Vacancies – Saint Lucia Tvet Council

SAINT LUCIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL AN D VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (SLCTVET)

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR

QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICER

1. BACKGROUND

The Saint Lucia Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training SLCTVET is the national authority mandated by due legal process with the purpose of developing workforce competence for positive employment outcomes through the adoption of occupational standards and National/ Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (NVQ/ CVQ). This will be realized by developing and managing a comprehensive and integrated skills training system with emphasis on the relevance, quality and standards of public and private training institutions; the curriculum; the form/ mode of training; assessment; qualifications and certification.

The Council seeks to develop the required capacity to improve skills training provision in response to labour market demand. This includes adopting a strategic approach to resource management, investment in training development and quality assurance processes, better data management and engagement with TVET stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

The SLCTVET is collaborating with the Youth Skills for Employment Project (SkYE) to strengthen TVET systems and training provisions in Saint Lucia. The parties agree to work collaboratively to achieve positive training and employment outcomes for young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Through this collaboration, The SkYE will provide capacity building support for addressing the quality assurance and certification needs of the training programs to improve competitiveness by equipping youth with knowledge, skills, and attitudes sought by employers through private-sector driven training.

2. OBJECTIVES:

The SLCTVET seeks to

1. Strengthen its capacity to ensure the quality of certification and accreditation of the TVET

system;

2. Develop, document and maintain quality assurance standards for certification and accreditation;

3. Ensure that procedures/processes utilised by assessors and verifiers for determining assessment of competency conforms with the quality assurance requirements and written policies and regional guidelines.

3. DURATION

The successful applicant will be recruited on a contractual basis that may be renewed annually, subject to approval, evaluation and appraisal of the individual. The initial contract will be for a period of twelve months, commencing August, 2020, in the first instance.

4. SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of work for the Quality Assurance Officer will be guided by the objective to strengthen the capacity of the SLCTVET to ensure the quality of certification and accreditation of the TVET system.

The Quality Assurance Officer shall work under the supervision of the SLCTVET Executive Director and perform the main services outlined below: The Services shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

A. General Responsibilities

Develop documents and maintain quality assurance standards for certification and accreditation and ensure that the procedures utilized for determining assessment of competency is in accordance with prescribed procedures.

B. Specific Responsibilities and Tasks

In particular, the Quality Assurance Officer shall be responsible for:

i. Maintenance of the quality assurance standards including procedures and processes for certification and accreditation;

ii. Development and review of technical documents to facilitate improvements in the audit process.

iii. Coordination of the audit process including identification and management of audit teams iv. Review of assessment conducted to evaluate conformance to the SLCTVET Assessment

Guidelines

v. Provide feedback to auditors, assessors and verifiers on assignments

vi. Prepare and submit reports summarizing audit findings, strengths and weaknesses identified during the assessment and verification process and make recommendation for improvement

vii Prepare programmes to address weaknesses identified.

vii. Conducting workshops with assessors and verifiers to improve the assessment process. viii. Establish and maintain the Centre Approval Process

ix. Maintain all quality assurance documents and supporting evidence

x. Plan, organize activities of the SLCTVET’s Quality Assurance Committee

5. REPORTING

The Quality Assurance Officer will be required to prepare monthly reports for submission to the SLCTVET Executive Director or designate who will ensure the timely review and acceptance of the reports. Such reports shall be submitted on the 28th working day of the month and shall include all work activities. The monthly reports should also include the following documents where applicable.

● Audit Procedures documents

● Audit reports

● Assessment reports

All deliverables including reports shall be made in electronic format, i.e. Word, Excel, PDF

formats. All reports shall be submitted in English.

The “Officer will be paid based on the submission of the required monthly reports as approved by the SLCTVET Executive Director or designate

All reports and documents relevant to the Quality Assurance Officer’s services, audit reports, field survey notes, computer programmes, etc. shall become the property of the SLCTVET and remain confidential

6. WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

The Officer will work within the SLCTVET’s office on a full time basis for the duration of the contract. Working hours shall be Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The SLCTVET through the Executive Director will have oversight and shall supervise the work of the Quality Assurance Officer. The Officer will report to the SLCTVET’s Executive Director, and on a needs basis, to the SkYE Country Coordinator on accomplishments and work in progress.

The Quality Assurance Committee will provide technical guidance, advice and operational oversight in guiding the Quality Assurance Officer towards the accomplishment of the assigned tasks.

The SLCTVET will provide the Officer with office space, administrative support and access to computing and photocopying equipment. In the conduct of work, the Quality Assurance Officer shall cooperate fully with relevant Authorities and Agencies.

Salaries shall be commensurable to qualification and work experience.

7. MONITORING

The Executive Director will monitor and evaluate the work of the Quality Assurance Officer to ensure continuous commitment in meeting the objectives as indicated above (Section 2).

8. EVALUATION

The work of the Quality Assurance Officer shall be evaluated based on the following:

● Efficiency in the reports submitted

● Quality and accuracy of the reports submitted

● The quality in the delivery of services provided to Assessors

● Timeliness of the Reports

9. EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS Qualifications and Skill Requirements:

Academic:

● A Bachelor’s degree in Education inclusive of coursework in educational assessment.

● Specialized Training in Quality Assurance Practices including Auditing

Experience:

● A minimum of five years work experience in Technical and Vocational Education and Training at a technical or supervisory level.

● Demonstrated experience in the development and implementation of quality

assurance systems in education or related sectors

Skills:

● Excellent interpersonal skills

● Ability to be discrete and sensitive in working with confidential and personal client information

● Excellent oral and written communication skills (fluency in Creole included).

● Proficient in the use of the internet and computer software programmes, including: Excel, Word, and Power Point, etc.