Senior Regional Skills Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the [ILO’s Regional Office and Decent Work Technical Support Team for Arab States (RO/DWT-Arab States) which is located in Beirut, Lebanon. ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for the Arab States (DWT-Beirut). RO/DWT-Beirut covers the following countries and territories: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The DWT-Beirut provides technical support in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) and other ILO country support activities within the framework of the outcome-based work plans. The ILO is implementing a large number of interventions on skills development in the Arab States region in support of the ILO strategy on skills and lifelong learning 2030. There are increasing demands to expand ILO operations on skills development.

The main role of the position is to coordinate skills development initiatives at regional level and related interventions in Arab States, with a particular focus on promoting strategic partnerships and developing tools to scale up ILO services.  

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the DWT Director and receives technical guidance and advice from the Chief of the Skills and Employability Branch at ILO headquarters. 

The incumbent works in collaboration with the other technical specialists of the DWT and with the Skills specialists in all ILO regions and at headquarters. The incumbent will also work with ILO constituents, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, bilateral technical agencies, academic institutions, private sector companies, consultants and experts, training providers and NGO’s.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1.Plan, manage and coordinate regional initiatives on skills development and all related interventions in the Arab States region. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and manage staff and consultants as applicable. 
2.Lead the design, development, implementation, monitoring and promotion of related programmes, strategies, approaches and policies with a view to enhancing and positioning the Organization’s technical leadership in these areas. Lead, manage and coordinate high-level advocacy and technical and policy advisory services at the regional level to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, fostering 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.
3.Provide thought leadership in areas of importance to ILO constituents and other concerned stakeholders, including through the continuous strategic positioning of the Organization and its mandate within the United Nations system. Act as a catalyst in formulating policies on critical issues related to the promotion of decent work across ILO’s strategic objectives and build bridges and synergies between strategic policy areas. Coordinate cross-organizational teams/initiatives to ensure integration and policy coherence to advance broad programme development. 
4.Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks. Provide authoritative policy and technical advice on contemporary topics of skills development 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. Promote relevant international labour standards.
5.Support ILO constituents in identifying their needs and provide adequate technical support, including through comparative policy analyses. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of employers’ and workers’ organizations in policy design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects.
6.Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Build and stimulate multidisciplinary initiatives/ efforts / developments / plans / reviews / activities with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda.

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7.Lead innovative gender-mainstreamed global, regional and country specific research projects on decent work issues, in particular on skills development, that provide clear and operational policy recommendations, including at sectoral level and ensure an integrated approach/perspective, with a view to influencing policy agendas of countries and recommendations of other international agencies and multilateral organizations.
8.Develop and lead/coordinate the development of skills development and lifelong learning policies, initiatives, strategies and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to constituents’ needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the  regional  and country levels. Provide advice and technical support to constituents and other stakeholders on effectively using such tools. Contribute to Office-wide efforts to analyse, document and disseminate lessons learned and information on innovative practices.
9.Lead the development, review and quality control of major reports, publications, documents and other office documents, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings.
10.Support the strengthening of ILO constituents' capacity to design and implement policies and measures, monitor their impact, refine and improve policies and measures as required in the area of skills development and lifelong learning, taking into account the need for policy coherence and an integrated approach to decent work. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead/coordinate workshops, meetings and other events, using innovative methods, digital platforms and communication tools. Develop and run/implement global and/or regional capacity development programmes, knowledge sharing and training events, including in collaboration with the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable.
11.Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships and broker collaborative relationships to benefit the broad areas of the Decent Work Agenda with  regional institutions and agencies , UN partners, the World Bank and other bilateral and multi-lateral development partners with a view to developing and strengthening networks of skills development institutions and promoting ILO’s skills work development, advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence / joint programme design and implementation / promoting awareness of ILO’s values and strategic objectives / resource mobilization / influencing policy and financing decisions in support of decent work objectives.
12.Convene and represent the ILO at major international/regional meetings and events, including with strategic players, national and international development partners, international financial institutions and multilateral and regional institutions of the UN system and other key stakeholders/organizations. As the ILO’s technical representative, play a key role in promoting and advocating the Decent Work Agenda.   
13.Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

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Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in [social sciences, education, economics or other relevant field.

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or other relevant 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 ten years of experience in skills development  including at the international level.

Languages

Excellent command of English. A working knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following are required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches in the area(s) of skills development with the ability to lead and oversee their development and implementation suited to evolving needs and priorities. Detailed and comprehensive expertise in own area to serve as the reference expert across the Organization. 
Excellent knowledge of the full range of policy areas and advanced understanding of the ILO’s mandate. Ability to maintain a comprehensive wealth of knowledge of related external issues.
Technical leadership skills.
Managerial skills for the effective management of human and financial resources. Ability to provide clear direction and to develop, inspire and encourage high-performing, pioneering and motivated individuals and teams, specialized in the technical area of work.
Excellent research and analytical skills. 
Excellent communication skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills.
Excellent drafting skills. 
Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.
Ability to build and negotiate strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of key stakeholders and to create innovative opportunities for promoting synergies and ensure organizational results and success over the immediate, mid-term and long-term horizon.
Ability to represent the Organization with authority and credibility and position it as a leader in skills development.

Ability to articulate the Organization’s mandate/strategic objectives/programmes when formulating and delivering information and presentations and adapt presentation methodology to address the needs of different audiences. 
Ability to mobilize resources.
Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.