Grade: P2
Vacancy no.: DC/NORMES/P/2023/01
Publication date: 19 June 2023
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 3 July 2023
Job ID: 10948
Department: NORMES
Organization Unit: LIBSYND
Location: Geneva
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: One year
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 ilojobs@ilo.org.
Introduction
The right to freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining have been established as fundamental rights by the international community through the International Labour Organization (ILO). These enabling rights and freedoms are grounded in the ILO Constitution and are essential in the promotion and realization of social justice. The most visible and consequential application of the respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining takes place at the level of the workplace when employersโ and workersโ organizations and all workers and employers are guaranteed a conducive climate for the exercise of these fundamental rights.
Mexico has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). Also, Mexico adopted in 2017 and in 2019, a Constitutional reform and to the Federal Labour Act, respectively, laying the foundations for a new labour justice system in the country and establishing processes to guarantee the principles on freedom of association and collective bargaining towards ensuring the representativeness of trade union organizations, certainty in the conclusion of collective bargaining agreements and trade union democracy, guaranteeing the personal, free and secret vote of workers.
Mexico is a signing party to the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is a trade arrangement that includes labour provisions such as the obligation to respect in law and practice the rights and principles contained in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, adopted in 1998, and amended in 2022, with emphasis on the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Against this framework, the ILO is implementing the development cooperation project โObservation and Engagement for Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Rights Realization (OBSERVAR) Initiativeโ. The project provides support to the Government of Mexico in workplace democratic processes, where the ILO participates as observer, that contributes to fostering an environment of trust in the transition towards a new labour relations model in the country. The project also provides technical assistance to the ILO tripartite constituents to enhance the understanding and practice of the rights and principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining, through activities of training and capacity building. The project provides for a platform for exchanges of ILO tripartite constituents at the international level on good practice to discuss the implementation of principles on freedom of association and collective bargaining, at the national and international level, and their linkages with trade agreements.
Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Project, the Technical Officer will be responsible for providing direct technical support to the Project and contribute to the expected outcomes. The incumbent will assist in promoting ILO international labour standards and policies with particular emphasis on freedom of association and collective bargaining and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.
The Technical Officer will work under the technical supervision of the Chief of Freedom of Association Branch, in the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES) and the Chief Technical Advisor of the project.
Description of Duties
Main duties and responsibilities:
1. Support the implementation of the project by providing technical inputs, planning, monitoring and evaluation of project activities. Draft proposals for funding, in coordination with the ILO Field Offices and HQ. Ensure conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, ILO programming guidelines and Office procedures and practices.
2. Collaborate and coordinate with the Project Team in CO-Mexico to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the project and expected results.
3. Provide technical expertise on specific ILS and related instruments, given that NORMES is the Secretariat of the ILO Supervisory Bodies, and can directly assist the Government of Mexico on facilitating effective compliance with ILO constitutional and standards-related obligations. In this respect, the incumbent will examine communications from the Mexican constituents concerning freedom of association and collective bargaining, in particular as to complaints submitted to the Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA), and prepare draft documents and perform other tasks in support of the work of the CFA and the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.
4. Implement other ad hoc activities for which it will be considered an added value for the projectโs implementation.
5. Create synergies with the use of other resources available (Headquarters and field) in support of the national components; closely collaborating with relevant ILO programmes and projects, ILO units and responsible ILO offices and DWT as appropriate, to obtain technical inputs and share best practices and lessons learned. The incumbent will act as coordinator with the relevant technical departments in Headquarters, to ensure coherence of the various fields of interventions with the project objectives and expected results.
6. Ensure the visibility of the project in HQ, and disseminate results to other field offices on lessons learned and good practices towards possible future related initiatives.
7. Contribute to the preparation of project implementation reports as well as project briefs as requested and within specified timeframes.
8. Support the organization of meetings, conferences and seminars in relation to the implementation of the project.
9. Carry out research and provide technical inputs in the preparation of capacity building tools for ILO Tripartite Constituents.
10. Collaborating with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer assigned to the project to develop and/or maintain a database for monitoring and evaluation and aimed at tracking progress against Key Performance Indicators.
11. Liaise on operational matters related to the project with different stakeholders from governments, workers' and employers' organizations, UN organizations non-governmental organizations.
12. Provide inputs for budget preparation and other related matters, including the process of preparing relevant documentation for responsible ILO entities.
13. Undertake missions for the implementation of the project, including participating in observations, and participate in training seminars and workshops as resource person.
14. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.
Required qualifications
Education
First-level university degree (Bachelorโs or equivalent) in law, sociology, political science, economics or other relevant field is required.
Experience
Three years of relevant professional experience.
Languages
Excellent command of English and Spanish
Competencies
- Demonstrable knowledge of ILO International Labour Standards on freedom of association and collective bargaining and the ILO Supervisory Bodies.
- Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Research and analytical skills.
- Communication skills.
- Drafting skills.
- Ability to maintain effective and collaborative working relationships.
- Ability to prepare and deliver internal presentations and messages, using a range of techniques and technologies.
- 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.
- 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 the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.
Recruitment process
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. 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 - @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.