Introduction

The Brazilian government, with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and various stakeholders, have implemented a series of tripartite pacts (“Pactos”) aimed at improving working conditions across different supply chains. These initiatives, which started in sectors such as wine and coffee, aim to promote decent work, formalize employment, and eradicate child and forced labour.

Under the Partnership for Workers Rights (PWR) signed between the United States and Brazil in 2023, the PACTOS Project, funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), was planned to collaborate with the Brazilian government and other stakeholders to enhance these pacts, focusing on building capacity, fostering social dialogue, and integrating local voices into national decision-making processes. The project will emphasize a supply chain approach to ensure the sustainability of its interventions, targeting at least three supply chains within Brazil’s agricultural sector. Key activities will include establishing a technical secretariat to oversee the pacts, conducting assessments of labour conditions, and implementing targeted actions to improve OSH standards and eliminate labour violations.

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of labour stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE), to robustly implement these pacts and promote decent work. By engaging with civil society, local institutions, and workers’ organizations, the project will ensure that the needs and perspectives of vulnerable and marginalized groups are addressed. A pilot project will also be developed to provide technical assistance and enhance the capacity of local governments to implement labour policies, with the potential to expand successful models to other supply chains.

This comprehensive approach seeks to create sustainable improvements in labour practices across Brazil, aligning with global standards and contributing to the eradication of child and forced labour.

Initially, the project will be implemented in Brazil in a first phase and being expanded during a second phase to other countries in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the [Project/Programme], the Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme implementation and provide technical advisory services towards the development and execution of future programs to be developed in the Project/Programme sector. He/she will ensure that the objectives stated in the project document are attained within the stated time frame and budget and ensure compliance with the ILO and the Project/Programme’s financial and operating procedures. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

optional section (if needed)

The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Director of ILO Office for Brazil and receive technical guidance, support, and collaboration of other relevant technical specialists from the FUNDAMENTALS Branch at ILO HQ, and from other LAC ILO specialists.

The Project Manager may also oversee the work of administrative and other support staff of the Project, national officers and any other international or local consultant hired during the course of the project.

Description of Duties

Project management

• Ensure effective implementation of the Project/Programme through: the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, and the planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities. Deliveries and outcomes must be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and the administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible Field Office, if applicable.
• Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the project.
• Manage the human resources of the project/programme efficiently, including recruitment and performance management.

Technical leadership and advice

• Provide technical advice and secretariat support to relevant governments, ministries and other key partners, in close collaboration with the Responsible Chief.
• Within the scope of the project, formulate evidence-based policy recommendations and give advice on the effective application of international labour standards on forced labour, child labour and other related labour violations; advocate ILO policy on the elimination of forced and child labour; and ensure representation in donors’ meetings, international, regional and local forums, and promotional campaigns.

Advocacy, networking and partnership

• Strengthen relationships with ILO constituents, including government, workers’ and employers’ organisations, and other key stakeholders, such as UN AFPs and civil society organisations, to ensure political support for and ownership of project results. Advise and guide project personnel, constituents, donors, institutions, or other partners to achieve programme objectives.
• Liaise with other UN counterparts to promote ILO’s values, increase the project’s visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO’s interventions.
• Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project/programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards, in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.

Mobilization of resources

• Undertake local resource mobilization activities with the multi-lateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project/programme in coordination with the responsible Country Office and PARDEV.

Knowledge management

• Write and disseminate information on project/programme materials in close collaboration with other relevant technical specialists at HQ and Regional Office for America Latina and Caribbean.
• Ensure the development of information databases covering project/programme activities; prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the implementation status and coordinate with concerned ILO departments and programs.
• Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities.
• Supervise any research under the Project and coordinate the contracting of services and goods following ILO contract modalities and USDOL rules.
• Undertake other duties as required.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master‘s or equivalent) in Management and Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, Project Management or another relevant field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or other relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least seven years of relevant professional experience, including in the private sector, in managing projects on child labour and forced labour, and/or socially sustainable supply chains.

Asset: Familiarity and experience with ILO policies and procedures, as well as ILO and USDOL reporting requirements, including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations, working with multiple sub-recipient(s) and/or contractor(s), and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to donor. Proven capacity to engage and work with governments’, employers’ and workers’ organizations.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English, Spanish and Portuguese is required.

Competencies

• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
• Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy and procedural matters, and to present them at high-level meetings.
• Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement development cooperation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments and social partners, and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services.
• Ability to plan and support the development of individuals’ skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.
• Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation challenges and opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Ability to understand the needs and functioning of and effectively work with Government and other entities at federal, state, and local levels, workers and employers’ organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies.

Behavioural Competencies

All ILO core personal or behavioural competencies (Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning & knowledge sharing, Communication, Client orientation, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation and Collaboration) are required for all members of staff.