Technical Officer (Finance and Programming), Better Work

Introduction

About Better Work
We mobilize global brands, governments, factory owners and workers to improve working conditions, drive competitiveness and create a more equitable, more prosperous world.

The Power of Convening
As a partnership between the UN’s International Labour Organization and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation, we know how to bring diverse groups together to create positive action that improves working conditions while stimulating productivity and competitiveness.

A Proven Approach
We create lasting, measurable change by empowering factories to improve the working conditions in their facilities. Our assessments are the global gold standard for rigour and integrity. Our training programs and advisory services change attitudes as well as behaviours.

National Action/ Global Influence
Through our comprehensive, university-led research, and by sharing best practices from our on-the-ground experience, we are able to shape the agenda well beyond the countries in which we work, influencing governments, brands and policy makers to make improving working conditions a top priority.

Purpose
Our work and our research have demonstrated – to employers, unions, global brands and governments – that improving working conditions and defending the rights of workers benefits all of us. We have improved the lives of more than 3 million workers, and millions more family members, while enhancing the profitability of their employers. There is no trade-off between better work and better business.

For more information about Better Work please see www.betterwork.org.

Function
The incumbent will play a key role to support both the strategic financial management and the programming function of the Better Work programme globally.  

Supervision
The Technical Officer (Finance and Programming) will work under the direct supervision of the Bangkok based Head of Better Work in Asia who will also be the Responsible Chief. Technical guidance with regard to strategic finance responsibilities will be provided by the Better Work Senior Finance and HR Officer, who will also be the Technical Reviewing Chief. The Better Work Senior Programme and Partnerships Officer will provide technical guidance with regard to programming responsibilities.  The ROAP Deputy Regional Director will be the Higher Level Chief.  

Description of Duties

Finance
•    Track the progress of Country Programme and Global spending against budget and coordinate with the finance and programming teams to identify potential funding gaps and potential funding solutions.  This involves regular review of financial reports, analysis of data and the ability to independently identify and highlight anomalies and concerns, prepare management information and provide financial facts for the Better Work Management Team’s strategic decision making.
•    Provide support to discrete projects under the management of the Senior Finance and HR Officer as part of her role on the Better Work Management Team or at particularly busy times, for example in relation to the quarter end revenue reconciliation, calculation of cost recovery rates and development of annual costed budgets and funding schedules and other initiatives related to the role of the Better Work programme’s financial operations within the broader ILO.  
•    Draft internal documentation (financial and programming policy documents, Standard Operating Procedures) and external documentation (financial updates and notes for donor briefings, internal Minutes to ILO departments, inputs into funding proposals etc).

Project design, reporting and evaluation
•    Support Country Programmes to developing funding proposals in accordance with ILO templates and donor requirements. Support the appraisal of those proposals. 
•    Coordinate, globally, Better Work’s results-based narrative reporting of programme activities for centrally managed Better Work funding. This includes adjusting templates, providing clear instructions and guidance, coordinating with other teams to provide indicator data and reviewing draft documents to ensure consistency between different Country Programmes and fulfilment of donor requirements. 
•    Coordinate with the Research and Impact team and Country Programmes to ensure donor contractual obligations are met in terms of correct and on-time reporting of M&E data in line with the M&E Framework for the new Strategic phase and ensure that evaluation commitments are met and evaluations are conducted according to plan. 
•    Support the preparation for and facilitation of the Better Work Global workplanning process in consultation with relevant colleagues in Global and Country Programmes. This includes scheduling and facilitating workplanning meetings. 

Administration and programme management
•    Provide administrative support to Better Work’s governance meetings including collation of pre-reads and, as needed, preparation of Minutes and notes.
•    Support the elaboration of written outputs such as briefing notes, project summaries, ad hoc donor reports/requests, background papers, project proposals or other contributions relevant for internal and external communication.  This would include collecting information from Country Programmes, reviewing and analyzing text and proof-reading. 

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in economics, finance, business administration, international development, social sciences, or another relevant field.

Experience

At least three years of relevant professional experience supporting the management and/or implementation of development cooperation projects and programmes, preferably in a UN organisation, NGO or similar in a lower-income or middle-income country. Relevant experience includes development and submission of funding proposals, understanding of donor relationships, use of programme evaluation techniques and management of project/programme budgets, ideally within an ERP system or similar.

Languages

Excellent command of English. Knowledge of another ILO official language or other local languages will be an advantage.

Competencies

1.    High level oral and written communications skills and a proven ability to write engagingly in very good quality English.
2.    Quick learner with sufficient prior knowledge of financial management, project management and evaluation concepts to be able to rapidly understand the programme’s systems and processes.
3.    Confidently and independently review complex financial reports, analyse data, spot anomalies and recommend solutions.
4.    Ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects.
5.    Ability to prioritise workload, work calmly under pressure and ask for support when needed.
6.    Ability to collaborate with, listen to and building trusting relationships with colleagues around the globe and maintain strong working relationships even when working under pressure.
7.    Ability to work as a member of a team as well as on own initiative.
8.    The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

optional section (if needed)

Additional info.

Applicants can only attach 1 document to their application. This should include a cover letter and must also include a 2-page statement addressing their claims against the required competencies. In doing this you should have a heading for each competency and explain in 2 -3 paragraphs to the selection committee how your skills and experience show that you meet this. Applicants who do not attach this statement will not be considered for interview.

For more information, please contact betterwork_hr@ilo.org