Crafts Program Manager

Country: Afghanistan Organization: Turquoise Mountain Closing date: 13 Aug 2026 Job Title: Crafts Program Manager Department: Programs, Afghanistan Country Program Location: Kabul Reports to (Line Manager): Head of Programs Job Summary Reporting to the Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan Head of Programs, the Crafts Program Manager will lead the strategic, quality, and accountable delivery of Turquoise Mountain’s skills development programming across a range of traditional Afghan crafts. These include Calligraphy, Miniature Painting, Jewellery-Making, Gem-Cutting, Woodwork, Embroidery, and Carpets. The role will directly supervise the training faculties and training administration function in accordance with the approved organisational structure. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding and appreciation of Afghanistan’s craft heritage and will translate production, artisan, client, creative, and commercial needs into high-quality technical and vocational skills development. The role will establish a systematic connection between the Turquoise Mountain Institute of Afghan Arts and Architecture, production and business development functions, and central creative and commercial teams. Its ultimate aim is to build the next generation of master artisans while integrating heritage preservation, formal skills development, and sustainable commercial pathways. The Crafts Program Manager will be an inclusive, proactive, and accountable leader with a strong understanding of pedagogical best practice. Based in Kabul, the role will work across the country program and with the Institute, monitoring and evaluation, operations, finance, production, business development, creative, and commercial teams. The position will coordinate these functions but will not line-manage production, commercial, or central creative teams unless specifically delegated through the approved organisational structure. Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities Team Management • Develop and implement, in coordination with the Head of Programs, the strategic direction of all training and skills development functions of Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan. • Directly supervise Turquoise Mountain’s technical and vocational skills development functions, including the training faculties of Calligraphy, Miniature Painting, Woodwork, Jewellery-Making, Gem-Cutting, Embroidery, and Carpet Design & Graphing, together with the training administration function. • Lead the recruitment, onboarding, performance management, coaching, and professional development of the skills development team in coordination with Human Resources and relevant line managers. • Embed and promote continuous professional development practices for all training staff. • Oversee day-to-day team operations including attendance, leave, and travel approvals. • Establish effective cross-departmental ways of working so that training priorities respond to documented artisan, production, business development, creative, commercial, and client needs. • Maintain strong working relationships with country and central creative, commercial, and production and business development teams, with clear decision-making, referral, and feedback processes that align country programming with organisational objectives. • Serve as a country office champion for promoting and instilling Turquoise Mountain’s workplace environment, behaviour, and values, promoting cross-functional collaboration and accountability. • Actively promote and implement mechanisms that progress equality and inclusion in the workplace, both for Turquoise Mountain staff and its beneficiaries. Programme Management, Quality & Compliance • Lead annual and grant-level work planning, budgeting, forecasting, and regular budget-versus-actual review for assigned skills development programmes. • Ensure assigned programmes and grants are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and in compliance with donor requirements, organisational policies, and approved agreements. • Coordinate with monitoring and evaluation colleagues to establish indicators, maintain reliable learner and programme data, analyse feedback and results, and use evidence to improve delivery. • Provide timely programme updates and contribute high-quality technical inputs to donor reports, proposals, budgets, and internal management reviews. • Maintain programme risk and issue tracking and ensure timely escalation and mitigation of delivery, staffing, reputational, operational, and financial risks. • Ensure safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, equality and inclusion, and workshop health and safety requirements are integrated into training design and delivery. Skills Development & Training • Oversee the design, review, quality assurance, and delivery of TM’s technical and vocational curricula for artisans across all crafts and levels, including foundational and advanced training in Calligraphy, Miniature Painting, Woodwork, Jewellery-Making, Gem-Cutting, Embroidery, and Carpet Design & Graphing. • Ensure training programmes apply sound pedagogical practice, respond to market and learner needs, strengthen artisans’ technical excellence, and maintain cultural authenticity and integrity. • Lead periodic training-needs and skills-gap assessments using structured input from artisans, trainers, production, business development, commercial and creative teams, clients, and relevant market evidence; translate findings into prioritised training plans. • Ensure