The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:  Training Specialist  

Organisation: United States Peace Corps

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Annual Pay Range: 92,958,853 to 136,598,521 UGX

About Organisation:

The U.S. Peace Corps is an agency of the United States Government, which sends American volunteer development workers to assist in capacity building and technical assistance activities in more than 60 countries worldwide. It operates in Uganda by the invitation of the Government of Uganda and has a memorandum of understanding with government ministries that outline broad areas of agreement of cooperation regarding the work of Peace Corps Volunteers in Uganda. Volunteers are assigned to government and non-governmental agencies and organizations, community-based organizations, colleges and schools who in partnership enable Volunteers to provide capacity building in Education, Health, and Agribusiness and Community Economic Development. Peace Corps also aims to build cultural understanding between Americans and Ugandans.

Job Summary:   The Training Specialist, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of Programming and Training (DDPT), will coordinate all Peace Corps Uganda training activities in alignment with Peace Corps Uganda and PC Washington guidelines. He or she ensures that all training events are well-planned and well-executed, which will require strong collaboration with Program Teams, the Medical Unit, Safety and Security, the Administrative Unit, and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Specialist. In addition, the Training Specialist will coordinate recruitment for, oversee the work of, and monitor performance of short-term and intermittent contractors as they perform training duties.

The services to be performed will be subject to the ultimate responsibility and authority of the Peace Corps Country Director who is responsible for all Peace Corps activities in Uganda.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Training Coordination:  

• Coordinates the training cycle for all Volunteer service models including Pre-service Trainings and Orientations, In-service Trainings, Mid-Service Conference, Close of Service Conference, and just in time trainings for Volunteers and/or their Ugandan counterparts. Ensures other PC Uganda units have all the information required to support trainings in a timely manner.
• Coordinates the design and implementation of the Calendar of Training Events (COTE) for each training, ensuring that the COTE is connected to the Continuum of Learning and Assessment (CLA).
• Incorporates COTE input from the Country Director, DPT, Program Teams, Peace Corps Medical Officers (PCMOs), Safety and Security Manager (SSM), administrative staff, and all other necessary Peace Corps (PC) staff, host agencies, and trainers. Checks to ensure that training requirements specified by PC Washington or Post are incorporated into the COTE.
• With input from PC staff and short-term specialists, such as the Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator and the Homestay Coordinator, integrates cross-cultural programming, community entry experiences, and hands-on training into Volunteer training experiences.
• Organizes planning meetings for trainings and other events with support from the Executive/P&T Assistant.
• Leads the identification of venues for training and other events with input and support from other staff, including determining training-related requirements and assessing the suitability of potential training venues based on Peace Corps standards as well as the needs of the specific training or event.
• Designs and oversees trainings of trainers (TOT) that strengthen teamwork and prepare everyone involved for successful training.
• Supports training with effective facilitation including ice breaker sessions, processing sessions, etc.
• Supports the development of PC Uganda-specific learning materials, such as manuals, briefs, and videos.
• Provides training and advice on adult learning strategies and effective facilitation to other PC staff who are delivering technical training.
• As a training expert, offers insight to senior staff on training and crosscutting strategic areas.
• Assists the DDPT in developing, assessing and redesigning competencies and training sessions as required.
• With the DDPT and input from other staff, develops and oversees the annual Calendar of Programming and Training Events (COPTE).
• Provides Volunteer/Trainee support.

Logistics and Administrative duties:

