Specialist on Skills and Lifelong Learning

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Office for the Caribbean (DWT/CO-Port of Spain) based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. DWT/CO-Port of Spain serves thirteen countries and nine territories (The 13 member States are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The nine territories are: Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Saint Maarten and Turks and Caicos). DWT/CO-Port of Spain provides technical support to Caribbean countries and territories in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes within the framework of outcome-based work plans and in response to requests relating to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The position is responsible for providing technical advisory services on policies and for their implementation in the area of skills and lifelong learning; analysing problems and developments; providing assistance in the identification of country priorities, strategies and programmes and related research and analytical needs; and designing and supporting the implementation and evaluation of development cooperation programmes and projects. The incumbent works closely with specialists of various technical disciplines who provide technical support and guidance to ILO activities in the countries for which they have geographical competence. The mix of technical skills in each DWT/CO is intended to enable the ILO to respond effectively to the cross-programme nature of the services expected of the Organization; to ensure that the interests of the tripartite constituency are respected in the design and execution of field activities; and that appropriate links are maintained among the various means of action of the ILO. 

The position reports to the Director of DWT/CO-Port of Spain and will receive technical guidance and advice from the Skills and Employability Branch within the Employment Policy Department at ILO headquarters.  
 

Specific Duties

1.    Advise countries in the subregion on the design and implementation of skills and lifelong learning policies and programmes within the framework of the Decent Work Country Programmes.
2.    Provide technical services to the English and Dutch-speaking countries/territories of the Caribbean on the design, management, and evaluation of development cooperation projects, policies and programmes on skills and lifelong learning, in line with the ILO Decent Work Agenda. 
3.    Advise government and social partners on appropriate skills and lifelong learning development policies and programmes. Support constituents in promoting gender-responsive skills development and lifelong learning policies, strategies and systems to adapt and reorient skills development to the changing aspirations of people and needs of the labour market.
4.    Develop and implement skills and lifelong learning strategies that are coherent and include the application of ILO approaches and tools. 
5.    Develop and review institutional frameworks and provide technical advice for strengthening such frameworks, in which tripartite constituents can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable skills and lifelong learning ILO development programmes.
6.    Proactively mobilize resources for scaling up ILO services on skills development and lifelong learning to meet the growing expectations of the ILO constituents.
7.    Ensure gender mainstreaming in the design and implementation of ILO support, paying particular attention to breaking gender stereotypes in skills development and the impact and benefits of skills development for women, youth, and people with disabilities. 
8.    Undertake cutting-edge research and foster innovation to develop innovative skills products on contemporary issues like core skills, reskilling and upskilling, skills financing, skills for digital, care and green economies and skills for social inclusion, including promoting gender equality in skills development in close collaboration with DWT specialists, technical departments at ILO headquarters and the ILO’s Inter-American Centre for Knowledge Development on Vocational Training.
9.    Organise communication products and tools to improve the visibility of the Organization’s work on skills and lifelong learning. 
10.    Take proactive measures to initiate new and innovative partnerships on skills development with wide ranging multilateral and private sector entities and agencies in line with ILO Development Cooperation Strategy. 
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:

Generic Duties

1. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation. 
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in economics, business administration or social sciences with demonstrated expertise in skills and lifelong learning. 

Experience

Eight years’ experience at the national level or five years at the international level in the area of skills development and lifelong learning.

Languages

Excellent command of English and a working knowledge of Spanish.

Competencies

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

Ability to:  synthesize research and reach empirically-based conclusions on related subjects; provide seasoned advice on best practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization; formulate new concepts and methodologies; develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for programme development in Member States; produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and the International Labour Conference, technical publications, training manuals and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects. The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.