Grade: NOA
Vacancy no.: BEY/DC/2025/10
Publication date: 23 April 2025
Application deadline (midnight local time): 07 May 2025
Job ID: 12963
Department: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut
Organization Unit: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut
Location: Damascus
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: 12 months (June 25 till May 2026)
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 above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date.
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 recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.
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.
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.
*Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is 22983 (USD) yearly.
Introduction
The International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding from the Government of Japan, is implementing the Job-Rich Early Recovery Support Programme in Syria to address the urgent employment and livelihoods needs resulting from prolonged conflict, economic collapse, and political transition. In 2024, the humanitarian situation further deteriorated, with 16.7 million people in need of assistance and the working poor disproportionately affected by high unemployment, low wages, and the complete halt of food assistance from the World Food Programme.
In response to these conditions, the ILO is working with national and local stakeholders to support early recovery through decent job creation, rehabilitation of productive infrastructure, and improved labour market institutions. The programme is aligned with the UNโs Early Recovery Strategy and Syriaโs Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), focusing on three key outcomes: job creation through green works (Outcome 1), improved employment services for vulnerable groups (Outcome 2), and enhanced social dialogue for equitable wage-setting and pay equity (Outcome 3).
The political change that occurred in Syria following the fall of the former regime on 8 December 2024 has created a new and rapidly evolving governance landscape. With the interim authorities now expressing a greater openness to institutional reform, this moment presents a critical opportunity to re-engage national actors and initiate long-needed structural improvements. The reform of employment services and the revival of social dialogue mechanisms have become even more urgent and timely, particularly to address the needs of returnees, job seekers, and low-wage workers affected by the previous systemโs stagnation. The ILOโs interventions under this project are therefore well-positioned to support stabilization, economic recovery, and institutional rebuilding in this transitional phase.
To support the delivery of these outcomes, the ILO is seeking to recruit a National Officer based in Damascus for a 12-month, full-time assignment. The selected candidate will work closely with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL), social partners, UN agencies, and civil society to implement technical activities, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and contribute to policy dialogue. This is an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping Syriaโs employment landscape at a critical moment in the countryโs transition.
Reporting Lines
The National Officer will report to the ILO Syria Country Coordinator, based in Damascus, and will receive technical guidance and backstopping from relevant specialists in the ILO Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) and Headquarters. S/he will work closely with national counterparts including the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL), public and private employment services, social partners, and UN agencies. Travel within Syria or to Beirut to ROAS may be required, depending on operational needs and security clearance.
Description of Duties
A Provide Support to Employment Services Reform
- Follow-up with relevant technical officers with counterparts in organizations and facilitate consultations with MOSAL, local employment offices, private employment agencies, Chambers, and CSOs to assess current services and gaps and to expedite implementation and meet target.
- Contribute to the development and validation of a shared vision and inclusive roadmap for improved employment services for women, returnees, and vulnerable groups.
- Provide technical inputs for stakeholder workshops and policy dialogues to support alignment with ILO Conventions No. 88 and 181.
- Monitor and document employment service reforms and contribute to reports and communication products.
- Draft a concept note with a set of practical interventions with an aim to promote employment services for people in vulnerable situation building on the findings from assessments in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
- Provide inputs to the development of ILOโs Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on employment-intensive works and work-based learning and introduce safeguard measures.
- Contribute to the capacity building support for the MOSAL its local branches in the field of labour inspection and occupational safety and health.
Description of Duties (continued)
B. Promote Social Dialogue and Minimum Wage Reform by engaging tripartite constituentsโincluding government authorities, employersโ and workersโ organizationsโin social dialogue to shape employment policies, develop a minimum wage system, and promote equal pay and workersโ rights.
- Support awareness-raising and capacity-building efforts on minimum wage setting, pay equity, and womenโs labour rights; assess existing social dialogue mechanisms (tripartite and bipartite structures, collective bargaining, and dispute resolution) to identify gaps and strengthen cooperation.
- Contribute to technical reviews and data analysis, including a comprehensive assessment of Syriaโs wage-setting mechanisms, equal pay practices, and the legal and institutional frameworks governing social dialogue; update relevant data from previous ILO projects using available secondary sources.
- Develop and promote actionable policy recommendations, including tripartite action plans and proposals for wage and equity reform, aligned with legal and institutional reforms in coordination with MOSAL and national labour law reform committees.
- Design and deliver training programmes for government officials, workersโ, and employersโ organizations on negotiation, social dialogue, and dispute resolution mechanisms, aiming to build long-term institutional capacity in industrial relations.
- Advocate for workers' rights and representation by strengthening social dialogue platforms and enhancing the capacity of workersโ and employersโ organizations to participate effectively in policy discussions and national employment strategies.
Description of Duties (continued)
- Represent ILO in inter-agency coordination meetings and contribute to joint planning efforts under the UN Early Recovery Strategy, Transitional Action Plan (TAP) and HRP.
- Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects or donors to expand impact under Outcomes 2 and 3.
- Promote advocacy through evidence-based policy briefs and engagement with media and partners, ensuring visibility of Japanโs contribution.
- Prepare regular progress updates, background notes, and inputs to donor reports.
- Contribute to monitoring frameworks and ensure integration of gender and inclusion indicators.
- Maintain documentation and records of meetings, events and related promotional materials that target policy makers, programme managers, the public and the beneficiaries, Provide inputs to donors when required.
- Prepare comprehensive progress and final reports, ensuring structured analysis, stakeholder input, and actionable recommendations on employment services and minimum wage reforms.