Introduction

The position is located in the Social Dialogue, Labour Relations and Governance of Work Branch (LABGOV) of the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE), within the ILO’s Governance, Rights and Dialogue Cluster.
GOVERNANCE leads global efforts to advance good governance and the realization of rights in the world of work through effective social dialogue, inclusive labour market institutions and integrated policy approaches. It supports constituents in advancing sound social dialogue and labour relations; in developing and implementing labour law reforms and fostering access to labour justice; strengthening labour administration and labour inspection systems; promoting a safe and healthy working environment and respect and realization of fundamental principles and rights at work; as well as in improving working conditions, respect of labour rights and boosting competitiveness in supply chains.
The Department is composed of four Branches, namely Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work; Better Work; Occupational Safety and Health and Working Environment; Social Dialogue, Labour Relations and Governance of Work.
The LABGOV Branch mandate is to promote the effective and inclusive governance of work and sound labour relations, through the enhancement of legal and regulatory frameworks, the promotion of collective bargaining and social dialogue, as well as the strengthening of labour administration, labour inspection and labour dispute prevention and resolution systems.

The Labour Law Reform and Access to Labour Justice Team (LABOURLAW) located within the LABGOV Branch promotes social justice by providing support to governments and employers and workers’ organizations to establish the rule of law and good governance in the field of labour and employment. It seeks to provide proactive and integrated policy advice on what labour law and labour dispute resolution systems can do, drawing on experience from other countries. In particular, it provides services that seek to:
a. Increase the number of Member States which base their labour laws and other employment-related legislation on ILO standards and advice on best comparative practices, and which use tripartite consultative processes in the preparation of such legislation;
b. Assist Member States to improve access to labour justice through establishing and strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms, including through new ways of working and technologies, so that individual and collective disputes are dealt with efficiently, effectively and equitably; and so as to promote compliance with labour law, in coordination with labour inspectorates as appropriate;
c. Assist Member States to integrate gender into all aspects of labour law and labour dispute settlement.
Within the above mandate, the incumbent will lead the LABOURLAW Team and will report to the Chief of the LABGOV Branch.

Specific Duties

1. Lead, manage and coordinate the LABOURLAW team. This includes defining work priorities in line with the overall vision and mandate of the Branch and Department; setting the strategic direction for research, country work and partnerships and monitoring and evaluating their implementation; ensuring the direct supervision of members of the team and providing support and technical guidance to the labour law specialists in the field.

2. Prepare and monitor strategic workplans that respond to constituents’ needs and priorities in line with the Programme and Budget and ensure integration and synergy with the other teams within LABGOV and the Department as well as with other units across the office, as appropriate.

3. Coordinate LABOURLAW’s inputs to the ILO Strategic Plan and the relevant Programme and Budget outcomes and outputs.

4. Ensure quality and timely technical advice and guidance to the ILO’s constituents on labour law reform and labour dispute prevention and resolution based on international labour standards and in line with best comparative practices.

5. Establish new or strengthen existing networks to facilitate sharing of experiences and expertise in the field of labour law, employment relations and access to labour justice, with the aim of expanding and promoting the ILO’s knowledge base, standards and principles in these policy areas.

6. As the central node in the global ILO network of specialists on labour law and labour dispute resolution, develop and implement new knowledge products and tools, methods of work and technology to support labour law reforms, improved labour dispute resolution systems and promotion of compliance with labour law. Identify strategic partnerships and mobilize resources to develop new policy and training tools and methods and to enhance access to labour justice for all by strengthening the role and impact of dispute resolution mechanisms and institutions, including labour courts and industrial tribunals.

7. Plan and coordinate substantive research on policy questions of an analytic and international comparative nature on a wide range of issues related to labour law policy, regulation of the employment relationship and labour dispute resolution for policy advice and training, publications or for consideration by the Governing Body, the International Labour Conference and other ILO official meetings.

8. Perform other relevant duties as required.

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

Generic Duties

1. Coordinate supervisory work on a group of Conventions. This includes revising and supervising the work of professional officials, particularly on the examination of reports by governments on the application of standards and/or complaints of violations of freedom of association, and preparation of draft comments for high-level committees and/or groups of experts.
2. Coordinate substantive research on policy questions or on questions of an analytic and international comparative nature on a wide range of issues for publications or for consideration by the Governing Body or International Labour Conference.
3. Draft and revise studies and publications in areas of expertise; participates as an expert in technical meetings and seminars in the ILO and other organisations; draft informal interpretations of Conventions; advise and collaborate with technical branches.
4. Collaborate with the supervisor in consideration of policy matters and the organization and execution of the work unit’s programme in general.
5. Organize and coordinate the technical and administrative support to special tripartite committees established by the Governing Body or commissions of inquiry to examine alleged infringements of ratified Conventions.
6. Represent the work unit as a technical expert on international labour standards, international labour law or labour relations on missions and at external meetings. Undertake high-level policy missions. Supervise the preparation of meetings and the finalisation of documents and reports of such meetings. Direct seminars and study courses.
7. Plan and organize technical advisory and promotional activities.
8. Serve as representative of the Director-General or an expert in conference committees or other official meetings.

Required qualifications

Education

An advanced university 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.

Experience

At least ten years’ practical experience, including at the international level, in labour law and labour relations. Demonstrated experience in the formulation of legal opinions and in providing high-level labour law advisory services. Experience undertaking comparative analytical research on a wide range of labour law-related policy questions, with particular attention to the inter-relations between regulation, industrial relations practices and labour market developments. Field experience would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of one working language (English, French, Spanish) of the Organization and a working knowledge of a second working language. One of these languages must be English. A knowledge of a third working language would be an advantage.

Competencies

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

Demonstrate a strategic vision in relation to labour law and labour relations.
Ability to contribute effectively as a member of the Branch and the Department on organizational issues and organizational priorities; assure technical leadership in developing and providing policy advice and carrying out the objectives of the team; 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; and to promulgate the results of research studies in a variety of ways, including academic quality publications.
Ability to manage large projects and to coordinate activities among projects. Demonstrated and recognized technical, advocacy and communication skills in policy development; demonstrated technical expertise to devise new methods, concepts, approaches and techniques, leading to development of ILO standards and technical guidelines and ability to prepare ILO strategy reports on policy and programme development; the ability to provide seasoned policy and programme advice to constituents; demonstrated capacity to develop and to implement new approaches, methods and tools for use in advising ILO constituents. ability to understand purposes and approaches to policy advice and technical tools outside the specific area of technical expertise.
Strong interpersonal skills, tact, discretion, confidentiality and diplomacy. Demonstrated sound political judgment and capacity to work well in a tripartite context. Decision making skills and excellent problem-solving skills. The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.