Grade: P4
Vacancy no.: DC/PRETORIA/P/2023/03
Publication date: 25 October 2023
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 17 November 2023
Job ID: 11350
Department: RO-Africa
Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Pretoria
Location: Maseru
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 (midnight Geneva time).
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 12 months fixed-term contract will be given, with possibilityty of further extension pending availability of funds. 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.
Introduction
The Expanding Enterprise Participation in the Textile and Clothing Global Value Chain Project is a sub-component of the broader World Bank funded Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project (CAFI). Its development objective is to expand the participation of Lesotho-based garment manufacturing enterprises in the Textile and Clothing (T&C) Global Value Chain (GVC) through a focus on increased productivity, growth, overall supply chain competitiveness with the aim of employment creation, and especially for Basotho owned and managed firms, many of which fall into the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) segment.
The project is a 42-month integrated set of international Technical Assistance (TA) interventions consisting of the International Labour Organizationโs (ILO) Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme and the International Trade Centerโs (ITC) Global Textile and Clothing (GTEX) Programme. The international TA phase will be followed by a 30-month national implementation phase. The project is designed and delivered jointly by ILO and ITC with technical support to individual firms that is tailor made to their needs, opportunities and challenges as well as their operational and manufacturing constraints. The technical assistance packages will consist of i) pre-production support to develop firm competencies to improve techniques for material sourcing and yarn and fabric knowledge, improvement of product design and product development; ii) production level support to improve operations and management through Continuous Improvement Projects (CIPs) and productivity improvement interventions and; iii) post-production support to strengthen firmsโ abilities to market and brand products to regional and global markets, including coaching and training in high-performance sales and management along with the identification of new business opportunities through training on export and investment promotion, market and client diversification.
The Project contributes to the ILOโs mandate to promote sustainable enterprises, productivity and just transition as a means to contribute to decent work in ILO Member States. Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the CAFI, the ILOโs SCORE Programme and the ITCโs GTEX Programme, the Project Manager will be responsible for the overall technical and operational delivery of the project and liaison with the Government, the World Bank, social partners, national implementing partners, beneficiary enterprises (both Basotho and foreign), related NBSOs and other stakeholders. S/he will ensure that the planned objectives are attained within the stated time frame and budget and ensure compliance with the projectโs financial and operating procedures. S/he will provide technical support to T&C relevant Business Support Organizations (BSOs), national implementing partners and other institutions
Reporting lines:
The position is located in Maseru, Lesotho and the Project Manager will report to the Director of the ILO Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa and Country Office (DWT/CO) for Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa located in Pretoria, South Africa. The Project Manager will coordinate closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the broader CAFI project and provide reports to the PMU that contributes to the PMUs overall reporting obligations to the World Bank once approved by both ILO and GTEX/ITC. The Project Manager will lead the project team and will be the direct supervisor of other project staff, including two National Project Officers, a Financial and Administrative Assistant and a driver. Technical backstopping will be provided by the ILO Decent Work Team in Pretoria, the Productivity and Working Conditions team in the SME Unit of the ENTERPRISES Department at ILO Headquarters, Geneva, as well as by the ITC GTEX team, Geneva
Description of Duties
The Project Manager is responsible for the overall strategic, technical, and financial management of the project to ensure the achievement of the projectโs planned outputs with the resources provided. Their main duties comprise:
1. Manage the project team and supervise project staff, including two National Project Officers, a Financial and Administrative Assistant and a driver.
2. Provide technical support to national implementing partners, T&C relevant Business Support Organizations (BSOs), and other institutions as well as beneficiary enterprises in the T&C sector.
3. Coordinate with World Bankโs Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project, ILOโs global SCORE programme and the ITC GTEX Programme, and ensure synergies between projects and programmes.
4. Oversee the preparation of the projectโs work plans and budgets, and coordinate the planning of resources from all sources of funds, in consultation with the ILO SCORE and ITC GTEX programmes.
5. Lead the identification, development and implementation agreements with national and international productivity as well as T&C supply chain specialists, consultants and service providers to ensure that capacity development and technical guidance is provided as required.
6. Develop a comprehensive Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM) system to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the project and its impact at institutional and firm levels.
7. Prepare reports and provide relevant information on project progress to the CAFI PMU, implementing partners, DWT/CO Pretoria, SCORE/Productivity Team and relevant ILO departments as well as the ITC GTEX team, and if necessary, make recommendations for changes in the project strategy and approaches.
8. Develop and maintain excellent relations with donors, workersโ and employersโ organizations, government agencies and line Ministries, Business Development Services (BDS) providers, national implementing partners, beneficiary enterprises and BSOs and other relevant stakeholders, including other development partners supporting the T&C sector in Lesotho, directly or indirectly.
9. Identify local experts with a good understanding or background in the T&C sector that could be recruited under the project as national consultants.
10. Coordinate the documentation of good practices and lessons learnt and promote sharing of knowledge and experiences at the national, regional and international levels.
11. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.
12. Perform any other related duties required for the projectโs satisfactory progress and delivery.
Required qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in economics, management and business administration, industrial engineering or a related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in a relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience
At least 7 years of relevant experience, including at the international level, with a focus on productivity interventions and improvements or supply chain development in the textile and clothing sector. Broad knowledge of and international experience in small and medium enterprise development. Work experience in Lesotho or in the Southern Africa region is an advantage.
Languages
Fluent in written and spoken English
Competencies
โข Proven ability to take ownership of a wide range of responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical, and organizational norms, and to meet all project commitments within the prescribed time, cost, and quality standards.
โข Excellent leadership and negotiation skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
โข Strong decision making and problem-solving skills.
โข Establishes high quality standards for own delivery; is personally well organised and structured; anticipates and prepares for problems.
โข Clear commitment to mainstream gender and disability into project activities
โข Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
โข Good knowledge of project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation techniques and practices, preferably in the T&C sector.
โข Ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation and evaluation of polices related to enterprise development, productivity and supply chain competitiveness.
โข Ability to prepare reports, publications and training materials of high quality, technically sound with conclusions leading to an action plan and programme development.
โข Ability to develop project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings.
โข Excellent analytical skills and organizational skills.
โข Ability to develop and maintain positive partnerships within and outside UN, including with workersโ and employersโ organizations, government agencies and line Ministries, BDS providers and research institutions.
โข Ability to work in a multicultural team and drive work forward independently.
โข Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
โข Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.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.
For more information on conditions of employment, please visit: http://ilo.plateau.com/icontent/CUSTOM/ilo/HRD_PMDOCS/Emp_Conds_EN.pdf
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.
Fraud warning
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