Research and Programme Implementation Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to promote social justice and fair labor practices. Established in 1919, the ILO has a mission to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. The organization operates in over 180 countries and has a diverse workforce of approximately 3,300 employees. The ILO is committed to achieving its goals through international labor standards, policies, and programs that address the needs of workers and employers alike. The Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) program, initiated in 2001, is a partnership between the ILO and the International Finance Corporation, focusing on improving labor standards and working conditions in the garment industry in Cambodia.

Job Overview:
The Research and Programme Implementation Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) program by addressing ongoing program needs and contributing to the strategic transition of BFC and Better Work Global. This position involves generating evidence, ensuring data quality, and supporting program effectiveness through research, analysis, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The incumbent will assist in implementing the program's research and impact strategy, ensuring alignment with BFC's strategic objectives. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including industry partners, to enhance the scale and impact of interventions aimed at improving labor compliance, occupational safety, and gender equality in the garment sector and beyond.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Assisting in the implementation of the program's research and impact strategy, ensuring alignment with BFC's strategic objectives.
• Supporting research initiatives aligned with program priorities, including labor compliance, wages, social dialogue, occupational safety and health (OSH), heat stress, gender equality, and enterprise management systems.
• Designing and proposing research methodologies and tools for qualitative and quantitative data collection.
• Performing statistical and qualitative analysis of data and research findings to generate actionable insights for program improvement.
• Supporting the M&E Officer in designing and implementing an M&E system aligned with BFC's strategy and donor reporting requirements.
• Collaborating with BFC core functions and external partners to ensure research quality and effective communication of evidence and impact.
• Leading and supporting mid-term and final evaluations, ensuring timely delivery of evaluation outputs.
• Contributing to the preparation of research reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products.
• Documenting lessons learned and good practices for targeted pilot activities and technical progress reports. 1
• Providing technical support to program teams, integrating research findings into design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and implementation. 1
• Promoting gender-inclusive approaches across all research activities. 1
• Performing other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of research methodologies and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, including formulation, implementation, and evaluation techniques. Technical skills in data analysis and research design, including qualitative and quantitative methods, are essential. Candidates should have good analytical and drafting skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and clear reports. Strong facilitation and coordination skills, including stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution, are also required. The ability to maintain effective working relationships with internal teams and diverse stakeholders is crucial, as is an understanding of gender equality and inclusion principles.

Educational Background:
A university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in economics, public policy, law, business management, development studies, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of labor standards and program implementation.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of professional experience in research design, data collection and analysis, and/or research coordination is required. Experience should preferably be within development programs or the private sector, including monitoring and evaluation, program implementation support, and work on areas such as gender equality, labor standards compliance, occupational health and safety, and corporate social responsibility. Familiarity with evidence-based policy development and stakeholder engagement is an advantage.

Languages:
Excellent command of English and Khmer is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Chinese would be considered an advantage, enhancing communication capabilities within diverse stakeholder groups.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract for one year, with the possibility of extension based on various factors, including the availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The recruitment process is open to both internal and external candidates, with specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria for National Officer positions. The ILO values diversity and encourages applications from qualified women and men, including individuals with disabilities. All applicants must attach a two-page statement explaining how they meet the required competencies, as failure to do so will result in disqualification from the interview process. The ILO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.