Introduction

The ILO Representative Office in Jerusalem works to promote decent work principles and fostering the development of inclusive and responsive labour market policies. These efforts contribute to an environment that supports economic and social progress, ensuring decent work characterized by freedom, equity, security, and human dignity.

The ongoing conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) has inflicted a devastating toll on the Palestinian economy and labour market. Over 500,000 workers, primarily in the West Bank, have lost their jobs due to a combination of escalating violence, Israeli restrictions, and a collapsing private sector. Wages have plummeted, pushing countless families into poverty, while the lack of robust worker representation and support systems has left many vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe working conditions.

Within the framework of the ILO’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP), one pillar focuses on labour market recovery under which several interventions are foreseen to mitigate the immediate impact of conflict and economic hardship on Palestinian workers while fostering long-term labour market resilience. By empowering workers through enhanced rights protection, data-driven advocacy, and expanded support services, the project seeks to improve working conditions, reduce dependence on the Israeli economy, and promote a more sustainable and equitable labour market. Under this ERP pillar, one development cooperation project specifically on labor market recovery will be implemented in parallel to work funded from ILO RBSA resources, ensuring synergies and complementarity. Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Labour Market Recovery Project, the Technical Officer will be responsible for the overall management and technical leadership of the work under the ERP pillar to attain the expected outcomes.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the Representative of the ILO Office in Jerusalem, will receive technical guidance from the relevant Specialist at the Decent Work Technical Support Team for the Arab States. S/he will coordinate closely with the Programme Manager of the ERP so that overall engagement with the social partners organisations is closely aligned, and will work in collaboration with the Programme and Operations Officer of ILO Jerusalem.

Description of Duties

1. Manage the implementation of the two parallel projects, in line with ILO rules, regulations and procedures for development cooperation, including ensuring the delivery of the required workplans and reports.

2. Provide technical support to relevant project stakeholders pertaining to labour rights and ILS, capacity building of membership-based organizations, industrial relations and business resilience, with a view to promoting the Decent Work Agenda and social justice. Respond to requests for data and information, draft policy recommendations and provide support with follow-up actions, as and when appropriate.

3. Commission research, draft terms of reference for research consultants and monitor and coordinate their work.

4. Identify and maintain up-to-date knowledge on emerging trends and policy developments on labour market governance, employers’ resilience and workers’ protection.

5. Draft and/or provide technical input into the development, peer review and editing of policy briefs, working papers, reports, publications and other knowledge products and contribute to their dissemination. Provide evidence-based technical content for social media, digital and other knowledge-sharing tools and platforms, with a view to reaching broad and diverse audiences.

6. Participate in the identification of capacity development needs of social partners in OPT (Palestinian General federation of Trade Unions PGFTU and Federation of Palestinian Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry- FPCCIA and sectoral unions in relation to protection and advocacy services to their members and make proposals on how to address them.

Description of Duties (continued)

7. Prepare related training and learning materials and activities in collaboration with the DWT specialists and ILO colleagues in Palestine as well as with the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO) as applicable. Deliver training to diverse audiences using innovative methods and communication tools and leveraging the use of digital technologies. Participate in knowledge sharing activities.

8. Organize, and facilitate meetings and other project-related events, including proposing agenda items, identifying participants, preparing technical materials, proposing facilitation techniques, preparing and delivering presentations, drafting summary reports and monitoring follow-up.

9. Establish and/or maintain a database for monitoring and evaluation aimed at tracking progress against Key Performance Indicators. Identify problems and make recommendations for follow up actions.

10. Manage the project budgets, including for budget revisions and other related matters,

11. Collaborate closely with relevant ILO programmes and projects in Palestine and DWT as appropriate, to obtain technical inputs and share best practices and lessons learned.

12. Undertake missions relating to project implementation.

13. Undertake other duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (master’s or equivalent) in social sciences, labour relations, business administration, labour law or human resource management.

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned field(s) or other relevant field 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

Experience

At least five years of relevant professional experience. This should include work on industrial relations and social dialogue, workers’ rights and working conditions, productivity or other topics of relevance to Trade Unions and Employers and Business Organizations.

Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with workers organizations would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English. A working knowledge of Arabic will be considered an advantage.

Competencies

• Ability to provide technical advice and to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators, general service staff and young professionals in the area of specialization.
• Ability to conceptualise and design research techniques and analyse complex cross-national practices and data sets covering a wide range of issues in the specialized technical field.
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies.
• Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation.
• Ability to provide technical support to senior specialists, carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
• Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and to provide technical inputs for the ILO Decent Work Agenda.
• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Good computer skills.

Competencies (continued)

• Knowledge of IT applications for information collection, management and dissemination.
• Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Ability to identify sources and develop methods for data collection.
• Good drafting skills.
• Good communication skills, presentation skills. Persuasion and ability to present technical arguments to convince counterparts on a course of action.
• Ability to assess, adapt and amend individual and group assignments (policies, approaches, models) to meet new or changed needs and situations.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive 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.