Silk Product Designer and Development Trainer

Women Activities & Social Service Association (WASSA) was established in 2002 in Afghanistan as a non-governmental organization, committed to seeking ways for women's empowerment in Afghanistan. WASSA aims to promote women's equal participation in socio-economic sectors of the country. WASSA works directly with communities to bring change in the social attitude of the community regarding women.

Women Activities & Social Service Association (WASSA) was established in 2002 in Afghanistan as a non-governmental organization, committed to seeking ways for women's empowerment in Afghanistan. WASSA aims to promote women's equal participation in socio-economic sectors of the country. WASSA works directly with communities to bring change in the social attitude of the community regarding women.

An envision “Equal participation of women & men in all sectors of the country.

An envision “Equal participation of women & men in all sectors of the country.

• Equal Opportunities: WASSA is dedicated to offering equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified candidates, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability.
• Safeguarding and Conduct: WASSA will contact previous employers to inquire about any history of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment during the candidate's employment, including incidents under investigation at the time the candidate left. Job offers are conditional on satisfactory reference checks. By applying, candidates confirm they understand and accept these procedures.
• Final Selection: The selected candidate must pass a background check and reference check. They will also be required to sign WASSA's Code of Conduct, PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), Safeguarding, and other relevant policies before receiving a final job offer/contract 

Equal Opportunities: WASSA is dedicated to offering equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified candidates, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability.

Equal Opportunities: Equal Opportunities: WASSA is dedicated to offering equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified candidates, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability.

Safeguarding and Conduct: WASSA will contact previous employers to inquire about any history of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment during the candidate's employment, including incidents under investigation at the time the candidate left. Job offers are conditional on satisfactory reference checks. By applying, candidates confirm they understand and accept these procedures.

Safeguarding and Conduct: Safeguarding and Conduct: WASSA will contact previous employers to inquire about any history of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment during the candidate's employment, including incidents under investigation at the time the candidate left. Job offers are conditional on satisfactory reference checks. By applying, candidates confirm they understand and accept these procedures.

Final Selection: The selected candidate must pass a background check and reference check. They will also be required to sign WASSA's Code of Conduct, PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), Safeguarding, and other relevant policies before receiving a final job offer/contract 

Final Selection: Final Selection: The selected candidate must pass a background check and reference check. They will also be required to sign WASSA's Code of Conduct, PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), Safeguarding, and other relevant policies before receiving a final job offer/contract

• Design and develop innovative silk products, including scarves, shawls, garments, fabrics, home décor items, handicrafts, accessories, and other value-added products.
• Develop product collections, prototypes, samples, and design portfolios for training and market promotion.
• Conduct market assessments to identify customer preferences, design trends, and product opportunities.
• Adapt traditional silk products to contemporary market demands while preserving local cultural elements.
• Introduce new product concepts, designs, colors, textures, and finishing techniques.
• Support beneficiaries in product diversification and value addition initiatives.
• Conduct theoretical and practical training sessions on silk product design and development.
• Train beneficiaries on silk weaving techniques, pattern development, color combinations, textile design, and finishing methods.
• Provide practical demonstrations on loom operation, weaving processes, embroidery, decoration, and product finishing.
• Develop training curricula, lesson plans, training schedules, manuals, and learning materials.
• Facilitate hands-on learning sessions and practical exercises.
• Assess trainees' skills and provide continuous coaching and mentoring support.
• Train beneficiaries on quality standards and quality control procedures for silk products.
• Ensure proper use and maintenance of weaving, processing, and finishing equipment.
• Monitor product quality, design consistency, finishing quality, and production efficiency.
• Provide technical guidance on reducing defects and improving product durability and appearance.
• Support the establishment of product quality assurance systems within the cooperative.
• Train beneficiaries on branding, product presentation, labeling, packaging, and customer requirements.
• Support the development of cooperative product catalogs and promotional materials.
• Assist beneficiaries in preparing products for exhibitions, trade fairs, and marketing events.
• Facilitate market linkages with traders, retailers, handicraft businesses, textile companies, and buyers.
• Provide guidance on pricing strategies and product positioning.
• Deliver training on entrepreneurship, business planning, costing, pricing, marketing, and financial management.
• Support beneficiaries in developing small business plans for silk-based enterprises.
• Promote sustainable business practices and cooperative-based production models.
• Mentor beneficiaries on customer relations and sales management.

Design and develop innovative silk products, including scarves, shawls, garments, fabrics, home décor items, handicrafts, accessories, and other value-added products.

Design and develop innovative silk products, including scarves, shawls, garments, fabrics, home décor items, handicrafts, accessories, and other value-added products. Design and develop innovative silk products, including scarves, shawls, garments, fabrics, home décor items, handicrafts, accessories, and other value-added products.

Develop product collections, prototypes, samples, and design portfolios for training and market promotion.

Develop product collections, prototypes, samples, and design portfolios for training and market promotion. Develop product collections, prototypes, samples, and design portfolios for training and market promotion.

Conduct market assessments to identify customer preferences, design trends, and product opportunities.

