Technical Officer

Grade: P3

Vacancy no.:RBC/P/NORMES/2024/21
Publication date: 3 December 2024
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 6 January 2025

Job ID: 12585
Department:NORMES
Organization Unit: NORMES
Location:Geneva
Contract type: Fixed Term

The following are eligible to apply:

• ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the ILO Staff Regulations.
• External candidates.

Applications from candidates who have already separated from ILO service upon retirement or early retirement, will not be considered.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

The ILO welcomes applicants with experience in working within ILO constituents (governments, employers’ and business membership organizations, and workers’ organizations).

In addition to the interviews and tests that any candidate may be required to take, successful completion of the ILO Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates and any internal candidate applying to a higher category.

Notwithstanding the general considerations set out in the ILO Staff Regulations, this vacancy announcement is the only authoritative document pertaining to the qualifications required for this position. The minimum required qualifications were determined in view of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.

The position is located in the Programming, Partnerships and Field Support section of the Standards Policy Unit within the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES). The Department provides secretarial support to the ILO bodies mandated to supervise the effective application of international labour standards and of setting policy on the adoption, promotion, supervision and review of international labour standards in accordance with guidance provided by the Governing Body. NORMES also leads the Office-wide coherence and cooperation on international labour standards, including through their mainstreaming in programming documents and development cooperation projects at the level of the ILO and the United Nations. In this regard, NORMES oversees strategic planning, monitoring and reporting on Programme and Budget Outcome 1 on strong, modernized normative action for social justice. NORMES supports the thematic policy priority regarding the realization of labour rights as human rights, upholding human dignity and meeting basic needs under the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
The Programming, Partnerships and Field Support section is responsible for developing strategic external partnerships on labour rights as human rights, mainstreaming international labour standards in results-based management, programming, development cooperation and research on standards policy matters. It is also called upon to provide support to the supervisory bodies.
The main role of the position is to support the Programming, Partnerships, and Field Support section by providing technical and policy assistance in the areas of social justice and international labour standards. This includes conducting analyses to identify priorities and innovative practices, contributing to strategy formulation, providing technical support to constituents, and participating in capacity development initiatives. Additionally, the role involves preparing reports, policy briefs, and other knowledge products, supporting development cooperation projects, and engaging with partners to promote labour rights and decent work.
The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Head of the Programming, Partnerships and Field Support section of the Standards Policy Unit.

1. Provide technical and policy support to the Programming, Partnerships and Field Support section in the areas of normative action for social justice aligned with the biennial Programme and Budget.
2. Undertake global, regional, country, sectoral, thematic analyses to identify constituent decent work priorities and needs. Review previous impact assessments done on approaches, activities, institutions to identify innovative practices and propose adaptations to best address the issue(s) identified.
3. Contribute to the formulation of strategies and policies for programming and results-based management and for the promotion and integration of labour rights as human rights within the reformed UN Development System. This includes providing technical inputs to the preparation of the Programme and Budget and its Implementation Report, as well as the normative components of ILO Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs), UN cooperation frameworks and Development Cooperation projects, in response to demand from the constituents, field offices and other internal and external partners. Collect and compile data, statistics and other information that reflect the ILO constituents’ key priorities in relation to international labour standards and the work of the ILO supervisory bodies.
4. Provide technical support to ILO constituents and other relevant stakeholders pertaining to labour rights as human rights with a view to promoting the Decent Work Agenda, international labour standards, and the work of the ILO supervisory bodies within the context of the thematic policy initiatives under the Global Coalition on Social Justice. Respond to requests for information and guidance on these subjects. Draft policy recommendations and provide support with follow-up actions, as and when appropriate.
5. Undertake policy-oriented topical research and analysis that takes into account gender and diversity considerations in the area(s) of standards policy, including the changing needs of the world of work and their impact on the adoption, application and supervision of international labour standards. Commission research, draft terms of reference for research consultants and monitor and coordinate their work.
6. Identify and maintain up-to-date knowledge on emerging trends and policy developments on international labour standard with a view to sharing knowledge, inter alia, within the NORMES Global Technical Team (GTT) and the ILO Network on the UN SG’s Call to Action for Human Rights (C2A Network).
7. Draft and/or provide technical input into the development, peer review and editing of policy briefs, working papers, reports, publications and other knowledge products and contribute to their dissemination. Provide evidence-based technical content for social media, digital and other knowledge-sharing tools and platforms, including Teams spaces of the NORMES GTT and C2A network, with a view to reaching broad and diverse audiences.
8. Synthesize and share good practices and lessons learned, taking into account complementarities with other technical areas of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.
9. Participate in the identification of capacity development needs of constituents in relation to international labour standards and make proposals on how to address them. Prepare inputs for related training and learning materials and activities in collaboration with the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable. Deliver training to diverse audiences using innovative methods and communication tools and leveraging the use of digital technologies. Participate in knowledge sharing activities.
10. Provide substantive normative inputs to the design, development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and technical backstopping activities of development cooperation projects. Draft programme and project documents, taking into account the constituent priorities on international labour standards, labour rights as human rights and the need to position these within UN cooperation frameworks.
11. Support resource mobilization efforts for new projects and activities including by leveraging opportunities for collaboration with partners and proposing new initiatives, in the field of international labour standards.
12. Participate in national, regional, international and UN inter-agency and other stakeholder working groups, consultations and forums to engage with potential and existing partners on labour rights as human rights and standards policy matters.
13. Organize, assist in and/or facilitate meetings and other events in the areas of international labour standards, including proposing agenda items, identifying participants, preparing technical materials, proposing facilitation techniques, preparing and delivering presentations, drafting summary reports and monitoring follow-up.
14. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law, social science, international and development studies or other relevant field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned field(s) or other relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

At least five years of experience in programming for decent work and/or development cooperation project management. Experience with the work of the ILO supervisory bodies and with applied research for policy purposes would be an advantage.

Excellent command of English and working knowledge of French or Spanish would be an advantage.

Good knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area(s) of international labour standards and human rights, programming and development cooperation. Knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities. Knowledge of IT applications for information collection, management and dissemination. Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques. Ability to identify sources and develop methods for data collection. Good research and analytical skills. Good drafting skills. Ability to adapt quickly to new IT software and systems. Good communication skills, presentation skills. Persuasion and ability to present technical arguments to convince counterparts on a course of action. Ability to maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and work well in a tripartite context. Ability to present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO's position on it to partners using a wide range of techniques and technologies. Ability to assess, adapt and amend individual and group assignments (policies, approaches, models) to meet new or changed needs and situations. Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance in the technical area. Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
• The first contract will be issued for a twenty-four month period.
• A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment.
• Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.

Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at hrpartner@ilo.org.

Please note that all candidates must complete an online application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place during the 3 to 4 months following the application deadline. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.

The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.

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