Roma Employment Specialist

About Us:
 

UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop institutional capabilities, policies, leadership skills and partnering abilities, as well as the resilience needed to sustain development results.

The 65 members of our Country Office team in Skopje currently manage a large portfolio of projects related to environmental protection, good governance and social inclusion.

We are currently seeking an experienced Roma employment specialist to work on a new four-year project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation aimed at improving the employability of the most vulnerable groups in society, including youth, people with disabilities and Roma.

You:
 

You have extensive knowledge about the Roma community in the country and previous professional experience in managing partnerships with the private sector and social enterprises for increasing employability of Roma and other vulnerable groups.

More specifically, you have an extensive knowledge about the existing national employment measures and other employment schemes. You have a good understanding of cultural aspects of Roma that could support employment processes and broaden their opportunities in the labour market. You are ready to bring in fresh experience and innovative approaches to address unemployment challenges. If you have knowledge of social social entrepreneurship initiatives in the country and beyond, that will be considered as an asset.

You are a university graduate, preferably with a Master degree social sciences, business or economics.

You are curious, enthusiastic, and a natural strategic thinker.

You will need to be digitally savvy and keen to be part of a large global organization exhibiting United Nations values.

The project
 

This is a new four-year project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in the amount of USD 5,1 million.

The main objective of the project is to generate innovative policy and programming solutions to help Roma and persons with disabilities to access the labour market while promoting services for broader social inclusion.

The project will provide creative solutions and new approaches to address the problem of unemployment of youth, Roma and people with disabilities. It will focus on measures to achieve the economic reintegration of long-term unemployed but will also tackle institutional and non-formal barriers and drivers of exclusion. The project will also be working closely with the private sector to develop tailored vocational curricula and on-the job training opportunities to leave no one behind.

One of the key project components will centre on facilitating the access of Roma and other persons at risk of social exclusion to decent employment in the formal labour market as a means for improving their social inclusion and the living standards. The project activities will be carried out on the territory of the City of Skopje.

You will be directly reporting to the Project Manager who will lead the project and will closely work on a daily basis with the other engaged specialists.

 

Summary of key duties and responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and guidance in designing measures, partnerships, and employment modes tailored to the needs of Roma;
• Coordination, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on activities defined with the Roma employment component
• Mapping and building new partnerships with all stakeholders actively working with Roma. Work on establishing effective cooperation with the private sector and social enterprises (identification of job opportunities, soft skills and vocational trainings, internship and job placement, etc.) aiming at higher placement of Roma and other vulnerable groups in skills development and job matching.
• Directly supporting the Integration Employment Center in establishing better connection with the private sector;
• Work with local partners to raise awareness of the prejudices and discriminatory practices facing Roma in accessing employment and the gradual improvement of their social image;
• Work on designing and developing capacity building component for the employees of the Integration Employment Center and focal points for Roma employment in public employment centers.
• Working together and providing guidance to private companies and NGOs in defining their workforce and training demand.
• Provide ongoing guidance and support to and supervise and monitor the activities of the network of Employment Mentors for inclusion of Roma and other socially excluded groups at the labour market.  
• Establishing and maintaining regular information exchange and close cooperation with all partners and stakeholders including the Employment Centers, private companies, Chambers of Commerce, industry associations, local community, NGOs and others.
• Participate in designing research methodologies and tools for monitoring and evaluation purposes related to the Roma integration component;
• Regular information exchange and close cooperation with other team members to ensure coherence of overall project activities, streamlining of processes and creation of synergies;
• Organizing events, including trainings and workshops.

The implementation of the above-mentioned duties will expect also occasional travel within the country.
 

Corporate Competencies

• Integrity: Demonstrates commitment to UNDP's mission, vision and values.
• Respect for diversity: Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Leadership

• Takes initiative
• Identifies opportunities and challenges and recommends options
• Checks assumptions against facts
• Assumes responsibility for decisions and outcomes

Innovation

• Analyzes complex technical materials (including data) and makes concise, relevant    recommendations
• Contributes reliable production of knowledge services and transactions
• Identifies and addresses potential challenges quickly and develop action plans
• Sees specific opportunities for immediate improvement within own field

Communication

• Listens to develop awareness of client needs
• Respects differences of opinion
• Finds common ground to solve problems
• Gains trust of peers, partners, clients
• Presents complex, conceptual ideas in practical terms to others

Delivery

• Meets goals and timelines for delivery of products or services
• Embraces expanded responsibilities and challenges self to excel
• Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations
• Demonstrates commitment to clients and quality
• Works to agreed goals dealing with challenges constructively
• Takes responsibility for project implementation and/or team deliverables

Technical Competencies

• Knowledge about the Roma community in the country and previous professional experience in managing partnerships with the private sector and social enterprises for increasing employability of Roma and other vulnerable groups;
• Knowledge about the existing national employment measures and other employment schemes
• Knowledge of social entrepreneurship initiatives in the country and beyond
• Strong research, analytical, reporting and writing abilities
• Excellent computer literacy (MS Office; Windows, Internet)
• Driving license B-category

Academic qualifications:

• A university degree in social sciences, business administration, or economics or another relevant field. MA is an asset.

Experience:  

• At least 4 years of professional experience on socio-economic integration of Roma including partnership development initiatives on a local level.
• Professional experience in enhancing employability of vulnerable groups, with a specific focus on Roma population. Proven record of direct involvement with the private sector on employment initiatives.
• Experience in establishing collaboration with national and local institutions, private sector and NGOs in implementing social inclusion initiatives in general.  

Language Requirements:

• Language proficiency in both written and oral Macedonian and English. Knowledge of other local languages shall be considered an asset.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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