Job: Technical Officer

Location: Ho Chi Minh-Ville, Viet Nam 
Deadline: Thursday, 31 October 2013 

Description
Human Resources Development Department International Labour Office
Vacancy No: TC/2013/BETTER WORK/05 Title: Technical Officer Grade: P.3 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract: one year
Date: 16 October 2013 Application Deadline (midnight Geneva time) 31 October 2013 Organization unit: DIALOGUE Better Work Programme Duty Station: Ho Chi Minh-Ville, Viet Nam
This is a Technical Cooperation position therefore the recruitment process falls outside Annex 1 of the ILO Staff Regulations. 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. 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. The following are eligible to apply:
  • ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 15 and 16 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations;
  • External candidates.
INTRODUCTION
Better Work is a unique partnership program between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Launched in February 2007, it aims to improve labour standards and competitiveness in global supply chains. Better Work involves the development of both global tools and country level projects. The focus is on scalable and sustainable solutions which build cooperation between government, employer and worker organizations, and international buyers. Improving labour standards in global supply chains is an important part of a pro-poor development strategy. Ensuring workers' rights and entitlements are protected helps to distribute the benefits of trade. Better Work supports enterprises in implementing the ILO core international labour standards and national labour law.
This helps enterprises compete in global markets where many buyers demand compliance with labour standards from their suppliers. Improved labour standards also assist enterprises to be more competitive through higher productivity and quality.
These benefits help build the business case and supplier support for improved labour standards. In Vietnam, Better Work was launched in 2009 and is supported by Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada and the United States. It initially focuses on the export apparel sector with a view to adapt to other sectors.
The program has three components:
1) Enterprise assessments on (a) the principles of the ILO Declaration core international labour standards and Vietnamese labour law, and (b) quality and productivity;
2) Enterprise advisory and training services designed to support practical improvements; and
3) Stakeholder engagement and sustainability. For more information about the project see www.betterwork.org/vietnam
Description of Duties
Function Assist the Better Work Vietnam Program Manager in the expansion of Better Work Vietnam and help to oversee quality assurance, staff management, and communications for the program. Supervision The Technical Officer reports to the Better Work Vietnam Program Manager and coordinates closely with members of the Better Work global team.
Responsibilities
  • Act as part of Better Work Vietnam management team, helping to make both operational decisions and well as strategic decisions regarding program direction. This will include participation in decisions regarding hiring and HR, budget, services development and expansion, programmatic targets, and other.
  • Act as direct line manager for a key group of BWV staff members, ensuring high levels of performance in meeting set targets, overseeing their ongoing professional development, and allowing for the ongoing strengthening of the BWV national team. The position will directly line manage 5-6 staff, of both NO and G levels. Provide assistance to the Program Manager in ensuring high level of attention to ongoing good practices in Human Resources in the program, including ensuring adherence to all ILO Human Resources requirements as well as continuing to build a strong culture of open feedback, coaching, creative problem solving, risk taking, and helping further embed a sense of accountability and ownership into the BWV culture.
  • Assist in the expansion of Better Work Vietnam to larger numbers of factories and international buyers; provide support to the program on further evolution of internal systems to support this expansion. Responsibilities will include support in developing and managing relationships with factories and buyers through regular forums, one-on-one meetings, and answering ongoing inquiries.
  • Oversee communications activities, including both for internal and external audiences. Responsibilities will include overseeing the BWV media and communications strategy, liasing with the Better Work global team on communications and media requirements, coordinating the BWV newsletter and other publications, commenting on BW global reports as required, writing donor reports, and assisting the BWV CTA in initial drafts of public synthesis reports.
  • Provide quality assurance oversight and backstopping to BWV team in assessments, advisory, and training services, with a focus on continuing to embed these responsibilities into the roles of national staff. Ensure quality assurance systems are properly followed, including shadow assessments and advisory visits and follow up reporting. Provide technical guidance as needed.
  • Oversee specific donor-funded projects that support BWV core services as needed, including worker communication and outreach efforts.
  • Act as a conduit between BetterWork Global and BWV, supporting the CTA to ensure that global policies are implemented locally as well as that BWV's perspective is well represented in global task forces (e.g. research, new systems development etc)
  • Support the Better Work Vietnam Program Manager in meeting with national and international project stakeholders and other constituents, including factories and buyer representatives. This will include responding to regular meeting requests that come into the Better Work Vietnam office as well as proactively reaching out to project stakeholders to provide updates and for other information needs. Act as Officer in Charge when the BWV Program Manager is out of the office.
Required Qualifications
Education
  • First level university degree in education, social science, law, international studies or other relevant field.
Experience
  • At least 5 years professional experience working in the areas of social dialogue, capacity building, corporate social responsibility, enterprise development, and/or labour standards compliance including practical experience conducting enterprise assessments of labour standards compliance and advisory services in the region.
  • Background working specifically with the apparel industry and Vietnam specific experience a plus.
Languages
  • Excellent command of English is required. Knowledge of Vietnamese a plus.
Competencies
  • Excellent communications skills, both oral and written;
  • Excellent knowledge of labour-related laws and regulations in Vietnam, including a good understanding of common issues of non-compliance in the apparel industry;
  • Ability to contribute to the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects, including the ability to identify and analyse problems with project implementation;
  • Good understanding of corporate social responsibility and labour compliance issues in global supply chains in general and more specifically in the apparel sector in Vietnam including practical knowledge of the practices of buyers in the US and Europe;
  • Capacity to manage, and to build effective teamwork, to achieve agreed outcomes including coordinating the work of others.
  • Experience in industrial relations and building social dialogue between management and unions\worker representatives at the workplace level;
  • Capacity to liaise and network with a range of stakeholders including staff, donors, buyers, government officials, management, unions and NGOs;
  • Ability to negotiate persuasively with donor representatives;
  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Commitment to gender equality and knowledge of gender mainstreaming principles and approaches.
Additional Information:
All applicants must attach a 2-3 page statement addressing their claims against the required competencies. In doing this you should have a heading for each competency and explain in 2 -3 paragraphs to the selection committee how your skills and experience meet each competency.
Applicants who do not attach this statement will not be considered for interview. Better Work values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. For more information please contact betterwork@ilo.org. Closing date for applications is 31 October 2013.

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