International Labour Organization (ILO) Opportunities for Specialist in Workers' Activities

The ILO is issuing a call for expression of interest for the position of Specialist in Workers' Activities.
The selection process is not subject to the rules and procedures defined in Annex I of the ILO Staff Regulations.


The following are eligible to apply:

• Internal candidates
• External candidates

The ILO values diversity among its staff and aims at achieving gender parity. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities.



Human Resources Development Department
International Labour Office
Vacancy No: CALL/P/2015/07
Title: Specialist in Workers' Activities
Grade: P.4
Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment
Date: 21 April 2015
Application Deadline (midnight Geneva time) 21 May 2015
Organization unit: CO-ABUJA
Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria


Job Title:  Specialist in Workers' Activities 

 

INTRODUCTION
The Specialist in Workers' Activities will be responsible for providing technical advisory services in the field of workers' activities to the ILO Offices and assisting workers' organisations in their efforts to provide their members with improved/new services, thus extending their representation and their capacity to become strong, relevant, independent and representative organisations, able to fulfil their roles and responsibilities in the promotion of workers' interests, in line with the principles of ILO standards. He/she should keep the ILO informed of the concerns, interest and perspectives of workers' organizations and keep the workers' organizations informed of the work the ILO does, as well as promoting their participation in tripartite or bipartite initiatives in line with 2002 ILC Resolution concerning tripartism and social dialogue.
The Specialist will have special responsibility for encouraging the involvement and active participation of workers and their organizations in all ILO activities while ensuring that ILO projects and programmes address the needs of workers and their organizations. The Specialist in Workers' Activities will advise and assist on technical questions concerning operational projects including project formulation, technical backstopping and evaluation. The Specialist will also advise and assist trade unions in policy discussions with government and employers' organisations regarding ILO matters (ratification of ILO instruments, formulation and analysis of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP), regional cooperation, etc).
The Specialist in Workers' Activities has double reporting responsibilities He/she reports to the Director of ACTRAV, through ACTRAV Regional Desk Officers, for policy, technical and operational aspects and to the Director of the DWT/CO for administrative matters.
Description of Duties
The official will be called upon to promote and develop workers' activities in the subregion with the following responsibilities

1. Promote and develop relations with workers' organizations at national and subregional levels and brief and involve them regularly on the implementation of ILO objectives and policies; strengthening the consultation process in accordance with the ILO Resolution on tripartism, through more systematic formal and informal consultations, where appropriate. ACTRAV should be consulted in a timely and meaningful way.
2. In close collaboration with the Regional Specialist on Workers' Activities, design the individual workplan for the biennium to be submitted to ACTRAV, through the Regional Desk Officers, for approval. This plan should take into consideration ILO's and ACTRAV's priorities and programmes as well as those identified with the trade union organisations in the region and should be implemented in full respect of timetables and activities identified.
3. Design and organize national and subregional seminars, meetings and other activities in the field of workers' activities. Develop consultancy, research and training activities in cooperation with workers' organizations and participate as a resource person in workers' education activities sponsored by workers' organizations in the subregion or by ACTRAV-ITC
4. Design technical cooperation project proposals on capacity building for workers' organizations as well as project proposals for ACTRAV submission to donors for extra-budgetary financing.
5. Carry out missions in the countries of the subregion in order to strengthen ILO Cooperation. After discussion with the Director, the Desk Officer and the Regional Specialist on Workers' Activities,coordinate meetings and activities, represent the ILO and participate in major events organized by workers' organizations (congresses, meetings, etc) and prepare the reports of such missions and activities.
6. Prepare and submit to ACTRAV and the DWT/CO annual reports on implementation of activities based on the individual work plan, mission reports, technical papers and studies, reports on the supervisory system and information on the development of the capacities of workers' organisations, namely regarding industrial relations, tripartism, collective bargaining and social dialogue at country or sub-regional level. Annual reports will assess the impact of the programme, pointing to successful results, difficulties encountered and lessons learned.
7. Provide policy advice and training to build capacities of trade unions on union organizational development and modern and democratic management methods, inclusive structures, increasing trade union representation and effectiveness through workers' education and organising and the use of strategic planning and results-based approaches.
8. Foster union structures and activities that will mainstream the participation of women, youth, migrant workers, informal economy workers, etc.
9. Disseminate information and materials on socio-economic policy issues and legislation of special relevance to workers and their organizations, at sub-regional and national levels, and prepare technical papers and studies when required.
10. Promote trade union research and knowledge sharing activities aimed at enhancing awareness and understanding of the changing and evolving world of work and shaping measures that address the four pillars of Decent Work (employment, social protection, social dialogue and rights at work).
11. Prepare comments on relevant ILO documents and others as appropriate requested by ACTRAV, DWT and the ILO Regional Office. This could include reactions and comments on documents prepared for the Governing Body sessions (i.e. freedom of association, technical cooperation, multinationals, gender, child labour, etc) as well as internal documents prepared by other Units in the ILO.
12. Provide technical advice and assistance to ensure effective trade union action and involvement in policy responses and regulatory frameworks to address decent work deficits. This could include supporting campaigns for ratification and application of core and international labour standards, training on the use of the ILO supervisory mechanisms, labour law revision, etc.