training programmes are in line with the ethos of Turquoise Mountain and promote, preserve, and celebrate Afghanistan’s heritage. • Oversee the implementation of TM’s foundational business training curriculum for newly established artisan enterprises. • Ensure equitable and transparent access to training, with appropriate measures to support participation, attendance, retention, completion, and progression for women and other underrepresented artisans. • Coordinate with external experts when specialised training is required. • Establish and maintain systems for instructor observation, learner assessment, curriculum review, certification or accreditation, and continuous improvement in coordination with relevant authorities and technical experts. • Coordinate graduate follow-up and tracer studies to assess professional progression, enterprise performance, employment, income opportunities, and the relevance of training. Strategy Development & Fundraising • Contribute to the strategic direction and quality delivery of TM’s craft programming. Lead research on traditional techniques, materials, cultural narratives, and market opportunities to inform curricula, product innovation, and evidence-based post-training pathways for graduating artisans. • Identify opportunities for partnerships, innovation, efficiency, and scalability. • Support the Country Director and Head of Programs with the development of donor proposals and budgets for technical and vocational skills development programmes and contribute to donor engagement and reporting as required. • Support the balance between commercial viability and social impact goals. Representation & Coordination • Participate in external engagements, including with the Afghanistan authorities, specifically the Technical & Vocational Education Training Authority and Ministry of Industry & Commerce. • Represent Turquoise Mountain in relevant networking and coordination meetings and forums. • Support the local sales team in preparing for, and participating in, local exhibitions and events. This list is not exhaustive, and other duties may be required as determined by the needs of the organisation. Key working relationships / cross-working Internal: Turquoise Mountain Institute of Afghan Arts and Architecture; in-country programs, monitoring and evaluation, operations, finance, production, business development, and sales teams; and central creative and commercial teams. External: Donors, partners, Afghanistan authorities Person Profile Professional approach: An effective collaborator who supports staff professional development and leverages staff skills and knowledge to drive forward results. Takes a creative approach to programming and can synthesise information from different functions to generate and improve organisational initiatives. Prioritises equal opportunity within teams and programmes. Experience: • Experience managing diverse teams and embedding continuous professional development practices • Experience leading formal skills development / technical and vocational training programmes • Experience in the education sector • Practical experience and/or academic experience in Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and/or one or more of the traditional crafts in which Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan works (Calligraphy, Miniature Painting, Jewellery-Making, Gem-Cutting, Woodwork, Embroidery, and Carpets) • Demonstrable experience applying creative knowledge into practice • Experience working with an international non-governmental organisation is considered an asset • Experience liaising with authorities and external stakeholders is considered an asset • Experience working in Afghanistan is an asset. Personal Attributes & Skills: • Invested in the preservation and promotion of Afghanistan’s traditional crafts and heritage • Ability to see and leverage synergies between craft disciplines • Collaborative and diplomatic approach, with demonstrated experience building positive working relationships and accountability within and between teams. • Excellent verbal and written communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills. • Demonstrated ability to manage organisational change, give and receive constructive feedback, and resolve conflict appropriately. • Strong planning, analytical, financial-management, prioritisation, and problem-solving skills. • Ability to drive innovation and integrate artisans’ needs, learning evidence, and commercial requirements into programme delivery. • Ability to communicate a clear vision, make timely decisions, and hold teams accountable for agreed results. • Willingness to live and work in Afghanistan Digital skills and experience: Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint), with experience using project-planning, budget-tracking, and data-management tools. Language skills: Fluency in international-standard spoken and written English is essential. Professional working proficiency in Dari and Pashto is strongly desirable. The ability to work effectively in multilingual environments and through interpretation is required. How to apply Candidates are requested to apply by 13 August 2026 by completing the application form through the link below and uploading their CV and cover letter as a single PDF document. Please do not attach certificates or other large files. Application Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/HexJximV7A This position is for both Afghan nationals and international candidates. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply!