Specialist – Program Design

You will be part of the largest skills development fund in Pakistan. PSDF’s purpose is to shape the future and well-being of our poor and vulnerable youth by giving them access to skills training of the highest standard so they can find sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities in Pakistan and beyond.

The impact we have created

PSDF started its operations in the 4 poorest districts of Punjab. Since 2016, the geographical remit has expanded to the entire 36 districts of Punjab and other districts of Sindh, Balochistan & KPK. PSDF has trained almost 600,000 underprivileged youth across Punjab. These graduates have been trained in approximately 250+ demand-driven and market-relevant trades across 8 sectors.

Diversified and challenging team

At PSDF, our team constantly works in a fast-paced and challenging environment and needs someone who can match and deliver at our pace. We are looking for a passionate and talented individual who can actively pursue and drive the agenda of PSDF and is always ready to take up new challenges.

The Specialist will lead industry mobilisation and onboarding, and research and market-demand analysis, for CM’s Punjab Industrial Cluster Pathways (PICP), an industry-led programme training 25,000 youth in trades demanded by Punjab’s industrial clusters, with a direct pathway to verified employment.
The Specialist will support the planning, coordination, implementation, and optimization of the international placement program. The role will support stakeholder engagement, outreach, reporting, process improvement, and implementation of program policies and procedures.

The primary job responsibilities for this role will be to:

Industry Mobilisation & Onboarding:

• Lead industry mobilisation by engaging chambers of commerce, industry associations, TDAP sector councils and individual employers across Punjab’s priority clusters, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Multan.
• Identify and approach existing, active industries with room to hire trained workers, and secure their participation as host industries and training partners.
• Manage the industry onboarding process end to end: outreach, information sessions, support in preparing training proposals, documentation, due diligence and signing of MoUs with employment commitments.
• Assess industry readiness for on-site training and OJT, including training space, equipment, supervisors and hiring capacity, in coordination with the procurement and operations teams.
• Build and maintain an industry partner pipeline and database covering trades, seat estimates, hiring capacity, co-investment, contacts and onboarding status.
• Act as the main point of contact for industry partners during implementation, resolving issues related to training delivery, OJT, placement and retention.

Research & Market Demand Analysis:

• Conduct research and market-demand analysis using desk research, labour market and export data (e.g. Labour Force Survey, PBS, TDAP, trade maps) and employer surveys, to identify high-demand trades and skill gaps.
• Lead the Training Needs Assessment and value-chain mapping of priority sectors; estimate trade-wise, sector-wise and district-wise demand for skilled labour.
• Compare industry demand with PSDF’s existing trade portfolio and recommend the final trade list, trainee targets and beneficiary profiling for each round.
• Prepare sector and trade demand reports, briefs and evidence notes to inform program design and management decisions.
• Monitor emerging labour market trends, technology shifts and international best practices in industry-led skills development, to strengthen program design.

Program Design & Implementation Support:

• Coordinate with curriculum and academia partners so that curricula and Training of Trainers reflect industry requirements and align with NVQF / TEVTA / PBTE standards.
• Support the development of program guidelines and SOPs, including industry onboarding, proposal evaluation and equipment provision guidelines.
• Support tracking of program results, including enrolment, certification and EOBI-verified placement against the 70% employment target, and prepare analytical reports, dashboards, presentations and working papers for senior management, the Program Design Committee and the Board.
• Support stakeholder consultations, roundtables and coordination with government departments, including SD&ED.
• Perform any other assignments related to program design, research and strategic initiatives as assigned by management.
• Support the day-to-day implementation and operational management of the program, ensuring alignment with approved program objectives, policies, and targets.
• Develop and maintain institutional partnerships to strengthen program delivery.
• Support the planning, coordination, and implementation of training for beneficiaries, including coordination with training service providers, scheduling, attendance monitoring, and certification.
• Coordinate skills training interventions for beneficiaries in line with overseas employer requirements, market demand, and approved program criteria.
• Support beneficiary outreach, awareness campaigns, orientation sessions, and stakeholder consultations to promote the program and facilitate eligible applicants.
• Support the development and maintenance of program guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), training manuals, communication materials, operational frameworks, and stakeholder documentation.

Qualification & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, Industrial / Engineering Management, Social Sciences or a relevant discipline from an HEC recognized / accredited university.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a relevant / similar field.
• Experience in industry engagement, business development, partnership management or labour market / economic research will be preferred.
• Experience of working with chambers of commerce, industry associations, or skills development / TVET programmes will be an added advantage.
• Experience in Program Management / Program Execution / Program Design / Curriculum Development will be preferred.

Required Skills

• Strong expertise in research methodologies, data analysis, and report writing.
• Experience in assisting in designing development programs, schemes, or workforce development initiatives will be preferred.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage senior industry representatives.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including labour market analysis, survey design and data analysis.
• Sound understanding of Punjab’s industrial clusters, value chains and the skills development ecosystem.
• Strong report writing skills in English; working proficiency in Urdu.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint; familiarity with data tools (e.g. Power BI, SPSS or Stata) will be preferred.
• Willingness to travel across Punjab for industry visits and consultations.

PSDF has a lot more to offer than a market competitive salary and perks. As a PSDF employee you will get:

• Professional development and career growth opportunities with the largest skills development fund in Pakistan.
• Experience a dynamic innovation-driven environment committed to empowering youth through employment and entrepreneurship.
• Opportunity to lead and execute groundbreaking approaches to skills development for Pakistan’s youth.