Chief Technical Advisor

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (DWT/CO-Moscow). DWT/CO-Moscow provides overall technical support for the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Decent Work Agenda in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Since gaining independence in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Georgia has gone through considerable upheaval, including several armed conflicts, but also the peaceful 2003 Rose Revolution. Georgia has made notable progress since 2004 in implementing reforms in governance and economy.

Despite positive trends in the economy, Georgia is, however, struggling with poverty, unemployment, gaps in social protection and poor employment and entrepreneurial prospects for youth. A significant share of Georgia's economy is informal, especially in the agriculture and service sector. Pro-employment growth is still to be achieved, as is economic inclusiveness and greater gender balance in the world of work.
In 2006, the then-Government of Georgia adopted a new labour code that was based on the assumption that deregulation of labour would attract investment and create jobs. The Government, elected in 2012, and re-elected in 2016, worked towards the gradual restoration of labour market institutions and undertook a number of steps in this regard, including the adoption of a new labour code which provides a better balance between the interest of workers and employers.

Against this backdrop, the ILO is working to strengthen labour market institutions by providing support along the following thematic areas:
•    Strengthening regulatory labour market institutions, by building upon ongoing ILO efforts concerning labour law reform, building effective labour inspection services, training of judges and legal practitioners, training to promote and improve enterprise-level bipartite consultation and negotiation, strengthening of labour mediation services for collective labour disputes and, possibly, establishing a labour court system.
•    Strengthening entrepreneurship and enterprise development, by providing knowledge and technical expertise, in order to create an enabling environment for the creation and development of sustainable enterprises that generate decent jobs, especially for youth.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the project, the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of all aspects of the project including its operational, financial, administrative and human resource management, country level and local operations, the content of training manuals and information materials, and public statements. The incumbent will promote ILO values, standards, tools and methodologies in the project related technical areas.

Reporting lines:

-    The CTA will work under general supervision of the Director of DWT/CO-Moscow who is the Responsible Chief of the position.
-    The Decent Work Team in Moscow, especially the Specialist on International Labour Standards and Labour law, will provide technical backstopping and general guidance to the incumbent.
-    The Labour Law and Reform Unit (LABOURLAW), Enterprises Department (ENTERPRISES) and other relevant Departments at ILO Headquarters will also provide technical backstopping to the incumbent, as required.
-    He/She will also oversee the work of international experts, national officers, general service staff and international and local consultants hired during the course of the project.

Description of Duties

Project management:
1.    Ensure effective coordination and planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures, in consultation with the responsible field office if applicable;
2.    Responsible for the effective management of funds/budget assigned to the project. Oversee the financial operations and endorse financial reports, guide and instruct project staff accordingly to make sure the ILO financial and administrative rules and regulations are complied with and ensure the administrative management of the project office is in compliance with Office rules and regulations, including security requirements;
3.    Manage efficiently the human resources of the project, including recruitment, performance and talent management. Supervise, coordinate and monitor assignments carried out by the project staff and external collaborators;
4.    Liaise and coordinate action with relevant ILO technical units and technical specialists in DWT/CO-Moscow to ensure effective consultation, collaboration and cooperation among the various entities involved in the project implementation;
5.    Ensure collaboration and synergies with other ILO technical cooperation projects and programmes, including those implemented by DWT/CO-Moscow and other departments.

Technical leadership and advice:
6.    Provide technical expertise and advice, on issues covered by the project, to the project team, and when required, to the stakeholders of the project, including relevant government agencies, social partners and other key institutions in close consultation and cooperation with relevant technical specialists and backstopping Departments in HQ. Ensure that technical interventions and decisions are well founded and take into account the specific nature of the project objectives, as well as the tripartite structure of the ILO.

Advocacy, networking and partnership:
7.    Develop and maintain excellent relations with governments, ministries, the employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of programme activities;
8.    Liaise with other UN agencies and multilateral organizations to promote ILO's values, ensure coordination, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project's interventions.

Knowledge management:
9.    Ensure proper knowledge management throughout the project implementation, including the identification, collection, organization and analysis of existing knowledge and baseline data relevant to the project, as well as  effective information sharing, and the development and regular review of project information and promotion materials;
10.    Any other duties requested by the Responsible Chief.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in law, economic and social sciences, labour/public administration, development studies, international studies or other relevant field, with demonstrated expertise in the field of labour law development, social dialogue, CSR, private sector development, and/or entrepreneurship development.

Experience

At least ten years’ experience in the management of development cooperation activities, of which at least seven years at the international level. This includes field experience in a leadership role for the implementation of projects, preferably in the fields of labour law development, social dialogue, CSR and/or entrepreneurship development. Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of a project cycle, i.e. design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building, networking, resource mobilization and donor relations. Experience working in fields covered by the project would be an advantage. Relevant work experience in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and especially the South Caucasus, would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English.

Competencies

• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies, project proposals and policy document, training strategies and materials and to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research;
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement development cooperation project/program activities with partners;
• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to provide high quality services;
• Ability to plan and support the development of individual’s skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities, and promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures; ability to work under time and political pressure to meet deadlines;
• The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes;
• Good knowledge of International Labour Standards, with a focus on social dialogue;
• Ability to understand and work effectively with Governments, workers' and employers' organizations and other stakeholders, as relevant;
• Familiarity with social and economic development trends in Georgia would be an advantage.