Position Title: Senior Program Officer-Livelihoods and Skills Development

Department: Skills for Hope, Independence, and Empowerment (SHINE)

Number of Position: 01

Location: Based at CARE Bangladesh Cox's Bazar Regional Office

Duration: Duration of the contract will be up to December 31, 2025

I. Job Summary:  

CARE is one of the world's leading international humanitarian and development organizations, committed to helping people in poor communities improve their lives and alleviate poverty. Founded in 1945, CARE is working with over 121 countries to fight global poverty and marginalization. CARE has been active in Bangladesh since 1949 and is one of the largest programs in CARE confederation. Women and girls are at the core of all CARE programs because they represent half of the marginalized group, and it is not possible to overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE Bangladesh works to implement programs with long-term impacts that result in sustainable changes for the extreme poor and marginalized communities.

The Senior Program Officer - Livelihoods and Skills Development will lead the design, implementation, and oversight of livelihoods and skills development initiatives in Rohingya refugee camps and host communities in Cox's Bazar. Reporting to the Senior Team Leader – AHP Bangladesh Consortium, the role involves managing the partnership with implementing partners, ensuring effective budget management, and coordinating with the Livelihoods and Skills Development sector and relevant stakeholders. Key responsibilities include program design in alignment with the relevant frameworks, partner oversight, financial management, stakeholder coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and timely reporting to ensure impactful and sustainable interventions.

II. Responsibilities and Tasks:  
 
Responsibility # 1: Program Design and Implementation
30%
  • Develop and implement comprehensive livelihoods and skills development programs aligned with the 'Government of Bangladesh-United Nations Framework on Skills Development for Rohingya refugees/FDMNs and Host Communities.'
  • Work with supervisor and partners to prepare operations manual/standard operating procedures (SOP) to carry out locally-led livelihood innovation interventions across target sectors in close collaboration with local Govt. officials, private sector and nature-dependent vulnerable people.
  • Prepare livelihood and skill development work plan, in coordination with partners, with the supervisor's guidance, to develop and implement effective strategies and operational plans, ensuring timely implementation of activities with technical support, project follow-up and monitoring, and required budgetary oversight.
  • Work with local government and private sector to enhance the capacity of local government bodies and market actors to deliver and sustain livelihood solutions.

 

Responsibility # 2: Partnership Management
25%
  • Serve as the primary liaison with implementing partners, overseeing program implementation and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
  • Oversee implementation progress, track deliverables, and ensure compliance with program requirements and timelines.
  • Provide technical guidance, training, and operational support to strengthen the partners' ability to deliver high-quality livelihood and skills development interventions.

 

Responsibility # 3: Coordination and Collaboration
15%
  • Actively participate in sector meetings and collaborate with the Livelihoods and Skills Development sector to ensure alignment with broader response efforts.
  • Foster relationships with government agencies, NGOs, donors, and private sector actors to enhance program effectiveness and sustainability.
  • Ensure timely communication and coordination between implementing partners and other key stakeholders to promote best practices and avoid duplication of efforts.

 

Responsibility # 4: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
15%
  • Establish and implement monitoring and evaluation systems to track program performance and impact.
  • Regularly gather qualitative and quantitative data to assess the effectiveness of program interventions.
  • Monitor program activities on the ground, ensuring quality implementation and identifying areas for improvement.
  • Compile and submit timely progress reports, financial updates, and impact assessments to the Senior Team Leader and other stakeholders.
  • Utilize findings from monitoring and evaluation activities to inform decision-making, adapt strategies, and enhance program outcomes.

 

Responsibility # 5: Knowledge Management and developing Learning materials
10%
  • Capture insights, success stories, and challenges from program implementation to improve future interventions.
  • Create manuals, toolkits, and curricula for skills development programs to enhance capacity-building efforts.
  • Organize workshops, learning sessions, and peer exchanges to disseminate knowledge among stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries.

 

Responsibility # 6: OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED
5%
Responsibility: Responsibilities on Safety and Security, Gender and Inclusion and Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults:

As part of this role, the job holder must adhere to and support CARE Bangladesh's Safety and Security policy and systems as part of their day-to-day duties and comply with safety & security protocols and directives, including reporting. Staff must maintain situational and self–awareness and be aware of the safety – security-related consequences of their actions upon themselves, their team, and the organization.

CARE is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct, and expects staff to promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults always. CARE expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our Code of Conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate this commitment are recruited to work with us.

Gender equality and inclusion are fundamental at CARE, promoting equal rights and challenging discriminatory norms to achieve social justice. We foster an inclusive workplace respecting diverse gender identities, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences through dialogue, training, and diversity initiatives. All CARE staff must uphold ethical standards, following codes of conduct to prevent abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and neglect. Regular monitoring ensures accountability to uphold these principles and supports our mission of social justice and poverty alleviation.

III. Reporting:  
Senior Team Leader - AHP Bangladesh Consortium
IV. Working Conditions:  
The position will be based in Cox's Bazar Regional Office with frequent field (Rohingya refugee camps and host communities) movements, including occasionally going to Bhashan Char.
V. Qualification:  
  • Bachelor’s or Master's in agriculture/ fisheries/ development studies or other relevant discipline.
  • 5 years of experience in livelihoods and skills development programming, preferably in humanitarian settings.
  • Familiarity with the socio-economic context of Cox's Bazar and the Rohingya crisis is highly desirable.
  • Strong communication skills in verbal and written English.
  • Strong commitment to accountability, social justice, and promoting gender awareness and equality.
  • Ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse organization.
  • Ability and willingness to work in stressful situations and travel frequently to provide adequate support.
  • Proven record of successfully coordinating complex relations, including matrix relations of several posts that do not directly report to the candidate.
  • Strong analytical and conceptual skills.
  • CARE Core Competencies as noted below:  

Candidates need to be highly motivated and committed to CARE Bangladesh's vision, mission, and long-term development work to significantly improve the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized Candidates must be capable of displaying great learning agility, support and encourage knowledge sharing across projects, for the ultimate benefit of all of CARE's mission wide initiatives.
 
Compensation

Monthly consolidated salary: 1,05,929.00 BDT (Negotiable)

Interested candidates meeting the above requirements should apply through bdjobs ‘Apply Online’ or   www.bdjobs.com  on or before February 15, 2025.

Note:

  • CARE Bangladesh aims to attract and select a diverse workforce ensuring equal opportunity to everyone, irrespective of race, age, gender, HIV status, class, ethnicity, disability, location and religion.
  • Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
  • Any personal persuasion/phone-call will result in disqualification of candidature. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria.
  • CARE Bangladesh has a non-negotiable policy of ZERO TOLERANCE towards discrimination, harassment and abuse. All employees are expected to abide by the CARE International Safeguarding Policy.
  • Internal and external applicants shall be treated equally in the entire selection process.
  • To ensure transparent processes during recruitment, internal candidates should discuss potential applications with their Line Managers to ensure endorsement of their applications by respective Line Managers.
  • CARE Bangladesh participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we hereby request information from candidate's previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the candidate left employment. All CARE Bangladesh's offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
  • THERE IS NO COST INVOLVED WITH APPLYING FOR POSITIONS WITH CARE BANGLADESH. ANY SOLICITATION OF JOB APPLICATION COSTS SHOULD BE REGARDED AS FRAUDULENT.