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 position of Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) is located in the ILO Iraq Country Office based in Baghdad and will contribute towards the implementation of the ILO, ITC and UNHABITAT joint programme funded by the European Union “Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT): Towards Decent Work and Affordable Housing in Iraq” The programme aims to stimulate decent work opportunities for young women and men while addressing urgent need for affordable housing, especially for lower income and vulnerable people in Iraq.

The ILO will work with constituents and partners to improve the capacities of ministerial and decentralised actors for Public Works Programme design and implementation, integrating Employment Intensive Approaches with focus on the housing sector.

The project aims to improve the institutional capacity for policy development, enforcement, and coordination to fight against child labour in the construction sector with focus on the brick industry, protection of labour rights and promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers including young people, women and IDPs. The project will support the implementation of the roadmap to strengthen the application of the right to collective bargaining.

It will strengthen the capacities of GoI and women for the integration of women and girl’s empowerment, equality and non-discrimination at policy level and the workplace.

The main role of the position is to contribute to the implementation of the public works and labour governance reform programme; facilitate coordination with implementing partners and the donor; and implement synergies with other programmes implemented by the ILO in Iraq, including on EIIP, social protection, formalization, access to finance, entrepreneurship, among others.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the ILO Iraq Country Coordinator. Technical backstopping will be provided by the Senior Resilience and Crisis Response Specialist as well as other Specialists from the Decent Work Team when it comes to aspects of child labour, OSH, women’s empowerment and gender equality. The incumbent will oversee the other members of the Project team reporting to him/her. The CTA will further coordinate with the CTAs of other projects in Iraq and liaise with relevant HQ departments as needed. The CTA will also work in collaboration with the other UN agencies at the country and regional levels.

Description of Duties

1. Responsible for the implementation of technical activities of the project through the provision of technical inputs in the area(s) of Public works and labour governance to advance the public works/EIIP and labour governance reform priorities, planning and control, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines taking into account the integration of cross-cutting policy drivers, including international labour standards, social dialogue, gender equality and non-discrimination, and a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies.

2. Provide technical assistance to government to develop tailored public works programme design features, (including identification of projects to be implemented, wage level, eligibility criteria, duration of participation, integration with available trainings, and monitoring infrastructure) in a participative manner and evaluate the project’s progress and report to the donor.

3. Identify training needs and develop training materials and organize training workshops to enhance capacity building and participate as resource person in project capacity building activities of national and local partners to plan and design public works programme applying EI Approaches, LBR, gender-responsiveness, with a focus on infrastructural interventions in the housing sector.

4. Facilitate platform stakeholders to engage in constructive discussions on unacceptable forms of labours including child labour especially in the construction sector with focus on bricks industry.

5. Provide expert policy and technical advice in the area of public works and labour governance to ILO constituents and other concerned stakeholders with a view to promoting the formulation of inclusive and gender-responsive policies and programmes, and their impactful implementation and monitoring to ensure equitable outcomes.

6. Support the strengthening of ILO constituents’ capacity to plan, administer and monitor public works and labour governance reform. Participate in the production of promotional materials which target policy makers, programme managers and the general public that assist in promoting ILO technical recommendations and standards and enhance ILO visibility.

7. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of employers’ and workers’ organizations in policy design, implementation and evaluation of public works and labour governance programme.

8. Initiate, design, commission and/or coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research, assessments, mappings and analyses that meets the programme objectives as well as the evolving needs of constituents and other key stakeholders, and leads to the formulation of policy and technical recommendations, policy knowledge products, tools and guidelines and the development of new and enhanced methodologies and approaches to financial and investment management in public works through EIIP in housing sector.

9. Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in Public works and labour governance. Ensure effective coordination with Public works and labour governance reform partners and donor for joint programming, monitoring and reporting. Lead the effective coordination between the public works and labour governance reform programme and other programmes implemented by the ILO in Iraq to facilitate synergies and joint programming.

10. Organize, facilitate and make technical contributions at workshops, steering committee meetings, conferences and other events to advance the policy priorities of the public works and labour governance reform programme. Represent and engage the ILO as a key player in meetings, and forums at the national level concerned with the public works and labour governance reform programme.

11. Ensure the effective management of staff and consultants in accordance with ILO standards, the results-based management framework and through timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework (PMF) and other feedback mechanisms, as applicable.

12. Contribute to Office-wide efforts to analyse, document and disseminate lessons learned and information on innovative practices emanating from the programme.

13. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in engineering economics, public law, public administration, social sciences, development studies or a related field.

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or related field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least seven years of experience in the field of public works and infrastructure development, employment policy, labour market governance, including at the international level.

Experience in national dialogue processes, the management of public sector reform initiatives and inter-UN agency coordination would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English. Knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies (Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration), the following is required:

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area(s) of public works and labour governance , with the ability to plan, coordinate and guide the development and implementation of new concepts policies, techniques and procedures in response to evolving technical needs.
• Ability to lead and manage individual and group assignments and to supervise those undertaking the work.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide relevant and effective technical advice on the technical area and related topics.
• Excellent drafting, research and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.
• Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to represent the Organization and present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO’s position on it to partners with a view to gaining their support to advance the desired course of action.
• Ability to mobilize resources.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.