Job Announcement

TVET School Director , and Academic and Training Coordinator

with Smiling Gecko Cambodia

BTDC-ID: 40991
Closing Date:

Announcement Positions

Announcement Description

In 2014, Smiling Gecko Cambodia (SGC) was officially registered as a local NGO in Cambodia. SGC is legally independent of Smiling Gecko Switzerland. Following its mission of “Cambodians helping Cambodians” the organization, focuses on fighting the causes of poverty and helping people to help themselves. To this end, SGC launched a project on a previously acquired site to the North of Phnom Penh whose objective is to provide several thousand Cambodians with future job training and a regular income in the sectors of education, agriculture, tourism, industry, and trade.

Smiling Gecko Cambodia is seeking qualified, motivated, and committed candidates to fill the following vacant positions:

Announcement Positions

TVET School Director

Position Circumstances
  • Career Category: Exec. / Management, Business Administration, Economics, Banking / Finance
  • Schedule:Full-time
  • Salary: Negotiable
Position Summary

REPORT TO : Clustered Operations Manager

FUNCTION : SGC TVET School

SALARY : Competitive

Position Purpose

The TVET School Director holds overall executive accountability for the academic excellence, operational sustainability, financial health, regulatory compliance, project performance, and strategic alignment of the SGC TVET School. Reporting directly to the Cluster Operations Manager, the School Director serves as the bridge between institutional strategy and daily school management, driving high-quality technical and vocational education integrated with real industry experience.

This role ensures that all academic pathways, industry partnerships, special initiatives, donor projects, financial management, government relations, and administrative frameworks function cohesively to fulfill SGC’s core purpose: to equip Cambodian youth with practical skills, values, and opportunities through quality TVET education.

