Grade: NOB
Vacancy no.: RB/ISLAMABAD/NO/2026/01
Publication date: 29th Octbober 2026
Application deadline (midnight PST): 12th November 2026
Job ID: 13856
Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific
Organization Unit: CO-Islamabad
Location: Islamabad
Contract type: Fixed Term
The following are eligible to apply:
- ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the ILO Staff Regulations.
- External candidates.
Applications from candidates who have already separated from ILO service upon retirement or early retirement, will not be considered.
The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.
The ILO welcomes applicants with experience in working within ILO constituents (governments, employers’ and business membership organizations, and workers’ organizations).
Applicants from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries can be found here: ILO Jobs: Non- and under-represented Member States
In addition to the interviews and tests that any candidate may be required to take, successful completion of the ILO Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates and any internal candidate applying to a higher category.
Notwithstanding the general considerations set out in the ILO Staff Regulations, this vacancy announcement is the only authoritative document pertaining to the qualifications required for this position. The minimum required qualifications were determined in view of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.
Organizational Setting
The position is located in the ILO Country Office for Pakistan, within the Programme Team. The Office works with federal and provincial governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, development partners and UN agencies to promote decent work and advance international labour standards.
The Programme Team coordinates the formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of programmes and projects in line with the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), the ILO Programme and Budget, national development priorities and the ILO’s strategic objectives.
The Senior Programme Officer supports programme coordination and delivery, with particular emphasis on social dialogue, tripartism, labour governance and engagement with tripartite constituents.
Main Purpose
Under the direct supervision of the ILO Country Director for Pakistan and in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations Units, the Senior Programme Officer contributes towards coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Office’s programme of work.
The incumbent supports the implementation of the DWCP, promotes coherence across programmes and projects, strengthens engagement with government institutions and employers’ and workers’ organizations, and contributes to resource mobilization and strategic partnerships.
The incumbent also oversees the work of the Programme Team, including the Senior Programme Assistant and project managers assigned by the Country Director, within delegated responsibilities and established ILO procedures.
Working Relationships
Internal relationships
The incumbent works closely with the Country Director, Programme and Operations Units, technical specialists, project managers and programme support staff, as well as the Regional Office, Decent Work Technical Support Teams and ILO headquarters.
External relationships
The incumbent maintains working relationships with federal and provincial government institutions, employers’ and workers’ organizations, UN agencies, development partners and other stakeholders to advance DWCP priorities, strengthen social dialogue and support labour policy and institutional reforms.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide substantive professional inputs for the formulation and implementation of the DWCP, ensuring alignment with national development priorities, ILO strategic objectives and the needs of tripartite constituents.
- Coordinate and oversee the work of the Programme Team, including the Senior Programme Assistant and project managers assigned by the Country Director, providing guidance and promoting timely and effective programme delivery.
- Monitor programme implementation against approved workplans, budgets, indicators and timelines; verify programming data; assess performance; identify implementation challenges; and recommend corrective action.
- Facilitate engagement among government institutions, employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations to strengthen social dialogue, tripartite cooperation, industrial relations and collective bargaining.
- Support technical cooperation on labour legislation, policy reform, labour administration and institutional capacity development, in collaboration with relevant ILO technical specialists and tripartite constituents.
- Support initiatives concerning freedom of association, collective bargaining, the elimination of forced labour and child labour, gender equality, non-discrimination, promoting occupational safety and health, and business and human rights, in line with the ILO’s mandate.
- Coordinate and support interventions addressing DWCP priorities, including occupational safety and health, employment, skills development, social protection, labour migration and the rights of workers in informal and vulnerable employment.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with government institutions, social partners, UN agencies and development partners. Contribute to project proposals, concept notes, funding strategies and donor engagement to mobilize resources for DWCP priorities.
- Prepare and review programme frameworks, project proposals, reports, memoranda of understanding and other relevant documents. Liaise with the Operations Unit to support effective delivery, resource utilization and compliance with ILO procedures.
- Participate in relevant inter-agency meetings and joint programming initiatives to identify opportunities for collaboration and ensure complementarity with national and UN development priorities.
- Support capacity-building activities for government institutions, employers’ and workers’ organizations, programme staff and implementing partners. Document programme achievements and lessons learned and share relevant knowledge and good practices.
- Provide inputs to the Office’s communication activities and perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Country Director.
Minimum Requirements
Education
University degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in a field relevant to the job.
Experience
Minimum of three years of professional work experience in programme and/or project planning, monitoring, implementation and evaluation.
Languages
Excellent command of English and Urdu
Knowledge and Competencies (technical/behavioural)
Good knowledge of programming and results-based management (RBM) principles and concepts.
Good knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation).
Good knowledge of resource mobilization.
Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors.
Knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities.
Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.
In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:
Research and analytical skills.
Drafting skills.
Knowledge of methods and techniques for designing and assessing quality and efficiency of process execution.
Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
Ability to manage competing priorities.
Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.
Ability to oversee the work of and provide guidance to staff.
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
Conditions of employment
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
- The first contract will be issued for a twenty-four month period.
- A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment.
- Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance.
For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.
Important Information
Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at hrpartner@ilo.org
Recruitment process
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place during the 3 to 4 months following the application deadline. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.
Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.
The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.
Fraud warning
The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.