Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) - P5

Grade: P5

Vacancy no.: DC/ADG/JSP/P/2025/01

Publication date: 17 January 2025

Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 15 February 2025

Job ID: 12668

Department: ADG/JSP

Organization Unit: ADG/JSP

Location: Geneva

Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: 12 months

Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.

In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.

Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

The following are eligible to apply:

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

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.

Introduction

Large mixed migration movements continue to top the global political agenda, as reflected in the 2016 UN New York Declaration, and remain at the forefront of concerns, discussions and collaboration across the multilateral system and beyond. These movements create considerable challenges for countries of first asylum, transit and destination, as well as countries of origin, including through impact on socio-economic environments, such as labour markets of host countries, particularly where these may have already been under pressure and there is high unemployment.

The majority of refugee populations are hosted by low- and middle-income countries. As displacement has become increasingly protracted, responses are becoming more focused on durable solutions to support more dignified, inclusive and comprehensive programmes for refugees and the communities that host them to facilitate self-reliance and empowerment and strengthen social cohesion. It is paralleled by regional and country-level efforts in several areas, including in the Middle East and North Africa region and in the Horn of Africa.

In this context, the Government of the Netherlands launched a new partnership initiative in 2018 – the PROSPECTS Partnership Programme – built on the combined strengths, experience and values of specific development and humanitarian organizations to develop a new paradigm in responding to forced displacement crises. The partners include: the Government of the Netherlands, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the ILO, the UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Bank. The Partnership aims to help transform the way governments and other stakeholders, including the private sector, respond to forced displacement crises and in particular: (1) to enhance the enabling environment for the socio-economic inclusion of forcibly displaced persons (to mitigate their plight during years of exile and to best prepare them for their return); (2) to enhance access to education and child protection for vulnerable children on the move; and (3) to strengthen the resilience of host communities through inclusive socio-economic development that also benefits forcibly displaced persons.

The Partnership is grounded on results-based and country-led approaches as defined in joint Multi-Annual Country Programmes in two regions, MENA and the Horn of Africa, and framed by a joint Multi-Annual Global and Regional Programme (MAGRP). The programme aims to accelerate efforts to find sustainable solutions for countries confronted with large influxes of refugees. It also aims to develop and implement evidence-based solutions, tailored to each context, as well as to test and learn from innovative operational solutions, including improving the availability, collection and use of data and evidence. As a result, the roles of monitoring, evaluation, learning and knowledge management are critical to support sustainable outcomes within and beyond the PROSPECTS countries. These programme components will be of significant strategic value the context of institutionalising forced displacement response across the ILO.

Following an Exploratory and 1st Phase from 2018-2023, the donor has agreed to a second phase for the PROSPECTS programme from 2024-2027 with the same partners and covering the same countries.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Partnership programme, the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of all aspects of the programme, including its technical, operational, financial, administrative and human resource management, resource mobilization, country, regional and global operations, the content of training manuals and information materials and public statements. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the programme-related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

Reporting lines: The CTA will work under the general supervision of the Assistant Director General of the Jobs and Social Protection Cluster (ADG-JSP) in ILO HQ and will coordinate activities under the guidance of the Technical Core Advisory Group for all technical-related outputs. In addition, the CTA will support the work of the Steering Committee that provides senior management oversight of the programme from the perspectives of HQ and the Regional Offices, monitoring programme achievements and progress. Further support will be coordinated with the Regional Offices for Africa and the Arab States, the Country and Coordination Offices in Addis Ababa, Cairo, Dar-es-Salaam, Iraq and Jordan, and the Decent Work Teams in Beirut, Cairo and Pretoria.

The CTA will oversee and coordinate the work of a team that will be established at global level in ILO HQ and support and coordinate the work of international experts, CTAs in PROSPECTS countries, national officers, general service staff and any other international and local consultants hired during the course of the programme.

Description of Duties

Project management:

1. Responsible for effective management, coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all programme activities. This work will be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and the administrative and financial procedures.

2. Manage funds/budgets allocated to the Partnership programme and ensure the preparation of periodic progress reports for submission in accordance with the established rules and procedures.

3. Manage efficiently the human resources of the programme, including recruitment and performance management.

Technical leadership and advice:

4. Provide technical expertise and advice to the programme team and, when required to the programme stakeholders, including relevant government agencies and other key institutions. Ensure that technical interventions and decisions are well founded and take into account the specific nature of the programme objectives.

5. In the context of the activities at global, regional and country levels, provide support to ILO constituents in particular and other national and international partners in strengthening their capacities on issues relating to the access of refugees, other forcibly displaced persons and host communities to labour market, livelihoods and education/training opportunities and to the overall operationalization of regional and country level programmes.

Advocacy, networking and partnership:

6. Develop and maintain excellent relations with governments, ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of programme activities.

7. Liaise and coordinate with other UN agencies, IFIs and counterparts to promote ILO values, increase the visibility of the programme and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions.

8. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the Partnership programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards in collaboration with other technical and labour standards specialists.

9. Strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with, among others, national refugee authorities, relevant line ministries, civil society organisations, Regional Economic Communities, and other humanitarian and development organisations, in particular UNHCR in line with the ILO-UNHCR MOU and joint action plan and its follow-up.

Mobilization of resources:

10. Promote relationships with the multilateral and bilateral donor community and oversee and monitor resource mobilisation proposals in coordination with the responsible Regional and Country Offices and PARTNERSHIPS.

Knowledge management:

11. Design communication and knowledge-sharing strategies and lead the development of the programme information materials.

12. Identify and document lessons learned and contribute to knowledge management activities at the country, regional and global levels to expand and enhance learning on supporting the access of refugees, other forcibly displaced persons and host communities to decent work.

13. Ensure the development of information databases covering programme activities. Prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of planning and implementation and establish coordination with concerned ILO Departments and field offices.

14. Identify training needs and lead training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce professional capabilities.

15. Represent the Office at meetings, seminars, conferences and evaluations and build and enhance strategic partnerships and networks of government policymakers, workers’ and employers’ organizations and civil society organizations.

16. Perform other duties as required.

Education

Advanced university degree in a relevant field of study, including economics, management, international development, social sciences, refugee/migration studies or any other related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or other relevant fields with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least ten years' experience in the management of development cooperation activities in a senior position, of which at least seven years at the international level. Experience in the MENA and Horn of Africa regions and familiarity of refugee and forced displacement policies, responses and dialogue, especially in the context of labour market and livelihood integration, would be an advantage.

Familiarity with ILO policies, technical programmes and procedures, including experience working with officials of ministries of labour, interior (refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons), trade, education and other relevant line ministries and the social partners would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent knowledge and command of English is essential and good working knowledge of an additional official language (French) would be required.

Competencies

• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical, organisational and diplomatic norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the Partnership programme's objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in and lead a team and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies, and to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science, refugee and forced displacement research;
• Ability to develop alternative courses of action, programme proposals, policy and procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings;
• Ability to promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level;
• Very high level of written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports, to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners and to represent the ILO at the very highest level at global, regional and country levels;
• Proven capacity to develop and design training materials and programmes and to implement effective training and capacity-building activities;
• Open to and able to make changes to accommodate culture and gender differences in order to interact effectively with individuals;
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement technical co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and civil society, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and other national and international partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services;
• Ability to plan and support the development of individual's skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of current or future job/role responsibilities;
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures;
• Excellent computer/information application skills, including word processing, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory 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.
• Any extension of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit:

https://intranet.ilo.org/en-us/hrd/hrtalent/Documents/Emp_Conds_EN.pdf

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 ILO People. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.

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 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.