• Identifies short-term and intermittent training contractor needs for training services, including homestay coordination, language and cross-cultural coordination & facilitation, and training logisticians.
• With the Admin Unit, supports the scoping, advertising, selection, and contracting any short-term or intermittent staff required for training events.
• Ensures short-term and intermittent contractors are selected and hired in a timely manner and have the resources and guidance to implement their duties.
• Provides day-to-day monitoring and support to short-term and intermittent training contractors as instructed by the Deputy Director of Programming and Training.
• Produce accurate budgets and cash needs projections for all training events and support the Admin Unit to procure appropriate venues, specialist trainers, equipment and supplies for these trainings in a timely manner.
• Manages training budgets by supervising financial record keeping related to training activities; includes preparing training budgets, monitoring cash flow and reviewing services provided, and reporting to the DDPT.
• With the DDPT, supports the PC Uganda online learning platform (Learning Space), ensuring that all training and programming resources are uploaded, courses are updated, and PCV/Ts have access to the information they need.
• Coordinates with GSO for records property inventory management with check in and check out lists and the submission of final inventory of all PC property for trainings to GSO/DMO in a timely manner.
• Supports the Safety and Security Manager in ensuring venues for trainings and other events are safe and secure. Reinforces Trainee and Volunteer roles and responsibilities related to personal Safety and Security.
• Serves as sub-cashier or Occasional Money Handler.
• If designated, act as Point of Contact for venue contracts.
• Maintains and organizes training records.
• The PSC may be required to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who furnish supplies and /or services to training sites, or other locations as directed by the Contracting Officer. The PSC may also be required to courier cash to PC trainees or Volunteers. The PSC will not be a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an intermediary between the Contracting or Disbursing Officer and the recipient. In the case of dealing with vendors, the PSC will not exercise any procurement discretion concerning the supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these purchases; these will be determined by the Contracting Officer.

Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation (MRE):

• Co-ordinates and collects data and information from PCV/PCTs; and prepares and contributes to trainings using the findings. The duties include:
• Works with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER) Specialist to conduct needs assessments in advance of trainings and conferences.
• Works with MER Specialist to design and implement a training evaluation process that provides timely and useful information to inform both real-time and adjustments to on-going trainings and lessons learned for the next training cycle. For example, helps assemble a PST report and reports on language performance.
• Supports the assessment of PCV/Ts, including helping the Deputy Director of Programming and Training (DDPT) in PST round-table preparation and documentation.
• Coordinates and completes post Status Report (SRs), and all other training related reports.

Other:

• Periodically serves as post duty officer responsible for weekend and after-hour emergencies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the CD, DPT or DDPT to assist Peace Corps successfully carry out its mission in Uganda.
• Conducts periodic in-service training for staff with an aim of enhancing their training skills.
• Learn other P&T duties and back up other P&T positions as needed.
• May serve as a PCV Committee staff point of contact.
• Performs any other duties as may be assigned.

Standard Roles and Responsibilities

• S&S: Ensures safety and security competencies are incorporated and actively integrated in PST and IST programs. Ensures that the global core sessions are incorporated into PST and that relevant staff participate.  Evaluates and documents effectiveness of training, including PCV/T progress on safety and security competencies.  Working with CD, DPT, relevant PMs, and SSM/A, develops, assesses and redesigns competencies and training sessions as required. Ensures that safety and security systems for Pre-Service Training are in place, including evaluation of homestay sites and the orientation of host families.  Provides training to trainers and other staff, practicum partners, local officials, and PCTs, regarding their roles and responsibilities related to PCV/T safety and security. Identifies and immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) and the Country Director (CD).  Participates in the design and implementation of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP). Acts as duty officer, as needed.  Knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Minimum Requirements:

At a minimum, the successful candidate’s CV must demonstrate the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a field of study relevant for development, training and adult education.
• At least five years in progressively more complex roles in training and adult education.
• Experience coordinating a team to organize, execute and evaluate complex training programs.
• Experience and ability to facilitate technical, operational, and/or specialty training events and programs.
• Level IV English ability (good working knowledge).
• Skilled in word processing, budget management, and MS Excel.
• Must be able to legally work in Uganda.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a field of study relevant for development, training and adult education.
• Experience managing complex training programs in the international development field, preferably with an international, cross-cultural organization or business.
• Cross-cultural training experience with Americans.
• Exceptional written and oral English communication skills.
• Willingness to take initiative, strong service attitude, strong interpersonal skills, strong interest in Uganda’s development and ability to travel extensively.
• Ability to work as a team, extremely flexible with good organization and time management skills.
• Study and/or experience in agriculture, development, education, health, teaching or teacher training.

How to Apply:

Only Electronic Submissions will be accepted.

Please submit Word formatted documents to ug-applications@peacecorps.gov

• A letter of interest (maximum 1 page),
• A resume (maximum 3 pages)
• Names and contact information for three references (1 page)

Clearly indicate your name and the position applied for on the subject line of the cover email as well as on all the attachments: For example, “ODONG Richard_Medical Assistant”. Do not write any other words in the subject line of your mail.

Deadline: 4th December 2024

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