Chief Operations Officer

Our purpose

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.

This position leads the operationalization of all initiatives, programs and projects across PSDF and directs cross-functional collaboration to ensure that all the design elements are adhered to while successfully achieving all the outcome goals.

The primary job responsibilities for this role will be to:

1. Contributes to development and implementation of long-term business plans aligned with organizational goals and mission.
2. Successfully achieve operational excellence, ensure operational risk mitigation, maintain compliance to all regulations and policies.
3. Discusses details of programs/schemes to be launched and obtains guidelines. Ensure timely updates on ongoing and upcoming programs and shares reports as and when required.
4. Builds and promotes a consistent and positive PSDF image through maintaining strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
5. Interacts frequently with govt and respective authorities to share program details. Interfaces to provide program related feedback/inputs and ensure that related queries resolves are timely resolved.
6. Ensure the timely preparation of Operational budget and its effective utilization.
7. Ensure that training service providers (TSPs) eco system is developed and all TSPs get satisfactory customer services for better resolution of their issues.
8. Cultivates and fosters relationships with Donors and Govt. Agencies.
9. Contributes to finalizing the strategic IT directions, identifies and evaluates organization’s future IT (application and infrastructure) needs based on future direction and strategic plan.
10. Contributions in brainstorming of new opportunities for improvements in existing IT services, application, network and hardware infrastructure as per approved IT plan.
11. Manages budgets through feasibility analysis for the approved information technology projects.
12. Any other tasks assigned by management that are required.

The key performance indicators for this role are:

• 100% compliance with approved strategy and implementation plan
• 100% compliance with approved timeline, budget and KPIs for all projects, programs and initiatives
• 100% compliance to all applicable rules, regulations, and policies
• 100% alignment of all operations with set quality standards
• 100% compliance with applied information security standards

Eligibility Criteria:

• Master’s degree or equivalent from an HEC-recognized / accredited university.
• 20 years’ experience inclusive of 10 years in a senior management role.
• Preferably skills / TVET sector, public sector and development sector experience

To perform effectively as Chief Operating Officer, the functional requirements ;

• Knowledge of contractual terms and conditions of associated risks, Risk management, Micro & Macro industries dynamics and Compliance of corporate Governance.
• Knowledge of PPRA rules
• Knowledge of Business & Relationship Management.
• Sound strategic understanding of Information Technology, Systems & Processes.
• Detailed knowledge of operations and projects management techniques.
• Knowledge of donor and government initiatives.
• Broad business, financial and commercial acumen.

Behavioral and mindsets skills that will be most suited for the role:

• Results driven and persistent to get the desired results and takes ownership of actions.
• Innovative and has an aptitude to welcome and try new ways of doing things and push for their execution.
• Willing to strive for excellence and can anticipate challenges for continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates respect for all and can put things in perspective and gauge all actions through merit and performance.
• A team player with an aptitude to work as one team by proactively supporting others to solve challenges.

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