Technical Officer, Forestry Sector and the Rural Economy

Grade: P3

Vacancy no.: RBC/P/SECTOR/2025/10

Publication date: 14 March 2025

Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 14 April 2025

Job ID: 12842

Department: SECTOR

Organization Unit: SECTOR/FACT

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 E-Mail schreiben.

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

Applicants from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries can be found here: ILO Jobs: Non- and under-represented Member States

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 specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. However, external candidates applying for the professional category vacancies and whose mother tongue is not one of the working languages of the Office (English, French and Spanish), shall be required to possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the ILO working languages. If appointed, they will be expected to acquire a knowledge of a second working language of the Office during their initial years of service.

Introduction

The position is located in the Forestry, Agriculture, Construction and Tourism (FACT) Unit within the Sectoral Policies Department (SECTOR). SECTOR is responsible for providing support to ILO constituents in addressing employment and labour opportunities and issues in specific economic and social sectors at the global, regional and national levels. The sectoral approach to decent work cuts across the entire Decent Work Agenda.

The work of the Department includes: consensus building on sector-specific policies and practices through social dialogue, including through tripartite sectoral meetings at the global, regional and national level; the promotion of ratification and effective implementation of international labour standards, with special attention to sectoral labour standards; the development and dissemination of knowledge and information relating to sector and/or industry-specific economic and employment trends; policy-oriented research on decent work issues in specific sectors; the implementation of development cooperation projects as well as the delivery of policy advice and capacity building programmes for tripartite constituents; and the promotion of policy coherence on key sectoral issues through strategic partnerships with other United Nations agencies, with multilateral organizations and with other stakeholders.

SECTOR is also responsible for the coordination of Office-wide efforts for the promotion of decent work in the rural economy and the Department contributes to the ILO's work on the promotion of decent work in global supply chains.

The FACT Unit promotes decent work in these sectors and coordinates ILO's work on the promotion of decent work in the rural economy.

The main role of the position is [to support ILO constituents – governments, employers and workers – to advance decent work in the forestry sector and the rural economy.

The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Head of FACT.

The Technical Officer also works in collaboration with the other specialists at headquarters and in DWT/CO teams.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide technical and policy support to the FACT unit in the areas of forestry and the rural economy.

2. Undertake sectoral analyses to identify constituent decent work priorities and needs. Review previous impact assessments done on approaches and interventions to identify innovative practices and propose adaptations to best address the issue(s) identified.

3. Contribute to the formulation of strategies and policies relevant to forestry and the rural economy, including providing technical inputs to components of ILO Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks, in response to the demand from Member States. Collect and compile data, statistics and other information that reflect the country decent work situation and ILO constituents' key concerns and priorities.

4. Provide technical support to ILO constituents and other relevant stakeholders pertaining to forestry and the rural economy with a view to promoting social justice and decent work. Respond to requests for information and guidance on forestry and the rural economy. Draft policy recommendations and provide support with follow-up actions, as and when appropriate.

5. Undertake policy-oriented research and analysis that takes into account gender and diversity considerations in the area(s) of forestry and the rural economy. 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 forestry and the rural economy.

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, 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 forestry and the rural economy and make proposals on how to address them. Prepare 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 inputs to the design, development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and technical backstopping activities of development cooperation projects. Draft programme and project documents, taking into account priorities on forestry and the rural economy and the need to position these within relevant cooperation frameworks.

optional section (only if needed)

11. Support resource mobilization efforts for new projects and activities including by leveraging opportunities for collaboration with partners and proposing new initiatives/activities, in the field of forestry and the rural economy.

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 to present the ILO approach and share good practices on forestry and the rural economy and explain and promote the technical agendas .

13. Organize, assist in and/or facilitate meetings and other events in the areas of forestry and the rural economy, 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.

optional section 2 (only if needed)

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master's or equivalent) in economics, social science, law 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.

Experience

At least five years of experience in the field of economic and social development, employment and labour relations, rural development or forestry.

Languages

Excellent command of one working language (English, French, Spanish) of the Organization. A working knowledge of a second language would be an advantage.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following are required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Good knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area(s) of forestry and the rural economy.

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.

Conditions of employment

- 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.

Important Information

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 E-Mail schreiben

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line 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.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account E-Mail schreiben - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.

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