National Project Coordinator

Introduction

This position is based in the ILO Office for Japan (ILO-Tokyo). ILO-Tokyo is responsible for representing the ILO in the country and for undertaking advocacy and outreach functions. The main objective of the office is to strengthen the relationship between the ILO and its tripartite constituents in Japan. ILO-Tokyo is responsible for providing constituents with technical advisory support services to fulfil ILO’s mandate in the framework of their needs and priorities.

With the support of the Government of Japan, the ILO is implementing two projects in Japan:

•    Fostering an Enabling Environment for MSMEs to Promote Responsible Value Chains (FEE-RVC) (Target countries: Japan and ASEAN countries)
The overall objective of the Project is to foster an enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) and decent work in value chains, by addressing key constraints faced by MSMEs. 
The Project aims to strengthen institutional frameworks and enhance cooperation among governments, local authorities, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and private financial institutions to better support MSMEs in advancing responsible and sustainable business practices. 

•    Advancing Responsible Supply Chains and Decent Work in Asia (Target countries: Japan and Thailand)
The overall objective of the Project is to promote responsible and resilient supply chains and decent work between Japan and Thailand, by advancing human rights due diligence (HRDD), promoting social dialogue, and enhancing cross-border industry cooperation in the automotive and related electrical and electronics sector. 

The Project aims to strengthen institutional capacity in Japan to support RBC, enhance enterprise-level HRDD, workplace cooperation and social dialogue among suppliers in Thailand, and promote cross-border dialogue and collaboration among governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, and foster an enabling environment for sustainable and responsible business practices and decent work across supply chains in Asia.

The incumbent will support the effective and timely implementation of the Japan components of both Projects (approximately 50%-time allocation to each). The incumbent will ensure coordination with METI and other relevant ministries, engagement with workers’ and employers’ organizations, enterprises, financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders, and alignment with the MNE Declaration. The role will also support overall project coherence, implementation and reporting, including providing inputs to project-wide deliverables.

Reporting lines

The incumbent will be based in Japan, Tokyo and will work under the supervision of the Director of ILO-Tokyo. Day-to-day reporting will be to the FEE-RVC Project Coordinator in Tokyo, Japan and Advancing Responsible Supply Chains Project Technical Officer based in Bangkok, Thailand. The incumbent will work in alignment with the technical guidance and advice provided to the Project Coordinator and the Project Technical Officer by relevant specialists from the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct Unit (MULTI/RBC) and the Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific (DWT-Bangkok).

Description of Duties

In this assignment, the incumbent will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

1.    Support the Project managers in expediting the project implementation and liaise with relevant counterparts from government departments, trade unions, business and employers’ organizations, industrial associations, financial institutions, research entities, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to support the programme implementation as necessary.

2.    Ensure effective management including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Projects’ activities in accordance with the policies, programme strategies, programme guidelines, administrative and financial procedures of the ILO.

3.    Support the Project managers in programme-related work such as drafting briefing documents, concept notes, reports, TORs and supporting a project evaluation.

4.    Support drafting the technical progress reports and other ad hoc reports in coordination with colleagues in the target countries.

5.    Support drafting the proposals and project documents in consultation with the relevant headquarter units, country offices, and internal colleagues for new funding.

6.    Plan, coordinate and deliver a range of training, awareness-raising, and capacity building initiatives including with external collaborators and implementing partners.

7.    Provide interpretation and translation in English and Japanese as required for the programme and the donor. Ensure the quality of translations undertaken by the external service provider. 

8.    Monitor the quality of deliverables by the external partners and provide regular feedback to the service provider.

9.    Contribute to disseminating the activities and learnings the project activities through preparing communication materials and briefing for external audiences including media.

10.    Collaborate with colleagues in the ILO Office for Tokyo and technical specialists from relevant ILO branches.

11.    Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Project managers.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in laws, economics, public policies, development studies or a relevant field. An advanced degree on studies on labour standards, corporate social responsibility, economics, trade and investment and skills enterprise development would be a strong advantage.

Experience

Minimum of two years of professional work experience in programme and/or project planning, monitoring, implementation, and evaluation activities. Experience in the fields of labour standards, corporate social responsibility, economics, trade and investment, skills enterprise development with technical cooperation projects and Statistics and numerical analysis would be an advantage. Familiarity with ILO principles and procedures, including experience working with ILO constituents, development partners and international organizations at the global, regional and country level would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of written and verbal Japanese and English. 

Competencies

• Understanding of issues and principles of social dialogue, fundamental principles and rights at work and/or Business and Human Rights. Technical knowledge of business and human rights, responsible business conduct and/or international labour standards is strongly preferred.
• Ability to monitor the effectiveness of programme activities undertaken by partner organizations and consultants.
• Drafting skills and demonstrated ability to prepare reports both in English and Japanese.
• Knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation) and resource mobilization.
• Good knowledge of training techniques and methods, proven ability to conduct training courses for a diverse range of trainees. Experience in developing online and/or hybrid style courses is an advantage.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with internal and external key stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of principles of gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and equal opportunity and how these principles can be promoted as part of the responsibilities of the position.
• Self-motivated and ability to work independently with minimal supervision in an outcome-based work culture as well as contributing to the work of a team.
• Good communication skills. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with people in a polite, courteous, and cooperative manner, with high standards of ethical conduct.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint), experience using digital tools for designing such as Canva is a plus.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.