Technical Vocational Training Officer

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Short-Term Technical Vocational Training Officer Service Contracts

 
ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL LAOS
Plan International has been working in Laos since 2007, delivering integrated programs in Bokeo, Champasak, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Saravan, Vientiane Capital, and Vientiane provinces while also working through partners in other provinces. Plan International Laos’ 2020–2027 Country Strategy takes a life-cycle approach, focusing on supporting children—especially girls—in accessing their rights to public health and nutrition, education and skills, adolescent development and participation, and opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship. We are also globally mandated to provide humanitarian assistance in the event of an emergency in Lao PDR.

Plan International Laos is a leading INGO in Laos and participates in various civil society and government sectoral working groups, as well as regional and global networks. We work closely with the Ministry of

Health, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, UN agencies, and civil society partners in line with the principles of aid effectiveness, promoting child rights—especially for girls.

Our work includes community-based action, partner strengthening, and policy influencing and advocacy. Our values-based feminist leadership principles underpin our work, and we are committed to being locally led and globally connected. Globally, by 2027, Plan International aims to impact the lives of 200 million girls.
BACKGROUND
Plan International Laos is seeking a short-term Technical Vocational Training Officer Service Contractor to support technical vocational training activities and coordination for the Connecting Young Laotians with Decent Job Opportunities Project. The project is one of the projects under Lao SOYEE Programme that aims to contribute to supporting young women and men to access decent and productive employment opportunities by equipping them with relevant technical, soft, and entrepreneurial skills to ensuring they are better able to meet labour market demands and have access to job opportunities in the market. The project will be implemented in Vientiane Capital and will benefit young women and men (18-24 years old), in which at least 50% are females (or other gender identities to participate).

The Technical Vocational Training Officer is responsible for coordinating, developing, and delivering vocational training programs tailored to the needs of disadvantaged youth. The Officer will work closely with the government vocational training institute to co-design and adapt Food & Beverage curricula, ensuring that training integrates both technical and soft skills relevant to the labor market and aligned with government minimum quality standards.

The role places strong emphasis on supporting disadvantaged young women and men to gain confidence, employable skills, and practical knowledge in areas such as beverage preparation, food safety, customer service, and workplace ethics. By acting as a key link between the project, the vocational institute, and private sector employers, the Officer will contribute directly to increasing access to decent work and enhancing the social and economic inclusion of youth.

SCOPE OF WORK
Representation and activity implementation

• Collaborate with the government vocational training institute to co-develop and update Food & Beverage training curricula.
• Ensure training programs address the needs of disadvantaged youth and follow competency-based, practical learning approaches.
• Deliver and facilitate classroom lessons, hands-on demonstrations, and workplace readiness sessions.
• Strengthen institute trainers’ capacity through mentorship, coaching, and co-delivery of Food & Beverage training.
• Provide tailored guidance and mentoring to support vulnerable young women and men throughout their training journey.
• Facilitate soft skills training (e.g., communication, teamwork, confidence building, gender equality, inclusivity) to complement technical learning.
• Perform any other tasks as deemed appropriate.

Planning and coordination

• Organise Act as the focal point between the project, the vocational training institute, and private sector employers.
• Collaborate with Starbucks and industry partners to align training with real workplace expectations.
• Coordinate internships, apprenticeships, and job placements for trainees in Food & Beverage businesses.
• Build and maintain networks with government, private sector, and community stakeholders to sustain the program.
• Follow up and coordinate with HR, finance, procurement and other staff for timely procurements and payments of partners, consultants, suppliers and others (equipment material etc.).

Administration and Finance

• Arrange air, train, bus tickets and other logistics related to travel within and outside the country.
• Organize workshops, meetings and seminars, including to organize documentation, admin and finance.
• Coordinate with following up on correspondence with government focal points, as well organizing workshops and missions and handling the administration of contracts;
• Preparation of a wide variety of financial documents and reports (cash forecast coordination, budgets, justifications, requisitions etc.) for the Project in close cooperation with the grant and finance focal point and the Project Manager.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Provide Track trainee attendance, completion rates, skills acquisition, and job placement outcomes.
• Maintain records of training activities and contribute to project progress reports.
• Collect feedback from trainees, trainers, and employers to inform program improvements.

TIMEFRAME

• This service contract is for a period of ten (10) months, with the possibility of extension based on project needs, service contract performance and budget. And the position is expected to commence on 1 November 2025.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidates will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Education, Vocational Training, Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in vocational/technical training, preferably in hospitality, service, or related.
• Experience working with youth-focused or skills development projects.
• Experience in partnership building with private sector, training institutes and iNGO or international development settings.

Technical Skills:

• Strong facilitation, training, and coaching skills.
• Technical expertise in beverage preparation, food handling, hygiene, and customer service.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and mentoring abilities.
• Ability to promote gender equality and inclusive learning practices.
• Strong organizational and reporting abilities.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Other Competencies:

• Ability to work in remote areas and travel as
• Strong organisational skills, including planning activities and
• Ability to work with adolescents and youth, especially girls and young women with
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multicultural
• Proficiency in English and

REPORTING LINE & KEY COLLABORATIONS

• Reports to: Project Manager.
• Key Internal Collaborations: Supply Chain Unit, Grant and Finance Unit, Communications Unit, Programme Director, etc.
• Key External Collaborations: Lao-Korea Institute for Skills Development, Plan CSO Partner, Government Partners, Media, Corporate Partners, Creative Agencies