The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is looking for a Technical Expert/Project Manager (grade P4, international recruitment) for a new three year project funded by EU supporting labour market and social policy reforms in the Western Balkans. The position is located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, being part of the ILO Office for Central and Eastern Europe (for more see www.ilo.org/budapest). Application deadline is Sep 11th, 2019. All candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply and for further details of the job, please visit the ILO Jobs website.

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.

Introduction

The position is located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, being part of the ILO Decent Work Team/Country Office for Central and Eastern Europe (DWT/CO-Budapest). DWT/CO-Budapest provides technical support and guidance related to the ILO agenda in 18 countries of Central and South Eastern Europe (for more see www.ilo.org/budapest).

Within the program “Instrument for Pre Accession Assistance (IPA II, 2014-2020) the European Commission plans to provide support for labour market and social policy reforms in the Western Balkans. The central delivery mechanism for providing support will be the Economic and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP, www.esap.online) jointly run by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Building on phase I of the project (2016 – 19), phase II (2019 - 2022) will consist of five thematic components implemented through five regional networks: (1) Informal Employment and Undeclared Work, (2) Labour Inspection, (3) Social Dialogue, (4) Employment Policies and Measures and (5) Western Balkans engagement on EU employment and social policies. The first component will be jointly implemented by the RCC and the ILO; components 2 and 3 will be implemented by the ILO; component 4 and 5 by the RCC.

The ILO work will focus on creating quantitative evidence on what works in supporting transition to formality; strengthening capacities and outreach of labour inspectorates to prevent and combat undeclared work; as well as increasing effectiveness of tripartite and bipartite social dialogue for improving social equity and citizens' working and living standards. The Project Manager to be recruited will manage the ILO components in close coordination with RCC.

Reporting lines: supervision to be received by the incumbent (level and type) and to be given by the incumbent

The Sarajevo-based Project Manager will report to the Director of ILO Decent Work Team and Country Office for Central and Eastern Europe (DWT/CO) based in Budapest. S/he will work in collaboration with and under the supervision of relevant DWT/CO specialists who have technical responsibility for different components of the project, and relevant ILO Headquarters Units. The incumbent will closely coordinate their work with the ILO National Coordinators in the target countries and actively support the role and functions of the ILO National Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The incumbent supervises the work of the project staff under their responsibility as well as the contributions of external collaborators and service providers to be hired in the context of the implementation of activities. The Project Manager is expected to closely collaborate with RCC in delivering as one.

Project management:
- Ensure the effective implementation of the Action through timely and efficient delivery of planned outputs;
- Ensure the effective management of funds/budget and human resources assigned to the project;
- Ensure that administrative tasks related to the Action are conducted in accordance with ILO rules and procedures;

Technical leadership and advice:
- Provide technical support and advice to tripartite constituents in the six Western Balkan economies on the ILO components;
- Support the functioning of the Employment and Social Affairs virtual platform, including the launch and facilitation of information sharing and discussion fora on the issues covered by the Action;
- Liaise with the online communities  of practice of labour law experts and conciliators in labour disputes and ensure regular updating and maintenance of sub-regional CEELex database and labour disputes database;
- Design and implement a series of intervention packages to tackle informal employment in selected countries; design and carry out a suitable evaluation in order to facilitate knowledge sharing on what works with regard to transition to the formal economy;
- Monitor and coordinate the implementation and update the work plan in consultation with the ILO DWT/CO Budapest, the RCC, the European Commission and the constituents and in line with the guidance received by the Action Steering Committee;
- Monitor and coordinate research and activities carried out by external collaborators and ensure high quality of all technical outputs;
- Prepare periodic progress report drafts and the final project report draft;
- Provide information and support for the independent evaluation of the Action;
- Ensure that gender issues are explicitly addressed and mainstreamed throughout the project activities and any outputs including final reports or events;

Advocacy, networking and partnership:
- Facilitate the active involvement of social partners in the consultation processes on economic and social reforms;
- Initiate and coordinate institutional partnerships between tripartite constituents and labour market institutions in the Western Balkans with relevant EU institutions and networks;
- Promote collaboration with additional international donors and partners with a view to expanding the thematic scope of the platform;
- Plan, design and manage the face-to-face sub-regional workshops and meetings as well as bilateral exchanges between participating national institutions;
- Interface on a daily basis with the RCC partners to ensure a common management of the overall Action;

Perform any additional relevant duty as requested by the DWT/CO Director.

Competencies

• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/program’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for program development.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
• Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings.
• Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement development cooperation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services.
• Ability to plan and support the development of individual’s skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities.

Behavioural competencies: The ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required. Excellent trouble-shooting and problem solving skills; Ability to plan and organize work and to provide guidance and training to staff members; excellent negotiation and communication skills. Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Education

Advanced university degree in law, economics or other relevant political and social science.

Experience

Seven years' experience at the national level including three years at the international level in the field of managing technical cooperation projects on employment and social policies. Sound knowledge of economic and social conditions in the Western Balkans and good understanding of the EU accession and sub-regional integration processes. Solid knowledge and understanding of the ILO mandate, policies, strategies and tools. Experience in the fields of combating informal employment, reforming labour inspection services, or promoting social dialogue would be an asset.

Languages

Excellent command of English. Knowledge of one or more Western Balkan languages would be a clear advantage.