Introduction

The position is located in the Inclusive Labour Markets, Wages and Working Conditions Branch (INWORK) within the Conditions of Work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY). WORKQUALITY leads the ILO’s efforts to promote quality employment and equality for all in the world of work. The Department’s ambition is that all workers, women and men alike, benefit from decent working conditions, fair treatment and inclusive labour protection. To achieve this, WORKQUALITY supports the strengthening of labour market institutions and the effective implementation of inclusive policies that uphold workers’ rights and foster equal opportunities. The Department is composed of: the Inclusive Labour Markets, Wages and Working Conditions Branch (INWORK) supporting fair wages, sound working conditions and inclusive labour markets policies; Labour Migration Branch (MIGRANT) promoting fair and rights-based labour migration governance and protection of migrant workers; as well as Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch (GEDI) advancing gender equality and inclusion of all workers.

INWORK provides technical assistance to constituents and expands the knowledge base on wages and labour incomes, working time, work organisation, contractual arrangements and employment protection, the transition to formality for workers in informal employment, the protection workers’ data and workers at risk of being excluded from labour protection, taking into account the needs of workers and their families as well as economic factors. INWORK also leads two transversal policy areas in the Office: decent work in the platform economy and decent work for domestic workers. To carry out its mandate, INWORK undertakes high quality research and, upon request, provides evidence-based policy advice which is responsive to national needs, priorities and resource.

The ILO Programme on Living Wages supports the new mandate of the ILO to implement the tripartite Conclusions on wage policies, including living wages, adopted by the ILO’s Governing Body at its 350th Session in March 2024. The Programme on Living Wages comprises two pillars. The first pillar concerns the estimation of the needs of workers and their families for the purpose of wage setting, including living wages, and the development of a global wage data hub which collects, analyses and disseminates wage-relevant data, including living wage estimates in line with ILO principles alongside metrics on economic factors to be considered in wage setting. The ILO provides technical assistance to constituents, upon request, on the ILO living wage estimation methodology. The second pillar concerns the operationalization of living wages, in line with ILO wage-setting principles, by strengthening wage-setting institutions, taking into account the needs of workers and their families and economic factors, by addressing the root causes and challenges of low pay and by promoting the alignment of living wage initiatives with the tripartite Conclusions, including through guidance materials and awareness raising. Specific activities in individual countries and regions will be developed in close consultation with ILO constituents through national and regional dialogue processes.

The Technical Specialist will report to the Senior Economist, Wage Specialist, who reports to the ILO responsible official, the Chief of INWORK. The Technical Specialist will work in co-ordination with the Project manager, liaise with regional wage specialists, and may supervise international or local consultant hired for the project. The Technical Specialist will provide technical guidance to the work of the Junior Technical Officer funded by the same project, who reports to the Project manager.

Description of Duties

1.    As primary technical specialist of the project, the Technical Specialist will lead the implementation of knowledge activities of the Living Wage Programme, including estimations of living wages using the ILO methodology, further improving and developing the methodology, the collection of wage-related data and relevant economic factors, their integration in the global wage data hub, and the facilitation of knowledge sharing with and between project stakeholders.

2.    Provide technical advice to government institutions, including national statistical offices, social partners and other partners, with a view to strengthen the evidence base for wage-setting institutions, taking into account the needs of workers and their families and economic factors. 

3.    Under the guidance of regional wage specialists, support and participate in consultations with representative employers’ and workers’ organisations on living wage estimates, with a view to ensuring national and/or local ownership of living wage estimates and a deepened understanding of economic factors that are relevant for setting adequate wages.  

4.    Lead the development and maintenance of the ILO global wage data hub. This may include workshops and IT service contracts, among other aspects.

5.    Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of technical activities, and contributing to annual operational planning and donor reports for the duration of the project. This also includes identifying possible risks and challenges that could prevent reaching project technical objectives as well as identifying strategies to address them.

6.    Provide technical guidance to the junior project officer. Prepare the terms of reference for external collaborators and partners to implement technical activities at national, regional and/or global activities, in line with project documents, as well as oversee the timeliness and quality of their work.

7.    Participate in the exchange of experiences and information between ILO constituents and living wage initiatives at global, regional and country level, including conferences, roundtables and workshops, including through the Key Initiative on Living Wages of the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

8.    Create and disseminate ILO technical guidance materials and publications to raise awareness and understanding of the concept of the living wage among ILO constituents and living wage initiatives. This includes the dissemination of the ILO methodology to estimate the needs of workers and their families for the purpose of wage setting, including living wages, the ILO compendium of economic factors to be considered in wage setting as well as the ILO global wage data hub as tools to inform wage-setting processes.

9.    Liaise with other UN and technical cooperation counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions. 

10.    Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the Programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards, in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.

11.    Contribute to the writing and dissemination of project information materials related to technical aspects of the project, and its publications through the ILO website. Participate in national, regional and/or global meetings, workshops, roundtables, conferences or training activities to disseminate knowledge products and lessons learned from the project and Programme.

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12.    Undertake further research on living wage trends and developments, sharing knowledge and lessons learned.

13.    Identify technical training needs and organize trainings, workshops and meetings for constituents and living wage initiatives to build the capacities of Programme target groups and their staff, as appropriate.

14.    Undertake resource mobilization activities with the multilateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project, in coordination with the project manager, responsible Country Offices and PARTNERSHIPS. Maintain a regular exchange of information and a good relationship with the donor and its partners, and engage in resource mobilisation efforts with a view to expand the donor base of the Programme with a view to further transforming it into a multi-donor effort.

15.    Undertake other duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master‘s or equivalent) in economics or another relevant field.

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

Experience

At least seven years of relevant professional experience, preferably in quantitative analysis of wage data, including on living wages, including at the international level.

Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures, including working experience with and/or at government institutions and/or social partners, would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of one working language of the Office (English, French or Spanish), and good working knowledge of another.

Knowledge of additional working languages of the Office or UN languages would be an advantage.

Competencies

- Demonstrated capacity to provide relevant and effective technical advice on the technical area and related topics.
- Ability to conceptualise, design, plan and implement research work, including analysis of complex cross-national practices and data sets.
- Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and decent work teams.
- Ability to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators, general service staff and young professionals in the area of specialization.
- Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies.
- Excellent writing skills to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation. Ability to provide technical support to senior specialists carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
- Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools, and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
- Good computer skills.
- The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.