Conduct market assessments to identify customer preferences, design trends, and product opportunities. Conduct market assessments to identify customer preferences, design trends, and product opportunities.

Adapt traditional silk products to contemporary market demands while preserving local cultural elements.

Adapt traditional silk products to contemporary market demands while preserving local cultural elements. Adapt traditional silk products to contemporary market demands while preserving local cultural elements.

Introduce new product concepts, designs, colors, textures, and finishing techniques.

Introduce new product concepts, designs, colors, textures, and finishing techniques. Introduce new product concepts, designs, colors, textures, and finishing techniques.

Support beneficiaries in product diversification and value addition initiatives.

Support beneficiaries in product diversification and value addition initiatives. Support beneficiaries in product diversification and value addition initiatives.

Conduct theoretical and practical training sessions on silk product design and development.

Conduct theoretical and practical training sessions on silk product design and development. Conduct theoretical and practical training sessions on silk product design and development.

Train beneficiaries on silk weaving techniques, pattern development, color combinations, textile design, and finishing methods.

Train beneficiaries on silk weaving techniques, pattern development, color combinations, textile design, and finishing methods. Train beneficiaries on silk weaving techniques, pattern development, color combinations, textile design, and finishing methods.

Provide practical demonstrations on loom operation, weaving processes, embroidery, decoration, and product finishing.

Provide practical demonstrations on loom operation, weaving processes, embroidery, decoration, and product finishing. Provide practical demonstrations on loom operation, weaving processes, embroidery, decoration, and product finishing.

Develop training curricula, lesson plans, training schedules, manuals, and learning materials.

Develop training curricula, lesson plans, training schedules, manuals, and learning materials. Develop training curricula, lesson plans, training schedules, manuals, and learning materials.

Facilitate hands-on learning sessions and practical exercises.

Facilitate hands-on learning sessions and practical exercises. Facilitate hands-on learning sessions and practical exercises.

Assess trainees' skills and provide continuous coaching and mentoring support.

Assess trainees' skills and provide continuous coaching and mentoring support. Assess trainees' skills and provide continuous coaching and mentoring support.

Train beneficiaries on quality standards and quality control procedures for silk products.

Train beneficiaries on quality standards and quality control procedures for silk products. Train beneficiaries on quality standards and quality control procedures for silk products.

Ensure proper use and maintenance of weaving, processing, and finishing equipment.

Ensure proper use and maintenance of weaving, processing, and finishing equipment. Ensure proper use and maintenance of weaving, processing, and finishing equipment.

Monitor product quality, design consistency, finishing quality, and production efficiency.

Monitor product quality, design consistency, finishing quality, and production efficiency. Monitor product quality, design consistency, finishing quality, and production efficiency.

Provide technical guidance on reducing defects and improving product durability and appearance.

Provide technical guidance on reducing defects and improving product durability and appearance. Provide technical guidance on reducing defects and improving product durability and appearance.

Support the establishment of product quality assurance systems within the cooperative.

Support the establishment of product quality assurance systems within the cooperative. Support the establishment of product quality assurance systems within the cooperative.

Train beneficiaries on branding, product presentation, labeling, packaging, and customer requirements.

Train beneficiaries on branding, product presentation, labeling, packaging, and customer requirements. Train beneficiaries on branding, product presentation, labeling, packaging, and customer requirements.

Support the development of cooperative product catalogs and promotional materials.

Support the development of cooperative product catalogs and promotional materials. Support the development of cooperative product catalogs and promotional materials.

Assist beneficiaries in preparing products for exhibitions, trade fairs, and marketing events.

Assist beneficiaries in preparing products for exhibitions, trade fairs, and marketing events. Assist beneficiaries in preparing products for exhibitions, trade fairs, and marketing events.

Facilitate market linkages with traders, retailers, handicraft businesses, textile companies, and buyers.

Facilitate market linkages with traders, retailers, handicraft businesses, textile companies, and buyers. Facilitate market linkages with traders, retailers, handicraft businesses, textile companies, and buyers.

Provide guidance on pricing strategies and product positioning.

Provide guidance on pricing strategies and product positioning. Provide guidance on pricing strategies and product positioning.

Deliver training on entrepreneurship, business planning, costing, pricing, marketing, and financial management.

Deliver training on entrepreneurship, business planning, costing, pricing, marketing, and financial management. Deliver training on entrepreneurship, business planning, costing, pricing, marketing, and financial management.

Support beneficiaries in developing small business plans for silk-based enterprises.

Support beneficiaries in developing small business plans for silk-based enterprises. Support beneficiaries in developing small business plans for silk-based enterprises.

Promote sustainable business practices and cooperative-based production models.

Promote sustainable business practices and cooperative-based production models. Promote sustainable business practices and cooperative-based production models.

Mentor beneficiaries on customer relations and sales management.

Mentor beneficiaries on customer relations and sales management. Mentor beneficiaries on customer relations and sales management.

