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.

Required qualifications

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.