Project Manager

Introduction

The ILO seeks to recruit a Project Manager for an upcoming project on "Combatting Forced Labour and Child Labour in the Production of Goods in Malaysia.

The project, if awarded to the ILO at the end of the bidding process, will be funded by the Bureau of International Labour Affairs (ILAB) of the United States Department of Labour (USDOL). It will have a total budget of USD 5 million and be implemented over a period of approximately 48 months. Project outcomes include: (1) Increased advocacy by workers and civil society to address forced labour and/or child labour in the production of Malaysian palm oil and garments; (2) Increased worker voice in the implementation of a social compliance system aimed at eliminating forced labour and/or child labour in the production of Malaysian palm oil and garments; and (3) Increased access to remedies for workers exploited for forced labour and/or child labour in the production of Malaysian palm oil and garments. 

The project falls under the technical responsibility of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch (FUNDAMENTALS) of the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE). The FUNDAMENTALS Branch carries out technical cooperation, research and advocacy functions to assist ILO constituents to respect, promote and realize the fundamental principles and rights at work, which are: freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; effective abolition of child labour; and elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Reporting lines:
The Project Manager will be based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He/she will be responsible for supervising and managing the implementation of the project. The Project Manager will report to and work under the direct supervision of the ILO Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and will seek advice from the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific when it comes to relationships with national constituents. 

The Project Manager will work under the technical guidance of the sub-regional Senior Specialist on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in DWT Bangkok and the FUNDAMENTALS Branch.  He/she will closely coordinate with ILO Specialists of the Bangkok-based Decent Work Team as well as regional and country programmes working on relevant thematic areas. Technical guidance will specifically be sought on project deliverables, reporting, linkages with the work of other regional specialists and external partners, knowledge sharing, donor and host country relations. The Project Manager will supervise a number of staff, including a Research, Monitoring and Learning Officer, a Workers Voice Officer, a General Service staff as well as short-term national and international consultants. 

Description of Duties

1.    Lead, coordinate and supervise the implementation of the project in close collaboration with other major stakeholders. Guide and supervise the work of project staff and ensure effective coordination and collaboration between the various project components and with ILO regional and headquarters offices.
2.    Oversee the design, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of project activities, and ensure effective co-ordination of different elements and interventions in order to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the overall project. Ensure the development of a monitoring and evaluation system.
3.    Building on the ILO's previous work in Malaysia maintain the ILO's position as a lead agency in advocacy and technical support. Coordinate and mobilize support from other stakeholders in order to strengthen the countries' capacities.
4.    Establish and develop information systems covering technical activities under the project and economic and social issues of relevance to the project; prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation; and establish coordination with concerned ILO departments and programs.
5.    Identify training and capacity development needs; organize and conduct training workshops and meetings on all project intervention areas for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, private sector, target groups and staff as appropriate;   reinforce the professional capabilities; adapt training guides, manuals and other knowledge-sharing materials to local environment.
6.    Strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with concerned government agencies, ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, private sector, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, in the planning and implementation of activities under the project and engage actively in social and civil society dialogue and coalition building
7.    Develop knowledge sharing tools designed to forge partnerships, share good practices and foster networks of government policy makers, workers' and employers' organizations and civil society organisations to reach the project s goals.
8.    Liaise with the UN Country Team to promote ILO's values within UN initiatives, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project's interventions. Ensure effective coordination with a range of relevant national policies and strategies of various projects, including those undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.
9.    EffectiveIy manage human resources including recruitment, staff development and performance management of project personnel. EffectiveIy manage the funds/budgets allocated to the project. 
10.    Promote ILO policies in the technical area of child labour, other fundamental rights at work, the relevant international labour standards and other international instruments, in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists
11.    Ensure project synergy with the different ILO projects and programmes implemented in the target countries and within the sub-region as appropriate. 
12.    Maintain appropriate contact with the media. 
13.    Oversee the development and approval process of sub-contracts, monitor the performance of subcontractors and ensure timely implementation of sub-contracts. Ensure that all USDOL rules and regulations related to the Cooperative Agreement are strictly applied.
14.    Promote Alliance 8.7 in Malaysia. 
15.    Undertake any other relevant duties requested by the ILO Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in Economics, Management, Law, Social Sciences or a related field or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree reflecting expertise in areas relevant to this project such as labour law, public policy, sociology and project management with demonstrated expertise.

Experience

•    At least seven years of relevant professional experience of which at least three years at the international level carrying out project management, supervision, administration, implementation of cooperative agreements and/or contract requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to donor agencies), monitoring and evaluation of technical assistance projects. 
•    Working experience in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Malaysia, would be an advantage.
•    Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures would be an advantage, as well as having expertise and work experience on issues such as child labour, forced labour, human trafficking, workers voice and access to remedies 
•    Experience in establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations. 
•    Experience with designing and implementing results-based monitoring systems for projects focused on capacity building. 
•    Proven success in serving in a leadership role for a project addressing issues of child labour, forced labour, or other labour issues relevant to the project. 
•    Experience in maintaining working relationships with all project stakeholders and engaging in coalition building and public-private partnership promotion. 
 

Languages

Excellent command of English; Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia or another language commonly used by stakeholders in the industries targeted by the applicant’s proposal is of an advantage. 

Competencies

•    Proven capacity to initiate and implement development co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and mobilising the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services;
•    Wide knowledge of child labour, forced labour, sector-based work such as plantation and garments, workers voice and access to remedies;
•    Sound knowledge of office policies, administrative procedures and practices
•    Excellent knowledge of financial rules and regulations;
•    Decision-making and problem-solving skills;
•    Excellent drafting skills, negotiation skills and organisational and management skills;
•    Demonstrated ability to effectiveIy monitor work programme and resources;
•    Ability to work under time and political pressure and meet deadlines;
•    Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision;
•    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/program's objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for program development.
•    Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
•    Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectiveIy in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
•    Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings.
•    Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
•    Ability to plan and support the development of individual's skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities
•    Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectiveIy to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.
•    Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisational challenges and opportunities for improvement
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes