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Head of Union Building

Geneva

  • Organization: PSI - Public Services International
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Mid level - Mid
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Social Affairs
    • Legal - International Law
    • Labour Market Policy
    • Public Policy and Administration
    • Civil Society and Local governance
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Managerial positions
    • LGBTQ+ rights
  • Closing Date: 2025-05-08

Head of Union Building

 

Contract Term: Permanent

 

Location: PSI Head Office, Ferney-Voltaire, France, OR Geneva, Switzerland

 

Travel required: 15 - 20%

Team: Senior Management

 

Please send a CV and a letter explaining why you are qualified and interested in this position to recruitment@world-psi.org subject "Head of Union Building" by 8 May

https://publicservices.international/resources/page/jobs/current-positions?id=9896&lang=en

Overall responsibilities:

 

Lead a team of staff to implement PSI’s Program of Action (PoA) across PSIs five sectors integrating PSI's Organising, Trade Union Rights (TUR) and Union Development (UD) work.

 

Develop, implement and monitor global strategies in these areas to strengthen PSI affiliates and build their power including representing PSI and its affiliates interests in relevant international forums.

 

Oversee PSI’s external funding relations and ensure external funding is used to maximise PSI’s objectives.

 

Key responsibilities of the position include:

 

Strategic

·       Support the sectoral officers, organising director and TUR officer to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate their respective policies, strategies and workplans.

·       Support the UD team to maximise external support for PSI objectives including maintaining existing and developing new high-level relationships with donors, attracting funding and ensuring quality implementation and reporting to donors.

·       Liaise with affiliates to determine affiliate priorities (in areas that relate to this position), including through the sectoral committees and organising advisory committee.

·       Develop strategies for building alliances (including with civil society) and working with other labour organisations (such as other Global Union Federations and national centres) to achieve PSI objectives

·       Develop and implement strategies to influence international institutions (such as the ILO, WHO and employer organisations) and governments in the work areas related to this position

·       Ensure integration of PSI’s social and economic policy, campaign and organisational objectives into the work of the team (such as equalities, anti-privatisation, tax, trade, digitalisation, climate, etc.)

·       Ensure the integration of the work with regional plans and operations.

·       Monitor developments at national and international level and develop policy positions and affiliate resources in response

·       Support PSI’s growth strategy.

  

Internal Co-ordination and Governance

·       Monitor organisational performance and prepare reports to PSI governance bodies.

·       Liaise and co-ordinate with the heads of other PSI departments (including communications, HR and finance) on key strategic and operational issues.

·       Liaise and co-ordinate with regional staff on key strategic and operational issues.

 

Management

·       Manage staff in areas of responsibility and support their co-ordination and development.

·       Develop, monitor and oversee the budgets in the work areas.    

·       Contribute strategic and organisational advice to the General Secretary and as a member of the Senior Management Team.

Other 

·       Other duties as assigned by General Secretary.

 

Supervision: 

The position will report to the General Secretary or delegate.

 Staff management:

The position will supervise directly the sectoral and TUR officers, organising director, UD officers and any other staff employed to carry out work in the areas of responsibility.   

 Cross-functional links:

The position will work in close collaboration with regional secretaries, senior management team, other department heads.

 

 

Employment conditions: PSI Global Head Quarters in Ferney Voltaire, France or Geneva Switzerland. Full time permanent contract. Significant out of hours work required. Final location will be subject to the employability of the preselected candidate (residency, work permit, etc.).

 

Annual gross salary according to PSI compensation (divided into 13 monthly payments) + Secondary Benefits based on PSI Policy. Subjected to local conditions.

Starting date: As soon as possible.

 

Selection criteria:

 

Content Expertise:

·       Strong understanding of trade union rights issues (in an international context an advantage)

·       A strong understanding of the issues of concern to public service unions in PSI’s five sectors (expertise in the health sector is an advantage)    

·       A strong understanding and commitment to public services and the conditions that make them viable (experience in anti-privatisation campaigns is an advantage)

·       Knowledge of labour organising strategies in both formal and informal sectors

·       Broad knowledge of trade unions across the globe, especially public service trade unions

·       Understanding of international donor environment, especially for trade unions, an strong advantage

·       Advanced degree in social sciences, labour studies or equivalent experience

 

Skills and attributes:

 Strategic

·       Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with affiliated unions and funders

·       Strong labour organising, campaigning and advocacy

·       Skills in project management, planning and evaluation methodologies

·       Campaign planning and implementation = preferably at international level

·       Designing and delivering capacity-building programmes

·       Network coordination skills and ability to coordinate in a democratic alliance

·       Ability to supervise and coordinate research for advocacy purposes

·       Participatory facilitation skills

·       Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Internal Co-ordination and governance

·       Ability to work collaboratively with peers inside a dispersed global organisation

·       Strong time management and task coordination skills, particularly in an environment without direct supervision

·       Demonstrated experience drafting timely, accurate reports for internal and external accountability

Management

·       Strong team player, able to communicate, develop buy-in and build cohesion with colleagues from diverse backgrounds

·       Demonstrated skills/experience in management - team building, mentoring, evaluations

·       Strong budgeting skills and desirable familiarity with external audit systems

·       Familiarity with procurement, anti-corruption and safeguarding policies an advantage

Other

·       Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and experience working to advance gender equality within organisations or movements

·       Ability to travel globally

 

Experience:

·       At least 10 years’ experience within the trade union movement or civil society/ equivalent at the national, regional or global level

·       At least 5 years’ experience managing staff – preferably in a union

·       Broad experience in organising, trade union rights and project/campaign coordination – preferably at a senior level in a public service trade union (in either private or public sector)

·       Experience in advocacy for workers’ rights at government or intergovernmental level

·       Experience managing externally funded activities

·       Experience in one of PSI sectors an advantage

 

Languages:

Ability to write and speak fluently in English is essential. Other PSI languages such as Spanish, German, Japanese or French is an advantage.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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