Senior Technical Specialist on Occupational Safety and Health

Introduction

The position is located in the Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch (LABADMIN/OSH) within the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE). The LABADMIN/OSH Branch is responsible for raising awareness, providing policy and technical advice and strengthening the capacities of constituents in line with applicable international labour standards in relation to national systems of labour administration, workplace compliance through labour inspection, and the development of a global and national preventative occupational safety and health culture. Its mission is to support action at international, regional and national levels, to develop and implement programmes and tools for strengthening the institutional and human capacity of labour administration institutions, to support institutions of work in developing occupational safety and health policies, programmes and measures for the prevention of occupational injuries, diseases and fatalities, and increase compliance with national labour laws through labour inspection.

The position is responsible for leading the provision of high-level policy and expert advice on occupational safety and health (OSH), in particular, but not limited to, the areas of biological hazards, chemical hazards, industrial safety, and OSH management to ILO constituents, other ILO units and field offices.  The position is also responsible for leading research, liaising with multilateral agencies, coordinating and providing technical inputs to project development and backstopping within the development portfolio of the Branch. The senior specialist will assist LABADMIN/OSH to develop, with other relevant units, reports, standard-setting work and non-binding guidance on OSH, namely preparing for and following-up on Governing Body decisions and International Labour Conference (ILC) decisions.  The position will also play a key role in global advocacy for prevention, namely within the multilateral framework.

The position will report to the Chief of the Branch and be required to work in close cooperation with the team leads on labour inspection, the senior specialist on labour administration and the lead on programming and operations, under the overall supervision of the Branch Chief.

Specific Duties

1.Lead activities to assist the Office to contribute to high-level international and regional policy debates and fora on OSH, including preparing reports, papers and other preparatory work for the Governing Body and the ILC.
2.Identify needs, propose action, and provide policy and specialized technical assistance to ILO constituents and field offices in formulating and implementing OSH policies and programmes, and for the progressive improvement of the national OSH infrastructure. This entails supporting Member States in preparing for ratification and implementation of ILO OSH standards, and implementing OSH guidelines and codes of practice.
3.Lead and technically contribute to the development of new standards and non-binding instruments on OSH. 
4.Design and implement promotional strategies for the ILO List of Occupational Diseases Recommendation, 2002 (No. 194), namely through support to activities related to accident and disease diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention, as well as medical surveillance.
5.Lead research and technical activities on occupational safety, including the assessment and prevention of industrial accidents, development and implementation of safety by design principles, and the development of relevant crisis identification and response strategies for OSH emergency preparedness and response. 
6.Lead the design and implementation of activities related to the field of occupational hygiene, supporting constituents by providing technical advice and developing resources, including on hazard identification and risk assessment; development, implementation and monitoring of occupational exposure limits; exposure assessment and sampling methodologies; and safe practices for hazard removal. 
7.Design and implement activities on research and policy development related to ergonomics and the physical environment, psychosocial risks, and implementation of the ILO-OSH 2001 Guidelines on occupational safety and health management systems. 
8.Lead, coordinate and supervise the research agenda and technical activities related to OSH risks in the future of work, including emerging hazards and risks, new technologies, changing conditions and methods of production, human factors in the world of work and gender-related topics. These activities will work to support the development of an ILO observatory on emerging OSH risks and challenges in the changing world of work, in order to improve the timeliness and effectiveness of preventive measures. 
9.Lead the design and development of OSH guidance materials, tools and training, and support implementation of training programmes in the field of safety and health including in collaboration with the ILO International Training Centre. 
10.Identify and engage with development partners, including within the United Nations system, for the design, coordination and implementation of common policies, plans, programmes, projects and activities in the area of OSH. 
11.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. Lead, organize, plan, supervise and control the work of a technical unit (including managerial functions).
2. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics, information or policy guidelines in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognized technical specialization. 
3. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
4. Assume full responsibility for policy formulation and providing policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
5. Develop project design, review proposals, formulate, revise and submit project proposals and negotiate funding.
6. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
7. Lead technical advisory missions.
8. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings.
9. Prepare recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO recommendations on related technical fields.
10. Write manuals and training guides on related topics.
11. Disseminate information on action programmes through publications and press releases as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
12. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
13. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, conference reports, Director General’s report to ILC).

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in occupational safety and health, engineering, law, a social sciences discipline or a medical degree (MD)  with specialized studies in occupational safety and health research and practice. Training  in public health, epidemiology, exposure sciences, environmental health, industrial safety, or risk management will be considered an advantage.

Experience

Ten to fifteen years of OSH experience, of which at least seven at the international level, in OSH research, practice, policy and management. Proven experience in OSH governance and support to the development of legal and policy frameworks is essential. Professional experience in complementary fields such as public health, epidemiology, environmental health, risk assessment, and process safety will be considered an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of one official language (English, French, Spanish) of the Organization, and a working knowledge of a second official language.   One of these languages should be English.

Competencies

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

Technical

• A broad range of technical OSH skills that include the ability to conduct scientific research (both qualitative and quantitative), prepare and draft global reports and publications, constructively  comment on various technical reports, draft speeches, prepare and present interactive presentations, review work and lead the work of specialised consultants, adapt science to policy and practical guidance to constituents, and present ILO’s values and principles and instruments to external stakeholders of all backgrounds and levels.
• Demonstrated technical expertise to devise new OSH methods, concepts, approaches and techniques, leading to development of ILO standards and technical guidelines and ability to prepare ILO strategy reports in the related field for programme development, the ability to provide policy advice and the ability to manage large projects and to coordinate activities among projects.
• Ability to lead and conduct discussions, and negotiate OSH matters with governments, employers' and workers' organizations and non-governmental organizations as well as with high-level professionals in the field related to OSH.

Behavioural

Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.