National Project Coordinator, SSN

Introduction

The ILC in 2022 adopted the Resolution to add a safe and healthy working environment to the Fundamental Principle and Right at Work and upgraded C155 and C187 as fundamental Conventions. ILO Member States, regardless of their level of economic development, commit to respect and promote the principles and rights set out by the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, whether or not they have ratified the relevant Conventions. In its Global call to action for a human-centred recovery from COVID-19, the ILO recalls that safe and healthy working conditions are fundamental to decent work and that urgent action is needed to provide all workers with adequate protection. In Asia, the region faces a challenge in tackling emerging OSH risks against health and wellbeing of workers including mental health in the process of human-centred recovery from the pandemic. Psychosocial factors such as extensive workload and long working hours, job insecurity, isolation or violence and harassment may lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes. However, OSH management in this subject area is generally weak in most countries in the region. It should be properly addressed as one of the priorities in the national OSH programmes.

With these backgrounds, recognizing the rapidly increasing needs and demands for enhanced capacity on OSH, the Government of Japan is willing to allocate further funding to a new OSH project in the region, especially in the context of mental health and well-being of workers, and its integration into the national OSH system. Building on its success in assisting the ILO’s constituents in Cambodia to improve its OSH system, the ILO/ Japan Programme extends the coverage of the programme to cover Thailand by launching the project “Promotion of a safe and healthy working environment as Fundamental Principle and Right at Work through application of Fundamental conventions in Cambodia and Thailand”.

The overall aim of the project is to improve safety and health of workers in Cambodia and Thailand. The proposed project has two immediate objectives, 

1)    The development of national OSH system in a continuous manner through the implementation of updated national OSH programmes;

2)    Capacity enhancement in addressing emerging OSH risks and their control measures in post-pandemic workplaces with particular focus on mental health and well-being in target countries (Cambodia and Thailand).

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO, the National Project Coordinator will support the delivery and implementation of the Thailand component of the project as well as ensuring that the objectives are met by providing technical support and contributing to delivering the expected outputs. 

Reporting lines: 

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will be based in Bangkok, Thailand. He/she will work under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and Overall Coordinator of ILO/Japan Partnership Programme as primary supervisor, and the supervision of the Country Director for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic. He/she will also collaborate and under the technical guidance of the Senior OSH Specialist in ILO Decent Work Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific (DWT-Bangkok) and the Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch (LABADMIN/OSH) in HQ/Geneva.

The National Project Coordinator will also collaborate and work in close cooperation with the project components in Cambodia and other related programme/projects as required.

Description of Duties

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for managing the implementation of the project’s activities component for Thailand, in accordance with the respective project implementation plans and other relevant activities of ILO/Japan Partnership Programme and ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific.  The NPC will undertake the following duties: 

1.    Review and analyse country specific development plans and priorities, data, reports and other relevant information. Provide inputs for developing country operations plans for overall compliance with regional and global strategic priorities as well as with programming instructions. Conduct basic research and analysis and draft components of reports and presentations for situation analyses at the national level.

2.    Contribute creative ideas for programme development, serve as national programme advisor to the CTA of Japan Partnership Programme and draft portions of programme and budget proposals, programme background, objectives and evaluation.

3.    Provide substantive input and backstopping to the implementation of the activities under the project in accordance with the work plan with a view to ensuring timely delivery of project activities and outputs.

4.    Develop work plan and implementation strategies in consultation with a responsible colleagues at the ILO/ Japan Programme and DWT/CO Bangkok.

5.    Participate in the organization and facilitation of conferences, workshops, seminars, training sessions, consultative meetings and webinars and other relevant activities, in close collaboration with Technical Specialists, CTAs and main project partners and beneficiaries.

6.    Identify and initiate engagement with related government and non-government organizations, national partners and beneficiaries and work closely with them on project implementation in order to ensure effective delivery of project outputs.  

7.    Administer resources from all sources of funds, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action.

8.    Prepare briefs, progress reports, financial reports, ad-hoc reports and statistical data on status of project activities and advocacy material in English and Thai.

9.    Translate into Thai and/or English, as appropriate, and/or edit translation of technical material, new releases, official correspondence, statements, speeches, and other documents.

10.    Follow-up with the regional office and the Country Office, executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.

11.    Prepare presentations for national and regional workshops and seminars as suggested by supervisor.

12.    Collect information/data and analyse and format relevant data on OSH.

13.    Compile systematic information and materials on project activities. Identify best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

14.    Support the development of various social marketing and awareness raising activities of the project.

15.    Carry out specific operational and/or control tasks for project implementation in the field of OSH.

16.    Perform other relevant duties as may be assigned by the supervisor(s).

Required qualifications

Education

University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in a field relevant to the job.

Experience

Minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience at national level in programme and/or project planning, monitoring, implementation and evaluation activities. 

Work experience collaborating with the Governments, Workers’ and Employers’ organization, civil society, UN Agencies and other stakeholders will be advantage.

Languages

Excellent written and spoken command of English and an official national language of the duty station.

Competencies

•    Good knowledge of policies and guidelines regarding labour issues particularly in the context of Thailand.
•    Knowledge of programme and budget, project administrative, project formulation, and evaluation techniques and practices.
•    Experience with the formulation and implementation of projects and ability to interpret project information.
•    Excellent drafting skills; Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills with the ability to conceptualize in English and Thai.
•    Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this 
position requires
       
•    Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
•    Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multicultural environment.
•    Ability to supervise staff and guide national counterparts.
•    Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team.
•    Excellent organisational skills.
•    Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
•    Ability to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
•    Ability to manage competing priorities. 
•    Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems. 
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment:

Starting salary:                Baht1,280,729.- per annum
Allowances & benefits:    Affiliation to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
                                        Affiliation to the ILO-ITU Staff Health Insurance Fund
                                        Dependants’ allowance
                                        30 working days of annual leave