Duties & Responsibilities:
  • Academic Leadership & Quality Management
  • Oversee the strategic planning, design, and continuous improvement of TVET curricula and syllabi in collaboration with the Academic Manager.
  • Maintain academic excellence, learning quality standards, and rigorous examination and assessment mechanisms.
  • Support lecturer management, development, and capacity building to ensure modern, high-standard pedagogical delivery.
  • Drive student-centric learning environment strategies, integrating academic progression with student welfare, counseling, and holistic development.
  • Strategic Financial Governance & Budgetary Planning
  • Financial Strategy & Budget Ownership: Lead the formulation, forecasting, and ongoing management of the school's comprehensive annual operational, project, and capital expenditure budgets (OPEX/CAPEX).
  • Operational Financial Management: Maintain strict financial oversight of daily school operations, tuition/grant fee structures, facility maintenance costs, material inventory, and practical training expenditure to ensure cost-efficiency and institutional sustainability.
  • Financial Reporting & Analysis: Monitor budget variances, analyze financial performance metrics, and prepare executive financial summaries for the Cluster Operations Manager, CEO, and SGC Board.
  • Resource Optimization: Strategically deploy institutional assets and resources to maximize ROI, minimize waste, and maintain fiscal integrity across all departments.
  • Strategic Project Management & M&E Oversight
  • Supervise the Project Management Lead in the end-to-end planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of major institutional projects, facility expansions, and grant/donor-funded initiatives.
  • Drive the design and oversight of robust Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) frameworks, key performance indicators (KPIs), and impact tracking systems across all school activities and special projects.
  • Ensure all TVET school projects meet institutional milestones, budget allocations, compliance standards, donor reporting requirements, and impact targets.
  • Facilitate cross-departmental coordination to ensure project deliverables and M&E data feedback seamlessly integrate with ongoing academic, operational, and financial schedules.
  • Operational, Logistics & Shared Services Coordination
  • Ensure efficient institutional operations by supervising administrative processes, facilities, equipment, and training logistics.
  • Oversee scheduling, timetabling, inventory management, asset control, and procurement coordination within the school.
  • Partner closely with SGC Shared Corporate Services (Finance & Accounting, HR, Procurement, IT Support, Legal & Compliance, Maintenance, and Security) to enforce strict internal financial controls, purchasing policies, and operational governance.
  • Government Relations, Compliance & Policy Alignment
  • Lead official representation and engagement with key regulatory authorities, primarily the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) and the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).
  • Maintain active ties with Provincial and District Authorities to align community outreach and regional vocational objectives.
  • Guarantee 100% compliance with national TVET accreditation frameworks, educational policies, financial regulations, and official reporting mandates.
  • Safeguard institutional standing by anticipating policy changes and aligning curriculum and operations with legal and accreditation requirements.
  • Industry Partnerships & Workplace Placement
  • Supervise the Operations & Industry Partnership Manager in expanding direct engagement with private sector employers and trade associations.
  • Establish robust internship, apprenticeship, and dual-training workplace learning programs.
  • Oversee graduate tracking mechanisms, career guidance activities, placement platforms, and career fairs to maximize student employment success.
  • Align institutional training facilities and machinery with evolving industry requirements across primary sectors (e.g., Hospitality, Agriculture, Construction, Engineering, ICT).
  • Strategic Governance & Partnership Network Leadership
  • Work directly with the Advisory & Industry Board (including Chamber of Commerce representatives, development partners, donors, alumni, and industry leaders) to translate industry trends into actionable school strategies.
  • Cultivate strategic alliances with TVET & Education Partners, including peer institutes, universities, and international colleges, to drive resource sharing, curriculum collaboration, exchange programs, and trainer/student mobility.
  • Deliver comprehensive academic, financial, operational, M&E impact, and project status reports to the Cluster Operations Manager, CEO, and SGC Board.
  • Departmental Team Leadership & Cultural Engagement
  • Direct, mentor, and evaluate direct subordinates: the Academic Manager / Training Coordinator, the Operations & Industry Partnership Manager, and the Project Management Lead.
  • Ensure operational and financial harmony down through secondary tiers (Academic Executive, Student Affairs Executive, Industry Partnership Executive, Project/M&E Officers, and Administration & Operations Executive).
  • Promote SGC’s core commitment: Empower Skills. Transform Lives. Strengthen Communities.
Benefits:
  • Accommodation
  • Food
  • Insurance
  • Other attractive benefits
Expected Profile of Candidates
Languages:
  • Khmer - Fluent
  • English - Fluent
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in TVET Leadership, Educational Administration, Business Administration (MBA), Finance/Economics, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field
  • Master's Degree
Work History:
  • Progressive leadership and administrative experience in vocational training institutes, TVET technical colleges, higher education facilities, or multi-sector project environments for 8 years as a minimum
  • Senior operational leadership position managing institutional budgets, financial planning, and multi-disciplinary teams (academics, operations, project management/M&E, student affairs) for 3 to 5 years as a minimum
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
  • Proven track record in financial planning, annual budget development (OPEX/CAPEX), cost-benefit analysis, and fiscal control within educational or social enterprise institutions.
  • Proven track record working with government ministries in Cambodia (MLVT, MoT) or regional equivalent bodies.
  • Direct experience establishing dual-education models, industry apprenticeship structures, technical skills programs, or managing donor-funded education projects with structured M&E and financial deliverables.
  • Financial Management & Budgeting: Deep understanding of operational financial management, educational institution budget planning, financial reporting, variance analysis, cost control, and procurement governance.
  • Vocational Education Governance: Deep familiarity with TVET national qualification frameworks, accreditation protocols, and competency-based training (CBT).
  • Project & M&E Management: Strong expertise in project management methodologies, M&E frameworks (LogFrames, theory of change, data collection instruments), quantitative/qualitative data analysis, and donor reporting.
  • Stakeholder Management: Exceptional capacity to communicate and build consensus with government officials, corporate executives, donor agencies, and community leaders.
  • Language Proficiency: Native or professional fluency in Khmer and high proficiency in English (spoken and written).
Soft Skills
  • Results & Fiscal Stewardship: Driven by measurable social impact and financial sustainability, balancing academic excellence with sound budgetary execution.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Aptitude for navigating complex organizational matrices, financial shared services, project structures, and central support functions.
  • Integrity & Cultural Sensitivity: Deep understanding of the local Cambodian socio-economic climate, educational landscape, and ethical financial practices.
 
 

Academic and Training Coordinator

Position Circumstances
  • Career Category: Educate/Train/Teaching, Engineering, Agriculture
  • Schedule:Full-time
  • Salary: Negotiable
Position Summary

REPORT TO : TVET School Director

FUNCTION : SGC TVET School (Academic Division)

SALARY : Competitive

Position Purpose

The Academic & Training Coordinator provides academic leadership, pedagogical oversight, and curriculum execution for the SGC TVET School. Reporting directly to the TVET School Director, this position ensures that all vocational programs deliver high-quality, competency-based training (CBT) that meets national accreditation standards (MLVT/MOT) and direct industry needs.

The Academic & Training Coordinator leads the core instructional and student life teams, overseeing syllabus development, lecturer management, examination integrity, student affairs, and learning quality assurance to equip Cambodian youth with job-ready practical skills.