Required Qualifications
Education

• Advanced university degree with demonstrated expertise in the relevant technical field.

Experience

• At least eight years professional experience at the national level, or five years' experience at the international level in trade union organisations.

Languages

• Excellent command of one ILO working language (English, French or Spanish) plus good knowledge of another (one of these languages must be English).

Competencies
In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires
Technical Competencies

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of workers' organisations and labour related programmes, issues, practices and policies;
• Excellent knowledge of development concerns and needs in various countries as related to trade union organisations;
• Good analytical and problem solving abilities;
• Ability to synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects;
• Provide seasoned advice on best practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization;
• Sound and rigorous financial skills;
• Ability to produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and ILC, technical publications, training manuals and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor technical cooperation activities and projects;
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing;
• Discretion and high sense of responsibility and judgement;
• Good working knowledge of standard computer software.
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies including to present and advocate policy changes in difficult circumstances;
• Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings;
• Ability to develop links with and attract major donors in order to ensure adequate resource mobilisation for the implementation of plans and projects;
• Ability to design and synthesize strategies for programme development in member States;
• Ability to represent the Organisation at a high level in a tripartite environment, deliver speeches and to provide authoritative advice and guidance to both constituents and the Office;
• Ability to take initiatives, plan and organise work in accordance with ACTRAV guidelines and priorities;

Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to work in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Gender-sensitive attitude.

APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR WRITTEN TEST.
APPENDIX I CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules.
• 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.
• The first contract will be issued for a twelve-month period (for Geneva-based positions) and a twenty-four month period (for non Geneva-based positions)

Please note that the above salary levels are determined according to the criteria established by the International Civil Service Commission. The ILO is international public sector employer and salary and other employment conditions are not negotiable.
Other allowances and benefits subject to specific terms of appointment:

• Children's allowance (except for the first child if the dependent rate of salary is paid in respect of that child);
• Children's education grant (per child per year);
• Pension and Health Insurance schemes;
• Repatriation Grant;
• Home-leave travel with eligible dependants every two years;
• Rental subsidy (if applicable).
• 30 working days' annual leave;
• Assignment Grant;
• Entitlement to transport expenses of personal effects;

Recruitment is normally made at the initial step in the grade.
Salaries and emoluments are exempt from taxation by the Swiss authorities and, on the basis of international agreements or national law relating to presence or residence abroad, are generally exempt from taxation by other governments. In the absence of exemption, in most cases tax paid will be reimbursed in accordance with an ILO document which will be supplied upon request.
While the successful candidate will be initially working in Abuja, he/she may be assigned to any duty station designated by the Director-General of the ILO.
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form.

To apply,

please visit ILO's e-Recruitment website at: erecruit.ilo.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

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 - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.
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.
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