oversight duties of the Development Director will remain for the duration of the Compact to ensure consistent support of the contractor’s work to fully establish the new educator Training Center. In their role at the MCA, the Development Director will provide oversight of activities under a Training and Institutional Support Contract related to the setting up and maintenance of the new institution. Additionally, they will be responsible for overseeing the Program Manager for CoE construction who will be tasked with the oversight of the design and construction of the CoE. The Director of the CoE will ensure that the structure meets the training needs to be conducted there. The CoE building will house the training services for new teachers that will be pursuing their certification as secondary school teachers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support and advise the Managing Director of Education on a range of issues for the Center of Excellence, including the status and performance of project activities, risks, impacts of risks, progress on milestones and timeline impact for all investment activities, budget updates and their compliance with MCC requirements and applicable local standards.
• Oversee activities tasked to the Training and Institutional Support Contractor related to the institutional set up of the CoE. The Development Director will be responsible for assisting the contractor in setting up a board of directors for the CoE, developing the organizational structure, creating a staffing structure, identifying steps for legal formalization, and outlining the financing necessary to keep the CoE operational.
• Oversee the Program Manager for the Design and Construction of the CoE. Ensuring on time delivery of the construction of the CoE building that matches with the identified training, staffing and resource needs.
  o Manage the day-to-day work of the Program Manager CoE Construction. Assist TALENT Project Staff in making timely decisions, resolving conflicts or uncertainties, addressing issues and risks that arise during implementation, achieving milestones on time and within budget, and ensuring that Compact projects and activities deliver established results.
• Manage the development and execution of appropriate implementation plans, including procurement plans, budgets, work plans, and design and construction schedules.
• Meet with and provide regular updates to the Managing Director of Education. Updates should include reporting on progress towards meeting milestones in the work plan, resource allocation and budget, procurement planning, identification of successes and challenges, risk assessment and mitigation.
• Contribute to the development of a collaborative, teamwork environment within the TALENT Project Team of MCA and with external stakeholders and implementing entities.
• Identify necessary technical resources, including technical support from the Managing Director of Education, MCC and external consultants, to support the proper implementation of compact projects and activities.

Requirements (Education, Experience, Technical Competencies):

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, preferably in the areas of educational leadership, organizations/institutions of higher education and teacher education, Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• At least ten years of prior experience in organizational development preferably in education with a focus on legal formalization of a new entity or organization.
• Project management certification preferred but not essential.
• Demonstrated experience developing policy frameworks, organizational structure, planning for the recruitment and management of students, designing and supporting implementation of systems and structures that will support student and teachers and encourage attendance and advancement.
• Demonstrated experience in educational leadership. Experience working with post-secondary institutions domestically or overseas preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and persuasively in English both orally and in writing, required. Ability to write, read and communicate effectively in Portuguese, strongly preferred as Portuguese is the legal language of instruction at the secondary level in Timor-Leste.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting legal recognition of a Center of Excellence or similar size institution and supporting modifications of legal statutes.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated similar work experience in Timor-Leste and experience coordinating with government institutions is an advantage.

These employment opportunities are open to all eligible candidates regardless of their nationalities, race, ethnicity, gender and religion. Timorese Nationals are strongly encouraged to apply. All positions will be based on Dili, Timor-Leste. Competitive compensation package will be provided.

Detailed information on the vacancies, position descriptions (PDs), and requirements (education, experience, competencies) can be viewed on https://timorleste-jobs.tenderwell.app. How to apply: applications must be submitted in English and online on https://timorleste-jobs.tenderwell.app. E-mail applications will not be considered.

Applications documents must include: 1). A CV of no more than 3 pages describing the candidate's qualifications and experience related to the PDs.; 2). Electronic copy of the relevant Academic Certificate(s); and 3). A list of 3 professional references (including at least 1 former supervisor), including name, title, relationship with the candidate, telephone number, and e-mail address.

To ensure equal opportunity and neutrality, application documents should not include details related to: age, marital status, political and religious affiliation, family information.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further recruitment phase. Short-listed candidates will be expected to submit samples of relevant past work assignments and demonstrate English proficiency when applicable. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and security checks, results of which will form the basis for the final hiring decisions.

For any queries, please contact: [email protected]*