Technical and Policy Support Officer

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Technical and Policy Support Officer
Location: Geneva
Country: Switzerland
Deadline Date: 6 January 2025

Job Details

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 worldwide. Established in 1919, the ILO has a mission to ensure that labor standards are upheld and that all individuals have the opportunity to work in conditions of freedom, equity, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and human dignity. The organization operates in over 180 countries and employs approximately 3,500 staff members. The ILO is committed to promoting rights at work, encouraging decent employment opportunities, enhancing social protection, and strengthening dialogue on work-related issues.

Job Overview:
The position is situated within the Programming, Partnerships and Field Support section of the Standards Policy Unit in the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES) of the ILO. The primary function of this role is to provide technical and policy assistance in the areas of social justice and international labor standards. This includes conducting analyses to identify priorities and innovative practices, contributing to strategy formulation, and providing technical support to constituents. The incumbent will also prepare reports, policy briefs, and other knowledge products, support development cooperation projects, and engage with partners to promote labor rights and decent work. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders and the ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of labor rights and standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical and policy support to the Programming, Partnerships and Field Support section in normative action for social justice aligned with the biennial Programme and Budget.
• Conduct global, regional, country, sectoral, and thematic analyses to identify decent work priorities and needs.
• Contribute to the formulation of strategies and policies for programming and results-based management, promoting labor rights as human rights.
• Provide technical support to ILO constituents and stakeholders regarding labor rights and the Decent Work Agenda.
• Undertake policy-oriented research and analysis, considering gender and diversity in standards policy.
• Maintain knowledge on emerging trends and policy developments in international labor standards.
• Draft and provide technical input into policy briefs, reports, and other knowledge products.
• Synthesize and share good practices and lessons learned.
• Identify capacity development needs and prepare training materials. 1
• Support resource mobilization efforts for new projects. 1
• Participate in national, regional, and international working groups and consultations. 1
• Organize and facilitate meetings and events related to international labor standards. 1
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law, social science, international and development studies, or a relevant field.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the aforementioned fields with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• At least five years of experience in programming for decent work and/or development cooperation project management.
• Experience with the work of the ILO supervisory bodies and applied research for policy purposes is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of international labor standards and human rights, programming, and development cooperation.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in relevant fields such as law, social science, or international and development studies. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in these fields, combined with two additional years of relevant experience, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of relevant experience in programming for decent work and/or development cooperation project management. Experience with the ILO supervisory bodies and applied research for policy purposes is considered an advantage, indicating a need for a strong background in labor standards and their application in various contexts.

Languages:
Excellent command of English is mandatory, and a working knowledge of French or Spanish would be advantageous. Candidates whose mother tongue is not one of the ILO's working languages must possess a satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of these languages and are expected to acquire knowledge of a second working language during their initial years of service.

Additional Notes:
The contract type is fixed-term, with the first contract issued for a period of twenty-four months. Successful external candidates will be on probation for the first two years of their assignment. Any extension of the contract beyond the probation period is contingent upon satisfactory conduct and performance. The ILO emphasizes diversity and encourages applications from qualified female candidates and individuals with disabilities. The recruitment process includes an online application form, and candidates may be required to undergo a medical examination to confirm their fitness for the position. The ILO has a zero-tolerance policy for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse.