Senior Technical Advisor – Tanzania

Organization

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)

Position overview

Colleges and Institutes Canada is looking for a Senior Technical Advisor (STA) to be based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Senior Technical Advisor will serve as the in-country lead for the Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP), Tanzania, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The role involves working closely with key stakeholders across government, educational institutions, industry, donors, Tanzanian partners, and Canadian partners to support effective program implementation.

The STA will ensure cohesion, coordination, and quality of contributions from Canadian partners while fostering collaboration among all stakeholders. The successful candidate will also provide technical and policy advice, manage CICan’s Tanzania office, supervise local staff, and operate effectively at both policy and operational levels.

About the Empowerment through Skills Program

ESP Tanzania is a 7-year program running from 2021 to 2028. The program supports the development and delivery of skills training programs that benefit women and adolescent girls working in the informal and formal economies across Tanzania.

The program provides community-based and institution-based training through:

• Folk Development Colleges (FDCs)
• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
• 12 communities across Tanzania

ESP also strengthens the financial, counselling, and family support systems women need to succeed in key growth sectors, contributing to their social and economic empowerment.

Why join Colleges and Institutes Canada?

CICan offers an opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization working to strengthen Canada’s publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics.

Key reasons to join include:

• Impactful work: Be part of an organization dedicated to advocacy for colleges and institutes across Canada.
• Collaborative environment: Work with a diverse team of professionals committed to excellence.
• Innovative culture: Join a workplace that values creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking solutions.
• Competitive compensation: The position offers a highly competitive salary package.

Key responsibilities

Program leadership and governance

The Senior Technical Advisor will provide overall leadership for ESP Tanzania and ensure that effective governance structures are in place. The role will also align program implementation with the priorities of the Tanzania Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Stakeholder engagement

The STA will represent CICan in Tanzania and engage with:

• Government stakeholders
• Industry partners
• Donors
• Institutional partners
• Tanzanian and Canadian program partners

The role will also involve building and strengthening partnerships between Canadian and Tanzanian partners and stakeholders.

Team and office management

The Senior Technical Advisor will recruit, lead, and manage local staff and consultants. The role also includes overseeing CICan’s office operations in Tanzania in compliance with local laws.

Financial and reporting oversight

The STA will collaborate with colleagues in Ottawa to prepare:

• Annual work plans
• Budgets
• Reports
• Financial documentation

The role will ensure sound financial management and accountability in line with CICan and Global Affairs Canada requirements.

Monitoring, evaluation, and strategic improvement

The Senior Technical Advisor will lead program monitoring, evaluation, and risk management. The role will integrate cross-cutting themes such as:

• Gender
• Environment
• Governance

The STA will also intervene strategically where needed to improve project outcomes.

Technical program implementation

The STA will provide technical expertise and lead the implementation of ESP Tanzania to support the achievement of program results.

Minimum requirements

Education

Applicants must have:

• A post-secondary diploma in International Relations, Education, Political Science, International Development, or another relevant field; or
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

The following is an added advantage:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Experience requirements

Applicants must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the following areas:

• Leading or managing complex donor-funded international programs in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), workforce development, skills training, or youth employment.
• Engaging high-level government officials and maintaining effective relationships with government agencies.
• Working in and/or with the Canadian college or institute system and network. This is highly desirable.
• Working with competency-based curriculum development, teacher training, TVET leadership delivery, student mentorship, and entrepreneurship.
• Building partnerships with industry and TVET systems to develop effective training solutions that meet industry needs.
• Procurement, budget and financial monitoring, and preparation of financial reports.
• Mobilizing and convening diverse stakeholders from government, educational institutions, and the private sector.
• Results-based management, ideally with internationally funded programs.
• Using MS Excel to create budgets, analyze and manage data, prepare visualizations, and generate reports using advanced tools and features.
• Managing office operations, supervising staff, and ensuring effective administrative functions, ideally in an international context.
• Using Power BI for data visualization and reporting. This is an asset.
• Working with international programs and stakeholders in Tanzania. This is desirable.

Required knowledge and skills

Applicants should have knowledge of:

• Advanced and practical Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks for international donor-funded programs.
• Quantitative and qualitative methods, data analysis, and using data for program management.
• Gender equality concepts and practices, including applying gender equality concepts in an international context.
• Entrepreneurship and innovation within TVET institutions to support transition to employment and self-employment.
• Business incubators and student innovation fund mechanisms, particularly in the Canadian college or institute context.
• Advanced budgeting, financial monitoring, resource allocation, and financial reporting.
• Advanced writing, reporting, and presentation skills in English and Swahili.
• Political systems, regulations, and administrative practices in international environments.
• Human resources practices, including recruitment, training, and performance management.
• Leadership and problem-solving methodologies in cross-cultural settings.
• Microsoft Office Suite and remote collaboration tools.
• Advanced Excel for budget management, including formulas and pivot tables.
• Power BI. This is an asset.

Compensation

The salary range is:

TZS 7,500,000 – TZS 9,500,000 per month

Employment status

The position is expected to start in September 2026 and end in March 2028.

Location

The position is based in:

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The successful candidate will need to relocate to this location.

Language requirements

Applicants must be able to work in:

• English
• Swahili

Interested candidates should submit the following documents in PDF format:

• Cover letter
• Résumé

Applications should be sent by email to:

[email protected]

The email subject line should be:

Senior Technical Advisor

Application deadline