Enterprise Advisor - NOA (DC)

Introduction

Better Work is a unique partnership programme between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Launched in 2007, it aims to improve labour standards and competitiveness in global supply chains. Better Work involves the development of both global tools and country level projects. The focus is on developing scalable and sustainable solutions which build cooperation between government, employer and worker organizations, and international buyers.

The project has several components:

1.    stakeholder engagement and sustainability which aims to ultimately create national ownership and accountability;
2.    enterprise assessments against (a) the principles of the ILO Declaration core international labor standards and Bangladesh labor law;
3.    enterprise advisory and training services to support practical improvements and increased social dialogue at the factory level; and
4.    an influencing agenda with the goal of using programmatic learnings to impact national legislation and policies.

The ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh has experienced rapid growth over the past 20 years; it is now the country’s largest export earner and employs over 4 million workers - of which 60% are women - in approximately 4,000 active factories. It is currently the 2nd largest exporter of RMG in the world.

It is generally considered though that problems related to a lack of skilled workers, infrastructure, social compliance and labour-management relations hamper growth. There exist significant issues in many factories around occupational health and safety (OHS), working conditions, wage payments, freedom of association, and the lack of effective human resource management. In addition, weaknesses in national labour administration, industrial relations and social dialogue systems exacerbate and prolong non-compliance with national laws and regulations.

In order to address these challenges, BWB aims at building the necessary capacity so that stakeholders are able to identify, prevent, and address relevant problems. In practical terms this means that BWB operates on two levels: (1) Factory-level: build in-factory capacity to improve working conditions and establish management systems and (2) institutional level: assist in building constituent capacity to achieve structural, sustainable change in labour administration, industrial relations and social dialogue systems.
For more information about the project please visit www.betterwork.org.

Function

To provide professional level enterprise advisory services including the conduct of independent enterprise assessments against labour standards and the provision of enterprise level consultancy services to support remediation and enterprise improvement. Enterprise assessments and progress reports will be accessed by enterprises, international buyers and government ministries and will contribute to public reporting. The work of enterprise advisers has a direct impact on enterprise performance and access to markets. The position will be based in Dhaka.

Supervision and Guidance

Under the overall guidance of the Director, ILO Country Office for Bangladesh, and the general supervision of the Better Work Bangladesh Programme Manager, the Enterprise Adviser will work under the direct supervision of a National Team Leader. Judgement, initiative and creativity are required in translating project tools and approaches at the enterprise level. The work product is controlled by the supervisor for technical soundness and appropriateness. 

Description of Duties

⦁    Independently conduct enterprise assessment of labour standards and management systems at the enterprise level;
⦁    Independently produce high standard reports in English on (i) assessments findings, (ii) recommendations for improvement, (iii) enterprise improvement plans and (iv) progress reports on implementation;
⦁    Review the reports of other advisors as part of the peer review Better Work quality assurance system;
⦁    Provide high quality enterprise level consultancy services designed to improve enterprise performance including coaching, facilitating management and union improvement committees, providing technical advice and conducting classroom based training;
⦁    Select and adapt and contextualize Better Work products for use at the individual enterprise level based on needs;
⦁    Provide technical advice and input into the development of Better Work research, products and strategies;
⦁    Actively contribute to the project’s monitoring and evaluation strategy, research agenda and knowledge management strategy;
⦁    Contribute to the financial sustainability strategy of the project including encouraging the participation of enterprises in project activities, a strong outcome focus, and effective time management of consultancy services;
⦁    Other duties as required by the supervisor.
 

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in, international development, law, occupational health and safety, industrial engineering, industrial relations, gender studies human resource management, adult education or other relevant fields, or equivalent in experience.

Experience

At least two years of professional experience in social dialogue, capacity building in the private sector in developing countries, corporate social responsibility (particularly in the field of labour standards compliance and remediation), occupational health and safety, behavioural change, industrial engineering, industrial relations or other relevant field.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English and Bengali. 
 

Competencies

⦁    Good communications skills, both oral and written;
⦁    Good analytical skills;
⦁    Good knowledge of the Bangladeshi labour-related law and regulations;
⦁    Understanding of industry relations and social dialogue to contribute towards core services and stakeholder engagement;
⦁    Good group facilitation, interpersonal, behavioural change and conflict resolution skills and capacity to deliver classroom training Experience in industrial relations and building of social dialogue between management and worker representatives at the workplace an advantage;
⦁    Understanding of enterprise level human resource, production and quality systems;
⦁    Good knowledge of manufacturing management, garment product development process and efficiency;
⦁    Good understanding of corporate social responsibility and labour compliance issues in global supply chains;
⦁    Good understanding of the issues of industrial safety and remediation in the garment industry in Bangladesh and general occupational health and safety issues an advantage;
⦁    Ability to monitor the effectiveness of training and capacity building initiatives undertaken by partner organizations/ consultants;
⦁    Good understanding of principles of gender equality and principles of equal opportunity and how these can be promoted as part the responsibilities of the post;
⦁    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
⦁    Self-motivated and ability to work independently in an outcomes-based work culture as well as contributing to the work of a team;
⦁    Capacity to sensitively liaise and network with a range of stakeholders including staff, donors, international buyers, government officials, management, unions and NGOs.