National Project Coordinator - NOB (DC) 1 1

Grade: NOB

Vacancy no.: DC/PRRETORIA/NO/2024/NO/02

Publication date: 20 May 2024

Application deadline (midnight local time): 31 May 2024

Job ID: 11987

Department: RO-Africa

Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Pretoria

Location: Pretoria

Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: 12 months

Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.

In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date.

The following are eligible to apply:

• ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
• External candidates*

*The recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.

Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given, with a possibility of extension. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

*Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is NOB Step 1 of the UN salary scale.

Introduction

The ILO, SECO and NORAD have launched a new global programme Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work. The Programme has a global coordinating component managed by the ILO headquarters in Geneva and country project components in Ghana, South Africa and Viet Nam. The programme is expected to fun for 48 months - from December 2021 to December 2025. It aims to address the root causes of low productivity and employment outcomes by strengthening and establishing sustainable virtuous cycles between productivity, employment, and good working conditions. The Programme emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing productivity in an integrated manner across the enterprise level, sector level, and policy levels rather than intervening just at a single level or using a ‘one size fits all’ approach. The Programme is based on the principles of systems thinking and the development of evidence-based interventions as well as by facilitating change through incentives and capabilities development of key actors. The Programme is implemented jointly by the ILO’s ENTERPRISES and EMPLOYMENT Departments.

The position will support the Programme Manager of the South Africa component of the project in the implementation of the projects’ outcomes and activities related to sustainable enterprises development along the three dimensions of the ecosystem. This will include providing technical advisory services to implementing partners and to beneficiaries within the policy and procedural requirements of the ILO and the global Programme, promoting ILO policies and standards for sustainable enterprises, and supporting the implementation of project interventions that focus on SMEs and sectoral productivity, working conditions, and decent work, in a sustainable manner.

The incumbent will work in a team of four (two national officers, including the incumbent, and a finance/admin assistant, under the direct supervision of the Project Manager).

Reporting lines

The position is located in Pretoria, South Africa, and the incumbent reports to the Project Manager. The incumbent will be technically backstopped by the specialists for sustainable enterprises and employment policy as well as by other Decent Work Team specialists when required. The incumbent will also receive technical advice and support from the ENTERPRISE Department at ILO Headquarters as well as the Global Productivity Ecosystems Programme team, also located at ILO Headquarters.

Description of Duties

The main duties of the position comprise:

1. Engage and consult with Constituents and external partners including UN agencies, as well as ILO technical units and DWT backstopping specialists in the preparation of Project activities, ensure the timely delivery of activities and outputs by implementing partners and raise any areas of concern regarding progress with the Project Manager and backstopping specialists.

2. Identify problems, propose solutions, and action and follow up with relevant departments at headquarters and regional office, executing agencies, government offices, constituents, and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.

3. Prepare briefs, background information, periodic reports, subject matter related technical reports and statistical data on status of the Project.

4. Establish effective partnerships and coordination with the ILO Constituents, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, private sector organisation as well as sister UN Agencies in support of building a support environment for building sustainable enterprises.

5. Undertake missions to project locations to monitor and report on project implementation, identify issues and propose corrective actions to the Programme Manager and to the backstopping technical specialists.

6. Organize and support the delivery of seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings in line with project activities.

7. Assist in the programming and control of resources from all sources of funds, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analyzing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations to management for remedial action.

8. Brief ILO specialists, experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on Project matters and support additional resource mobilization efforts with the backstopping technical specialists.

9. Develop project information and communication materials and knowledge products in collaboration with the Communication Officer located in the project Global Team in the ILO Headquarters in Geneva. Liaise with ILO constituents and partners for effective dissemination of project results to enhance project visibility.

10. Perform other related duties as may be assigned by the Project Manager or backstopping specialists.

Education

University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the social sciences, including economics, business management, ideally with some specialization in entrepreneurship development.

Experience

Minimum of three years professional work experience at the national and local levels related to entrepreneurship development, private sector development policies, and productivity development at the sector or enterprise level.

An understanding of the ILO, the United Nations system, and experience in working with officials of government ministries, donors, and workers and employers organizations would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Competencies

1. Knowledge of programming and budgeting, project administration, evaluation, concepts, and procedures

2. Knowledge of office-wide activities and objectives

3. Ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects.

4. Good writing skills.

5. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing

6. Ability to clarify information

7. Good computer applications skills

8. Organizational skills

9. Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team.

10. Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy

11. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

optional section (if needed)

Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account E-Mail schreiben - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.