Specialist Workers' Activities

The Relations Officer in Workers’ Activities is member of ACTRAV and will be located in Geneva at ILO HQ. In the context of ACTRAV’s mobility plan he/she will be required to move to the field after a certain period in HQ.

The Relations Officer will be responsible for providing technical advisory services in the field of workers’ activities to ACTRAV and the ILO and assist trade union organisations in their efforts to provide their members with improved/new services, thus extending their representation and their capacity to become strong, relevant, independent and representative organisations, able to fulfil their roles and responsibilities in the promotion of workers’ interests, in line with the principles of ILO standards. He/she should work towards replying to the concerns of workers’ organisations, keep them informed of the work ILO does, as well as promoting their participation in tripartite or bipartite initiatives in line with 2002 ILC Resolution concerning tripartism and social dialogue.

The Senior Relations Officer in Workers’ Activities will work in ACTRAV clusters, covering a wide range of issues, but will have a special focus on Development Cooperation and Multilateral Cooperation.

The official will be called upon to promote and develop workers' activities with the following responsibilities:

1. Service the Workers’ Group of the Governing Body, the International Labour Conference, regional and sectoral meetings and other official or specialised meetings and support the discussion process. Analyse and provide comments on draft documents prepared in view of these meetings. Follow up on substantive correspondence and coordinate replies with ACTRAV team and other relevant technical units. Represent ACTRAV at these meetings and conferences as required.

2. Provide inputs for ACTRAV’s contribution to reports on the Organisation’s activities to be submitted to the Governing Body and to the International Labour Conference. Make presentations on behalf of ACTRAV and the ILO to senior level visitors and officials. Prepare speeches and country specific reports on substantive topics.
3. Establish and coordinate the consultation and cooperation processes within ACTRAV and between ACTRAV and the officials of other units – PARDEV in particular -, organisations, and donor agencies for the formulation and operation of country related development cooperation programs.

4. Plan, organize and coordinate the work of ACTRAV in the area of Development Cooperation, Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF, ex-UNDAFs) control the quality of the output and evaluate the work performed.

5. Mobilise resources in support of ACTRAV’s objectives and development cooperation activities.  Design development cooperation project proposals on capacity building for workers’ as well as project proposals for ACTRAV submission to donors for extra-budgetary financing.

6. Conceptualise, write and prepare technical papers, study materials and publications on substantive topics and other issues related to the work of ACTRAV and which are of relevance for workers’ organisations and tripartite constituents. These will include relevant matters such as freedom of association, collective bargaining and industrial relations.

7.   Develop, monitor, assess and coordinate studies on areas related to ACTRAV and the ILO’s priorities, at international, sub-regional and national level and which are of special relevance for workers. Contribute to the management of the relationship between the organisation and its constituents, namely workers’ organisations.

8.   Analyse the design, methodology, structure and content of studies and reports, the rationale of projects and the relevance and validity of analytical conclusions from the workers’ point of view.

9.   Provide advice to workers’ organisations, including at the regional and international level, on a variety of issues and processes, such as the promotion of international labour standards, the role of workers and employers’ organisations, the development of sound industrial relations.

10. Provide policy advice, design and conduct educational programmes, within the framework of the work-plan established by ACTRAV, in order to foster the building of capacities of trade unions especially on union organizational development, collective bargaining and industrial relations, increasing trade union representation and effectiveness through the use of strategic planning and results-based approaches. Act as a resources person at various technical and tripartite meetings. Liaise with the Office for Workers’ Activities in the ITC/Turin.

11. Establish and clear agendas for meetings and conferences. Assist in the drafting, revision and drafting of reports or training materials, especially in the areas of macroeconomic, trade and development policies. Prepare reports and ensure follow-up of actions and decisions stipulated.

12. Promote trade union research and knowledge sharing activities aimed at enhancing awareness and understanding of the changing and evolving world of work and shaping measures that address the four pillars of Decent Work (employment, social protection, social dialogue and rights at work).

13. Prepare briefings on the situation of trade union organizations, industrial relations, collective bargaining and social dialogue and tripartism at country or sub-regional level.

14. Provide technical advice and assistance to ensure effective trade union action and involvement in policy responses and regulatory frameworks to address decent work deficits.  This could include supporting campaigns for ratification and application of core and international labour standards, training on the use of the ILO Supervisory mechanisms, labour law revision, etc.

15. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Advanced university degree with demonstrated expertise in the relevant technical field.

At least seven years professional experience at the national level, of which at least five years’ experience at the international level, in trade union organisations.

Excellent command of one ILO working language (English, French or Spanish) plus good knowledge of another (one of these languages must be English).

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

Technical competencies:

Excellent knowledge and  understanding of workers’ organisations and labour related programmes, issues, practices and policies; Wide knowledge of the work of the Organization; Excellent knowledge of development concerns and needs in various countries as related to trade union organisations; Good analytical and problem solving abilities; 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 including to present and advocate policy changes in difficult circumstances; Develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; Ability to develop links with and attract major donors in order to ensure adequate resource mobilisation for the implementation of plans and projects; Design and synthesize strategies for programme development in member States; Ability to represent the Organisation at a high level in a tripartite environment, deliver speeches and to provide authoritative advice and guidance to both constituents and the Office; Ability to take initiatives, plan and organise work in accordance with ACTRAV guidelines and priorities;  Excellent analytical skills to undertake complex policy analysis and to produce relevant reports. Produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and ILC, technical publications, training manuals and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor technical cooperation activities and projects; Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; Discretion and high sense of responsibility and judgement Good working knowledge of standard computer software.

Behavioural competencies:

Ability to work in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.  Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.