Regional Desk Officer - Arab States

Introduction

The Senior Relations Specialist is a member of ACTRAV and will be located in Geneva at ILO headquarters.

The Senior Relations Specialist will be responsible for determining priorities, planning, organizing and coordinating the work developed by ACTRAV and the ILO in the Arab States region, with a special focus on the activities related to workers’ organizations. The incumbent of the position will plan, schedule the work of and oversee the performance of ACTRAV’s Specialists in Workers’ Activities in the Regional Offices as well as liaise with the Programme Officer for Workers’ Activities for the region in the Turin Centre.

The Senior Relations Specialist will provide advice to senior ILO officials on main trends, challenges and policies and coordinate the provision of services to the region’s members of the Workers’ Group represented in the different institutional settings. The Specialist will also conceptualize, formulate and prepare development cooperation projects for submission to partners and supervise the implementation of those projects.

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Director of ACTRAV. 

Duties

The official will be called upon to promote and develop activities with the following responsibilities:

1. In coordination with the Director of ACTRAV, plan, organize, coordinate and monitor the relations work of ACTRAV in the Arab States region. Determine the regional priorities and ensure that these are consistent with the ILO’s and ACTRAV’s priorities and plans and in line with the priorities identified with the trade union organizations in the region. 

2. Support the Director with planning, managing and monitoring progress in work assigned to Specialist(s) in Workers’ Activities in the Regional, DWT/CO and ILO offices and liaise with the Programme Officer for Workers’ Activities for the region at the International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin in order to meet objectives and deadlines for implementation in full respect of timetables and activities identified.

3. Provide advice to ACTRAV’s Director and team at ILO headquarters and in the field, senior officials on matters of concern to the relevant constituent group and represent the ILO at official events and conferences.

4. Provide advice to senior officials on current policies and views, namely those specific to workers’ organizations, as well as on the development of general policies for relations with workers and employers’ organizations, including regional and international workers’ organizations and ensure the consistent application of such policies. Organize and ensure the preparation of policy-related briefs and documents.

5. Coordinate the servicing of the region’s members of the Workers’ Group of the Governing Body, the International Labour Conference, regional and sectoral meetings, and other official or specialized meetings and ensure that the discussion process is supported. Coordinate representation of the ILO at official meetings in the region and brief representatives at such meetings.

6. Review major ILO reports and documents, provide comments and suggestions to reflect relevant concerns and interests from the workers in the region and draft and approve documents, communications and press releases.

7. Undertake missions to Member States to build and improve relations with relevant organizations, to discuss and review their situation, and to provide advice and information on the Organization’s policies and activities. 

8. Recommend action on personnel, budgetary, procedural and other matters relating to the efficient operations of the Regional Desk for the Arab States.

9. In close coordination with the Director and the team in charge of development cooperation, conceptualise, formulate and prepare development cooperation projects for submission to partner organizations. Discuss possible projects with partner organizations and obtain their approval, providing justification and explanation, as required. Negotiate objectives, design, content and cost of development cooperation activities and assume responsibility for the management and implementation of projects as well as for the quality of work performed and reporting.

10. Provide policy and technical advice and guidance to the Decent Work Support Team specialists and external consultants. Check, control and verify the design and implementation of work plans of Workers’ Activities Specialists in DWTs, plan and coordinate the preparation and presentation of technical reports, annual reports on successful results, difficulties encountered and lessons learned and undertake missions in connection with development cooperation.

11. Contribute to ACTRAV’s work teams, inter alia in the areas of Programme and Budget, the Strategic Plan, the Decent Work Country Programmes, the Social Justice Declaration, the Centenary Declaration and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals.

12. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in economics, labour law, public administration, industrial relations, political science or other relevant 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 required below, will be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience

At least ten years of professional experience including at the international level, in dealing with issues pertaining to relations, actions and programmes of workers’ organisations, including experience in a senior position.

Languages

Excellent command of one working language (English, French or Spanish) of the Organization and a working knowledge of a second working language.  One of these languages must be English. 

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical Competencies: Technical Competencies: In-depth knowledge of the work of the International Labour Organization, its policies, programmes and procedures. Excellent knowledge and understanding of workers’ organizations and of labour related programmes, issues, practices and policies. Excellent knowledge of development concerns and needs of the countries in the region as related to trade union organizations and other constituents. Political insight and sound judgement. Discretion and high sense of responsibility, judgement and diplomacy. Ability to present and advocate policy changes in difficult circumstances. Ability to develop links with and attract cooperation partners in order to ensure adequate resource mobilization for the implementation of plans and projects. Ability to make authoritative judgements and to assume sound managerial, financial, administrative and supervisory responsibilities. Ability to provide authoritative advice and guidance to senior-level officials, executive management and constituents and to negotiate and discuss  sensitive matters with tact, discretion and authority.  Ability to take initiatives, plan and organize work in accordance with the priorities established. Ability to represent the Organization and deliver speeches at a high-level in a tripartite environment. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.  Excellent leadership and management skills. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, to undertake complex policy analysis and to produce relevant reports. Good working knowledge of standard computer software. 

Behavioural competencies: The ability to work in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.  The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.