National Project Coordinator, YES

Introduction

The ‘Promoting integrated youth employment programmes in South-East Asia (YES)’ project is a regional development cooperation initiative supported by the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme. It is strategically positioned to respond to the demands of ILO constituents in South-East Asia, with a focus on Thailand and Viet Nam in line with Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF). The project aims to support governments and key stakeholders in South-East Asia to promote decent employment for youth through (i) support to design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of integrated programmes at country-level, including with a focus on green, digital and other sectors, and (ii) knowledge sharing and capacity building at regional level. The project is expected to commence in July 2024 with an initial phase of two and a half years. 

Solutions to tackle the youth employment challenge will require effective interventions and strengthened capacities to support job creation, employability and effective labour market transitions for youth. As the United Nations agency for the world of work the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers to drive a human-centred approach to the future of work through job creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue. In alignment with national policies, strategies and priorities and contributing to the UNSDCFs and DWCPs, the project will be implemented in the context of the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, adopting the guiding principles for engagement on youth employment and leveraging its knowledge platform. The project will build on the momentum and contribute to the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, in particular for pathfinder countries, and link to the roadmap of the Global Accelerator at national level.

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of ILO interventions under this project in Thailand, in coordination with ILO constituents and other relevant stakeholders. The incumbent will also contribute to the project’s capacity building and knowledge development efforts focused on South-East Asia. The project will be implemented by the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) through the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme in Bangkok in close collaboration with the ILO Country Offices, the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific (ILO DWT-Bangkok), the ILO Employment, Labour Markets and Youth Branch (EMPLAB) and the ILO Regional Economic and Social Analysis Unit (RESA). 

Reporting lines

The incumbent will report to the Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (CO-Bangkok), and cooperate closely with the Senior Programme Officer for Thailand and Lao People’s Democratic Republic. S/he will work directly with the Chief Technical Adviser of the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme and will receive overall technical backstopping from the Employment and Labour Market Policy Specialist in CO-Hanoi and other relevant technical areas, including from the Job Creation and Enterprise Development Specialist, Skills and Employability Specialist, Employment Specialist, Workers’ Activities Specialist, Employers’ Activities Specialist located in the Decent Work Team (DWT)-Bangkok. The Programme Officer of the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme will provide advice to the project. The incumbent will collaborate closely with the project’s Administrative Assistant.

Duties and responsibilities

1.    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.    Provide timely, accurate and pertinent information on programme and budget matters for operational decision-making purposes through the strategic use of the results-based management. Use baselines, milestones and indicators to measure, analyse and report on performance. Monitor and verify accuracy of programming data.
3.    Work in cooperation with external partners, ILO technical specialists, particularly CO-Hanoi’s Employment and Labour Market Specialist and   the Senior Programme Officer for Thailand and Lao PDR of CO Bangkok. 
4.    Ensure effective project implementation by providing technical, administrative and programmatic inputs; and monitoring, evaluating and reporting on delivery in a timely manner.
5.    Prepare the project work plan and monitor timely and quality project delivery.
6.    Contribute to the ILO’s leading role on youth employment through technical assistance, knowledge development, partnerships, advocacy and resource mobilization, including in the context of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.
7.    Participate in the preparation and conduct of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings. Speak on behalf of the ILO/Project and promote ILO principles when attending these gatherings alone. Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying others.
8.    Contribute to the development or adjustment of training material. Promote ILO principles and standards during this development.
9.    Conduct review and analysis of relevant policies and programmes, legislation, socio-economic and labour market data, reports and other information relevant to the implementation of the project activities on youth employment and persons with disabilities in Thailand. Provide written analysis of the findings.
10.    Support the mobilisation of additional resources for implementation and expansion of the activities on youth employment.
11.    Prepare periodic and ad- hoc technical progress report on the status of the project planning and implementation.
12.    Assist in the programming and monitoring of available resources, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by comparing and analysing the resource situation with planned activities. Identify problems and propose solutions.
13.    Develop terms of reference and provide technical supervision to external collaborators and resource persons, while monitoring their activities and deliverables for quality and timeliness.
14.    Prepare news items, case studies and other communications material related to project activities and ensure effective dissemination.
15.    Any other duties as may be assigned by the Director

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in social sciences, economics, law, development studies or a relevant field. 
 

Experience

-    Minimum of two years of professional work experience in programme and/or project planning, monitoring, implementation and evaluation activities. 
-    Experiences in the field of employment, economic, social sciences and research are advantages.

Languages

Excellent command of English and Thai languages.

Competencies

-    Good knowledge of national employment policy of Thailand, particularly youth employment principles and concepts.
-    Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors that would affect youth employment in Thailand.
-    Ability to communicate well with the government, trade unions, employer organisations, civil society, academia and media on issues related to youth employment.

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:

•    Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures and of the mandate and structure of labour market institutions in specific countries
•    Knowledge of the office’s financial rules and regulations 
•    Good knowledge of the context and challenges for the project areas of expertise
•    Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution and good drafting skills
•    Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyze problems with implementation
•    Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to clarify information
•    Demonstrate collaborative and team work experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team as well as work on his/her own initiative
•    Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility
•    Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline
•    Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, web-browsers and database applications 
•    Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy. 
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.