Duties & Responsibilities:
  • Curriculum & Syllabus Development
  • Lead the design, continuous review, and adaptation of vocational curricula to ensure alignment with Cambodian National Qualifications Frameworks (NVQF) and competency-based training (CBT) standards.
  • Collaborate with the Operations & Industry Partnership Manager and industry advisors to update training syllabi based on real-world market trends across sectors (e.g., Agriculture, Hospitality, Construction, Engineering, ICT).
  • Integrate practical, hands-on workshop learning with theoretical knowledge, ensuring appropriate balance across all course modules.
  • Systematically evaluate and update course materials, textbooks, practical manuals, and learning software.
  • Lecturer & Trainer Management & Development
  • Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, allocation, and performance evaluation of all full-time and adjunct TVET lecturers, technical trainers, and workshop instructors.
  • Formulate and execute continuous professional development (CPD) programs to enhance trainers' pedagogical methods, technical expertise, and digital teaching skills.
  • Conduct regular classroom observations and practical workshop audits, providing constructive feedback to instructional staff.
  • Manage lecturer timetables, teaching workloads, substitute trainer arrangements, and performance appraisals.
  • Assessment, Examinations & Academic Governance
  • Establish, standardize, and enforce rigorous examination and assessment protocols, including practical skills evaluations, written exams, and continuous assessments.
  • Supervise the Academic Executive in maintaining academic integrity, secure test administration, grading moderation, and formal transcript issuing.
  • Ensure all assessment criteria align with MLVT/MoEYS accreditation and certification requirements.
  • Chair academic review committees to address grade appeals, academic dishonesty, and curriculum standard reviews.
  • Learning Quality Control & Academic Planning
  • Implement continuous quality improvement (CQI) frameworks to evaluate training effectiveness, teaching performance, and learning outcomes.
  • Oversee the academic calendar, lecture timetables, room/workshop allocations, and instructional resource planning in coordination with Shared Corporate Services (IT, Maintenance, Procurement).
  • Collect, analyze, and act upon student feedback, course evaluations, and external academic audit findings.
  • Produce comprehensive academic progress reports, course completion summaries, and quality metrics for the TVET School Director.
  • Student Affairs, Welfare & Learning Support
  • Supervise the Student Affairs Executive in driving smooth student admissions, enrollment processes, orientation programs, and academic record management.
  • Oversee scholarship distribution, financial support administration, and attendance tracking systems to maintain high student retention.
  • Establish robust student welfare, counseling, and guidance mechanisms to support student mental health, discipline, and personal growth.
  • Promote student leadership, extra-curricular activities, and career orientation programs that prepare students for workplace integration.
Benefits:
  • Accommodation
  • Food
  • Insurance
  • Other attractive benefits.
Expected Profile of Candidates
Languages:
  • Khmer - Good
  • English - Good
Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree in TVET Education, Pedagogy, Educational Leadership, Engineering, Agriculture, Vocational Training, or a related academic discipline.
Work History:
  • Managerial or supervisory capacity overseeing academic delivery, curriculum design, or trainer supervision for 3 years as a minimum
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
  • Minimum 5–7 years of experience in vocational training institutes, technical colleges, or higher education institutions.
  • Hands-on experience with Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) frameworks within the Cambodian context or wider ASEAN region.
  • Demonstrated experience working with academic compliance under MLVT and MoEYS.
  • Pedagogical Design: Expertise in adult learning principles, vocational competency mapping, and practical skill assessment methodologies.
  • Academic Administration: Strong skills in academic planning, timetable scheduling, resource allocation, and examination administration.
  • Staff Mentorship: Proven capability to lead, mentor, and evaluate technical trainers and academic support personnel.
  • Language Proficiency: High proficiency in written and spoken Khmer and English for curriculum development, policy documentation, and reporting.
Soft Skills
  • Deep commitment to educational quality, student welfare, and youth empowerment.
  • Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • High ethical standards, fairness, and attention to academic integrity.
 

How to Apply

If you are interested, please submit your CV & Cover Letter with your SALARY EXPECTATION to detail information below:

  • The subject of email shall be Application for {Position Title}
  • To email or address provided in the contact details.

Note! Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

 

Contact Details

Office Address
  • Srae Sar, Tbaeng Khpos Commune, Sameakki Mean Chey District, Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia
 
Contact Name
  • Smiling Gecko Cambodia (SGC)
 
Phone
 
Email
 
Website