Higher Education Systems Strengthening Advisor - USAID UPSKILL

Job Description

RTI International / Research Triangle Institute (RTI) is both a global research institute and a leading international development organization. We combine these powerful capabilities with those of our partners to co-create smart, shared solutions for a more prosperous, equitable, and resilient world. Based in North Carolina, USA, RTI is one of USAID’s top implementing partners. A commitment to making meaningful change energizes our 6,000 staff who deliver results across eight international development sectors and in more than 80 countries. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

The RTI Center for Governance promotes strong, stable societies by empowering people and strengthening institutions. Building on RTI’s decades-long legacy of leading governance projects around the world, the Center works to increase transparency and accountability, mitigate corruption, and help government actors to better deliver on the needs of citizens. Boasting a global reach, the RTI Center for Governance includes partners, expertise, and learnings from major initiatives spanning sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. The Center leverages RTI’s longstanding local partnerships to bring together governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities to define problems and jointly create sustainable solutions in countries around the world.

Project Description

The recently awarded United States Agency for International Development (USAID) US-Philippine Partnership for Skills, Innovation and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) Program will strengthen the Philippine higher education system to support broad-based and inclusive growth. It will do this by strengthening the innovation capacities and workforce development functions of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) through faculty development, curriculum improvements, and engagement with industry and international partners; as well as overall improvements in HEI management and administration. UPSKILL will also support an enabling regulatory and policy environment to improve governance in the sector; and provide convergence platforms for local stakeholders to work together in achieving shared development goals.

Position Description

RTI is seeking a Higher Education Systems Strengthening Advisor on the recently awarded USAID UPSKILL Activity. The Higher Education Systems Strengthening Advisor will be responsible for implementing project initiatives that support policy implementation and governance with HEIs and government partners towards shared development objectives in workforce development and innovation-led growth.

This position will be based in Manila, Philippines, and reports to the DCOP Technical.

• Leads activity implementation that supports existing collaborative mechanisms, HEI associations, policy-making bodies, and national coordinating councils.

• Coordinates institutional assistance to key partners in areas such as change management, quality assurance, and data management.
• Provides technical expertise related to policy development, systems strengthening, and strategic planning with key government partners in higher education and innovation.
• Coordinates the conduct of research and provision of experts that support higher education policy implementation and convergence.
• Builds and maintains relationships with key sector partners, donors, consultants, host country counterparts and stakeholders. Collaborates with colleagues across RTI on technical, administrative, and strategic planning initiatives. Ensures best practices and lessons learned are captured and disseminated across project.

• Bachelor’s Degree and 12 years of experience, Master’s degree and 10 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in the policy and regulatory environments of higher education and innovation.
• Demonstrated ability to work with government agencies, multi-agency councils and working groups, and academic associations.
• Expertise in policy implementation, regulatory reforms, and institutional development.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain professional working relationships with high-level counterparts within the complex operating environments of education policy and institutional change management.

• Experience preferred in higher education policy areas such as qualification/skill frameworks, program accreditation, curriculum reform, transnational education, and research incentives.
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Outstanding research, coordination, and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in English required.
• Ability to work throughout the Philippines.

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