1. Bachelor's degree in Textile Design, Textile Engineering, Fashion Design, Sericulture, Vocational Education, Fine Arts, Handicrafts, Business Development, or a related field. Diploma holders with substantial practical experience may also be considered.
2. Minimum 3 years of practical experience in textile design, silk product development, handicrafts, fashion design, or related sectors.
3. Demonstrated experience in designing and developing market-oriented textile products.
4. Experience in vocational skills training, coaching, mentoring, or capacity building programs.
5. Experience working with community-based livelihood projects, cooperatives, women's groups, or producer associations is highly desirable.
6. Previous experience with NGOs, UN agencies, or development projects is an advantage.

Bachelor's degree in Textile Design, Textile Engineering, Fashion Design, Sericulture, Vocational Education, Fine Arts, Handicrafts, Business Development, or a related field. Diploma holders with substantial practical experience may also be considered.

Bachelor's degree in Textile Design, Textile Engineering, Fashion Design, Sericulture, Vocational Education, Fine Arts, Handicrafts, Business Development, or a related field. Diploma holders with substantial practical experience may also be considered. Bachelor's degree in Textile Design, Textile Engineering, Fashion Design, Sericulture, Vocational Education, Fine Arts, Handicrafts, Business Development, or a related field. Diploma holders with substantial practical experience may also be considered.

Minimum 3 years of practical experience in textile design, silk product development, handicrafts, fashion design, or related sectors.

Minimum 3 years of practical experience in textile design, silk product development, handicrafts, fashion design, or related sectors. Minimum 3 years of practical experience in textile design, silk product development, handicrafts, fashion design, or related sectors.

Demonstrated experience in designing and developing market-oriented textile products.

Demonstrated experience in designing and developing market-oriented textile products. Demonstrated experience in designing and developing market-oriented textile products.

Experience in vocational skills training, coaching, mentoring, or capacity building programs.

Experience in vocational skills training, coaching, mentoring, or capacity building programs. Experience in vocational skills training, coaching, mentoring, or capacity building programs.

Experience working with community-based livelihood projects, cooperatives, women's groups, or producer associations is highly desirable.

Experience working with community-based livelihood projects, cooperatives, women's groups, or producer associations is highly desirable. Experience working with community-based livelihood projects, cooperatives, women's groups, or producer associations is highly desirable.

Previous experience with NGOs, UN agencies, or development projects is an advantage.

Previous experience with NGOs, UN agencies, or development projects is an advantage. Previous experience with NGOs, UN agencies, or development projects is an advantage.

7.     Knowledge of quality control standards for woven silk products.

7.     7.     7.      Knowledge of quality control standards for woven silk products. Knowledge of quality control standards for woven silk products.

8.     Good communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.

8.     8.     8.      Good communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills. Good communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.

9.     Ability to prepare training plans, maintain records, and submit training reports.

9.     9.     9.      Ability to prepare training plans, maintain records, and submit training reports. Ability to prepare training plans, maintain records, and submit training reports.

10.  Ability to work under pressure and meet project deadlines.

10.  10.  10.   Ability to work under pressure and meet project deadlines. Ability to work under pressure and meet project deadlines.

11.  Ability to work respectfully and effectively with community members, women, youth, and vulnerable beneficiaries.

11.  11.  11.   Ability to work respectfully and effectively with community members, women, youth, and vulnerable beneficiaries. Ability to work respectfully and effectively with community members, women, youth, and vulnerable beneficiaries.

12.  Knowledge of local markets and value chains for silk and handicraft products is an advantage.

12.  12.  12.   Knowledge of local markets and value chains for silk and handicraft products is an advantage. Knowledge of local markets and value chains for silk and handicraft products is an advantage.

13.  Fluency in Dari; knowledge of Pashto or local languages is considered an asset.

13.  13.  13.   Fluency in Dari; knowledge of Pashto or local languages is considered an asset. Fluency in Dari; knowledge of Pashto or local languages is considered an asset.

14.  Willingness and ability to travel to project locations and villages within Zenda Jan District, Herat Province, when required.

14.  14.  14.   Willingness and ability to travel to project locations and villages within Zenda Jan District, Herat Province, when required. Willingness and ability to travel to project locations and villages within Zenda Jan District, Herat Province, when required.

• Interested, qualified candidates should submit their information/request through the link: https://airtable.com/appOTgORzYUJoygAU/shrVdH5QXHOQKGmd0
• Academic certificates or references do not need to be submitted at this time. These will be requested if an interview is called for.
• Only short-listed candidates will be invited for the written test and interview upon project approval.

Interested, qualified candidates should submit their information/request through the link: https://airtable.com/appOTgORzYUJoygAU/shrVdH5QXHOQKGmd0

Interested, qualified candidates should submit their information/request through the link: https://airtable.com/appOTgORzYUJoygAU/shrVdH5QXHOQKGmd0

Academic certificates or references do not need to be submitted at this time. These will be requested if an interview is called for.

Academic certificates or references do not need to be submitted at this time. These will be requested if an interview is called for.

Only short-listed candidates will be invited for the written test and interview upon project approval.

Only short-listed candidates will be invited for the written test and interview upon project approval.