Senior National Officer Engineer - NOB

The labour market in Jordan remains highly segmented, with the majority of job opportunities generated in sectors and occupations that fail to match the skills, capacities and expectations of different groups of workers. The refugee crisis has exacerbated pre-existing labour market challenges, including high rates of informality, while also placing downward pressure on wages and working conditions in poorly regulated sectors. The country faces high unemployment rates, particularly for youth and women. The vast majority of Syrian refugees are highly vulnerable, however both Syrian and Jordanian female workers and workers with disabilities have particular characteristics that create barriers to accessing decent work. Both groups have very low levels of labour force participation. According to the Ministry of Labour, only 1 per cent of the 34,000 refugees who acquired work permits and formal positions are women. Gender equality is especially important in this context considering that 50.6 % of Syrian refugees are women according to the Jordan Response Plan.

The project builds on the ILO-wide strategy for institutional capacity development, which promotes a holistic coordinated approach to capacity development addressing various mutually reinforcing layers (individual, organizational and enabling environment). Also the project will focus on individual levels of capacity building through enhanced skills and abilities (direct beneficiaries) as well as creating an enabling environment especially through more inclusive societal systems (indirect beneficiaries). The project will strategically provide space for greater collaboration with Disabled Persons Organizations, which will strengthen visibility under the DWCP 2018-2020. 

The overall strategic objective of the project is to support a more inclusive and accessible labour market for vulnerable Syrian refugees and Jordanian men, women and persons with disabilities. In order to advance toward the strategic objective, the project has two specific outcomes:

1. Increased access to  decent jobs generated through local infrastructure projects
2. Female run, small and micro enterprises increased and enhanced 

The National Officer will be recruited to help the ILO office Jordan put into action the activities identified. More generally, s/he will promote, develop, backstop and evaluate employment intensive investment strategies within the Project.

Reporting lines

The National Officer will work under the direct supervision of the ILO Jordan country coordinator, and the overall technical guidance by the Resilience and Crisis Response Specialist and DWT Arab States

Director. The position will be based in the ILO office in Amman, Jordan.

• Coordinate the project timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation through management functions, including provision of technical and administrative supervision to the project team in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and according to the final project document and work plan. Support the preparation of TORs, timing of inputs and recruitment of international and local consultants;
• Contribute proposals for programme/project development and serve as national programme advisor to the project stakeholders and draft portions of programme and budget proposals, project proposals, programme background, country strategy papers, objectives, project reviews and evaluation;
• Monitor progress of ILO programmes, projects and activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness;
• Provide technical support to the Governmental partners for the development of guidelines and specifications on labour-based methodologies for different categories of works;
• Organize training programmes and awareness raising activities to improve understanding on Labour Intensive approaches and provide technical support for implementing training needs assessments;
• Provide technical support of employment impact assessments and employment monitoring;
• Participate in Introductory Workshops to introduce the principles of employment generation and LB methods;
• Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of all project's components according to the project's document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor;
• Provide technical support during procurement process and contract award to ensure that employment creation remains an objective;
• Provide hands-on technical support on labour-based technology during Project implementation;
• Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers' and workers' organizations in the planning and implementation of activities under the project;
• Perform any other duties necessary as assigned by the ILO Country Coordinator.

First level university degree in Civil Engineering.

At least three years of professional experience in the relevant occupational area. Experience in labour based implementation is a must.

Fluent in Arabic and excellent command of English.

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:

• Familiar with labour-based and local resource-based approaches to infrastructure improvement.
• Understanding of the impact of the Syrian crisis and the need to create local jobs.
• Strong management skills.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication and problem solving skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritize own workload.
• Strong monitoring and reporting skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to assume responsibility and to coordinate with others.
• Attention to detail and ability to handle tasks accurately.
• Willing to travel regularly to the project sites (driver license).
• Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal, to successfully advocate for and mobilize action to promote freedom of association and right to collective bargaining principles.
• Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities.
• Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.
• Ability to train and guide personnel.
• Ability to work in diversified environments.
• Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.