Grade: P4

Vacancy no.: RBC/P/NORMES/2024/24

Publication date: 13 December 2024

Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 13 January 2025

Job ID: 12609

Department: NORMES

Organization Unit: NORMES

Location: Geneva

Contract type: Fixed Term

The following are eligible to apply:

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

Applications from candidates who have already separated from ILO service upon retirement or early retirement, will not be considered.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to E-Mail schreiben.

The ILO welcomes applicants with experience in working within ILO constituents (governments, employers’ and business membership organizations, and workers’ organizations).

Applicants from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries can be found here: ILO Jobs: Non- and under-represented Member States

In addition to the interviews and tests that any candidate may be required to take, successful completion of the ILO Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates and any internal candidate applying to a higher category.

Notwithstanding the general considerations set out in the ILO Staff Regulations, this vacancy announcement is the only authoritative document pertaining to the qualifications required for this position. The minimum required qualifications were determined in view of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.

The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. However, external candidates applying for the professional category vacancies and whose mother tongue is not one of the working languages of the Office (English, French and Spanish), shall be required to possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the ILO working languages. If appointed, they will be expected to acquire a knowledge of a second working language of the Office during their initial years of service.

Introduction

The position is located with the Director of the Labour Standards Department (NORMES). NORMES strives to enhance the relevance of international labour standards (ILS) to the world of work and to ensure their role as a useful means of achieving the constitutional objectives of the Organization, as well as the ILO strategic objectives, as called for by the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization. More specifically, NORMES is responsible for: (i) for designing and implementing the ILO standards-related activities in accordance with the standards policy adopted by the Governing Body; (ii) for supporting and servicing all the supervisory bodies of the ILO and (iii) for the promotion of Office-wide coherence and cooperation on international labour standards.

The incumbent will assist the Director of the Department as well as the Head of the ILO Standards Policy Unit in monitoring and responding to a wide range of requests from constituents, senior management and colleagues on matters related to international labour standards, including in preparation and follow-up to Governing Body’s segments related to international labour standards.

The position reports to the Director, NORMES.

Specific Duties

1. Prepare notes, reports and documents concerning complex questions relating to international law or labour standards policy as well as NORMES comments on draft documents submitted by other Departments/Offices or other relevant institutional partners.

2. Provide advice on strategies for follow-up to decisions related to international labour standards made by policy and supervisory bodies.

3. Provide support to the Director of the Department in coordinating the timely delivery of Governing Body papers on matters related to international labour standards and the preparation of related briefing notes for senior management.

4. Contribute to the development and regular updating of biennial outcome-based workplans and monitoring plans that respond to the constituents’ needs and integrate work with concerned specialists at headquarters and in field offices.

5. Coordinate and provide input to the agenda for departmental meetings.

6. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

Generic Duties

1. Examine reports by governments on ratified and unratified Conventions and Recommendations. Examine and analyse complaints. Prepare comparative analyses of the legislation and practice of the different Member States. Draft comments for presentation to and discussion with high-level committees and/or groups of experts. Provide advice to colleagues on labour standards under the incumbent’s responsibility.

2. Prepare legal opinions and interpretations on a variety of legal questions or in a specialized field.

3. Prepare notes, reports and documents concerning questions of international law or labour standards, including requests for interpretations on complex legal questions, for consideration by governments, the Governing Body, the International Labour Conference and the Director-General. Develop strategies for follow-up to decisions made by policy bodies.

4. Analyse draft labour legislation submitted by governments to the ILO for comments prior to adoption.

5. Undertake research and write studies on complex problems (i.e. judging compatibility between legislation and practice) relating to international labour standards, labour law and labour relations, as well as prepare general surveys, manuals and articles. Supervise the preparation of statements on questions of public international law relevant to the work of the ILO. Advise on the position to be taken by the Organization on these issues.

6. Review and approve instruments of ratification.

7. Provide technical support to special tripartite committees established by the Governing Body or commissions of inquiry to examine alleged infringements of ratified Conventions.

8. Represent the work unit at meetings, including Conference committees and industrial committees, to provide advice on legal questions or questions concerning international labour standards or labour relations. Act as adviser to Conference committees and assist in the drafting of international legal instruments and participate in pre-conference work, including drafting committees. Represent the Office at meetings of other international organizations.

9. Develop, plan and implement technical advisory and promotional activities, including tripartite seminars, workshops, lectures and discussion groups. Represent the Office on missions which may be of a sensitive or controversial nature and before judicial bodies. Represent the work unit on internal committees or at inter-agency meetings.

10. Participate in the secretariat of various committees dealing with legal issues or labour standards, including preparation of background material and documents, drafting records of meetings, drafting reports, etc.

Education

Advanced degree in law. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in Law with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Languages

Excellent command of two working languages (English, French, Spanish) of the Organization.

Experience

At least seven years’ practical experience including at the international level, in labour or international law.

Competencies

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

Ability to: design research studies and conduct comparative analyses involving the application of principles of law to the analysis of administrative, substantive and procedural problems of substantial intricacy; draft very clear documents on complex legal matters and discussions; take initiatives to keep up-to-date with new developments in international and comparative law; advise and persuade colleagues and constituents on legal questions, respect confidentiality, diplomatic skills; deal with colleagues and constituents with tact and discretion, lead and manage individual and group assignments and supervise those undertaking the work. Ability to prioritize assignments when handling multiple tasks. Ability to identify problems and propose solutions. Excellent time management and listening skills. Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences. Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.

Conditions of employment

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
• The first contract will be issued for a twenty-four month period.
• A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment.
• Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.

Important Information

Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at E-Mail schreiben

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.

Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place during the 3 to 4 months following the application deadline. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.

The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.

To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.

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.