Regional Labour Statistician

Introduction

The Regional Labour Statistician will be responsible for coordinating and providing technical advisory services in the field of labour and decent work statistics, including promoting and supporting relevant technical cooperation projects in the region. In this regard, she/he will collaborate with other specialists in achieving the planned ILO priorities for the region. The position is the regional focal point for a coordinated network of statistical activities managed by the Department of Statistics (STATISTICS) that include: (1) compilation and dissemination of labour and decent work statistics, (2) provision of technical assistance to countries and governments and workers' and employers' organizations, (3) setting the international statistical standards in the four pillars of decent work and (4) capacity building in quantitative skills.

 The position will report to the Regional Director through the Deputy Regional Director and receive technical guidance and support from the Department of Statistics at headquarters.

Specific Duties

1. Lead and coordinate the implementation of technical assistance to countries in the region and development cooperation projects involving data collection, analyses and dissemination - including household surveys, establishment surveys, and administrative data records. Provide technical guidance on survey questionnaire development in accordance with international standards for measuring statistical concepts as well as on sample design, data processing and tabulations and data quality assessment. Provide technical assistance to countries in nationalizing indicators to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to assist them in collecting and reporting data for the SDG indicators.

2. Support ILO's constituents in the application of international standards on statistical concepts, definitions, classifications and methods; assist them in their statistical development while ensuring international comparability, in accordance with the resolutions and recommendations of the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS). Based on the specific needs of the constituents in the region, provide feedback and substantive analysis to STATISTICS to further develop implementation guides and manuals.

3. In consultation with ROAF, DWTs and Country Offices in the region, lead discussions, negotiations and work directly with national statistical offices, ministries of labour, social security institutes and other relevant national agencies responsible for producing and analysing official statistics regarding labour and decent work-related data and metadata for completeness, internal consistency, and plausibility in order to resolve data anomalies and definitional issues. Provide high-level technical and policy advice to regional, sub regional and national offices in the region and other statistical institutions on the statistical aspects of Decent Work Country Programmes and other programmes and projects; including improvement of statistical capabilities and organization of national statistical services and the collection, evaluation and analysis of data.

4. Strengthen and coordinate partnerships with other organizations involved in the collection, dissemination and analysis of statistical information in the region, particularly with institutions which have a regional remit; including AUC, AFRISTAT, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), UNECA, AfDB, World Bank and others with a view to closer collaboration in the design and implementation of joint programmes.

5. Advise management on trends and developments in the field of labour statistics and recommend appropriate measures. In particular, participate in the preparatory activities of the ICLS as well as in other activities of the Global Technical Team coordinated by STATISTICS at headquarters.

6. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

optional section (only if needed)

Generic Duties

1. Direct the planning, initiation and execution of an international statistical programme, comprising data collection, compilation, analysis, dissemination and international standardization of data. Provide both technical and managerial supervision of the work programme.

2. Undertake and supervise research and methodological studies with regard to international standards on statistical concepts, definitions, classifications and methods.

3. Develop new or improved statistical methods and quantitative models for analyses and estimations.

4. Provide high-level technical and policy advice throughout the Organization, and to constituents, regional offices and other statistical institutions on the statistical aspects of programmes and projects including improvement of statistical capabilities and organization of national statistical services and the collection, evaluation and analysis of data.

5. Maintain close liaison and cooperation within the field of responsibility throughout the Organization and with other relevant national and international institutions to ensure full co-ordination and to avoid duplication of efforts.

6. Represent the Organization at international, regional, sub-regional and national meetings, inter-agency meetings and training courses.

7. Advise senior management on trends and developments in the relevant field and recommend appropriate courses of action.

8. Formulate, develop and implement new strategies, approaches and statistical work programmes.

9. Lead technical advisory and project evaluation missions.

10. Based on the above specific duties, formulate and present project proposals and seek funding.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in statistics or economics.  Mastery of statistical software for applied work is essential (Stata, SAS, SPSS or similar).

Experience

A minimum of ten years of professional experience in the field of labour statistics and proven experience of having worked in a national statistical office in the field of labour statistics.

Languages

Excellent command of English or French and a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical
Competencies – Demonstrated and recognized technical and/or managerial leadership in carrying out the activities of the Work Programme in line with  objectives and policies; demonstrated technical expertise to devise new methods, concepts, approaches and techniques leading to development of ILO standards and technical guidelines; ability to manage large projects and coordinate activities among projects; decision making skills; excellent problem solving skills and ability to represent the Organization at collaborative meetings and provide authoritative technical and policy advice.  The capacity to coordinate statistical activities with other regional advisers and statisticians, both in field offices and at headquarters. Ability to negotiate and work with national statistical offices and ministries of labour. Good communication, presentation and negotiation skills, and awareness of the ILO tripartite structure and ILO procedures. Ability to work productively in a politically and technically sensitive work area; Ability to produce statistical reports and factual reports of high technical quality.
Behavioural
Competencies - A high standard of integrity, professionalism, personal discipline and impartiality. The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.