Advisor Vocational Curriculum Development

Job description

GIZ has been operating in Syria since 1976. It has thus established valuable contacts in civil society and garnered experience that is now crucial for supporting the country. From 2013 onwards, it worked without government involvement with the assistance of local non-governmental organizations. Despite the difficult conditions, GIZ has consistently contributed to improving people’s living conditions.

In view of the developments since December 2024, which have led Syria into a decisive phase of transformation, GIZ reopens its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing 14 projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office (FFO), with co-financing from the European Union and other donors. From 2026, the portfolio is planned to be expanded by several new projects.

The project “TVET and Employment Promotion”, funded by the German government, the Swiss government and the European Union, seeks to improve the labour market orientation and relevance of vocational education and training in Syria. In one of its components, the project partners with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and respective, representatives of the private sector, to enhance the cooperation between vocational schools/ technical institutes and companies. In the course of supporting the reforms related to vocational education, curricula for vocational education need to be revised or newly developed.

Your tasks

• Advising the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education on curricula development/ revision processes

• Facilitating consultations and preparatory curricula development sessions with representatives of the Syrian private sector (Chambers of Industry/ individual companies/ sector associations) to identify occupational competency requirements, skills needs and labour-market expectations and to inform the curriculum development and revision process.

• Advising the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education on coordinating curriculum development and revision processes for selected occupations, ensuring alignment with government requirements, labour-market needs and the objectives of the TVET reform process

• Providing guidance on curricula development processes in line with standards given by the respective government entities

• Bringing in expert knowledge on curricula revision/ development processes in Syria

• Providing guidance on interlinkages in the Syrian TVET and labour market system and on reforms aiming at inclusive and sustainable employment promotion

• Coordinating and overseeing contracted curriculum-development experts throughout the curriculum development and revision cycle.

• Facilitating stakeholder validation of revised and newly developed curricula with relevant government institutions, TVET practitioners and private-sector representatives

• Advising on mechanisms for collecting and integrating feedback from teachers, learners, TVET institutions and employers on the implementation of newly developed or revised curricula, and using this feedback to inform future curriculum improvements

• Where appropriate and reasonable, performing additional tasks upon request of the management

Your profile (required qualifications, competencies and experience)

• University degree (Master’s level) in education management, pedagogy, business psychology social sciences or alike

• At least 6 years of relevant work experience in the sector of labour market oriented vocational education, specifically in curricula development/ revision processes

• Strong knowledge of the Syrian TVET system, its governance and stakeholders

• At least 5 years of work experience with public institutions

• At least 3 years of work experience in advising and/ or involving the private sector in vocational education and training (e.g. Chambers of Industry)

• Strong analytical and facilitation skills, experience with managing diverging interests

• High cultural, context and conflict sensitivity

• Awareness for the topic of discrimination and marginalisation

• Hands-on mentality

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic, knowledge of Kurdish or German is an asset