Employment Policy Officer

Introduction

The position will be funded under the development cooperation project “Promoting Decent Work for Syrians Under Temporary Protection and Turkish Citizens” (KFW). The project aims to facilitate the early entry of Syrian refugees and Turkish citizens from host communities into the labour market and to help them develop and strengthen their skills as required. The project builds on ILO interventions related to the Syrian refugee crisis in Türkiye since 2014, under the ILO’s integrated Programme of Support for refugees in Türkiye. The interventions of the project are also linked with the UNSDCF (2021-2025) as well as UN 3RP Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan. The project has three main outcomes:

The overall objective of the project is to enhance formal employment for Syrians under temporary protection (SuTP) and Turkish citizens and to create formal sector jobs. This objective will be achieved through three outputs:    
 
-    Output A: SuTPs are qualified to participate in the formal labour market. 
-    Output B: Turkish public employment services are strengthened to support SuTP and disadvantaged Turkish citizens to access the formal labour market. 
-    Output C: Transition to formality is facilitated for SuTP and Turkish citizens. 

The Employment Policy Officer will work as a member of the KfW Project Team to ensure effective design and implementation of the related project activities by providing technical expertise on employment policy.   

2.    Reporting lines

The Employment Policy Officer will report to the Project Manager under the overall supervision of the Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye.

Description of Duties

1.    Be responsible for the timely and effective implementation of project activities related to employment policy, with a specific focus on the employment of refugees and other vulnerable groups.
2.    Provide specialised knowledge and technical input on employment policy to the relevant ILO team staff and ensure access to legal and policy advice to/ from the government and with social partners on issues related to formal and decent work throughout the implementation of related project activities.
3.    Provide technical knowledge and support in relation to employment of refugees and other vulnerable groups to enhance the synergies within the other projects that are implemented by the ILO Office for Türkiye
4.    Organize and lead awareness raising and knowledge sharing meetings regarding employment policy, particularly related to decent and formal work for refugees and other vulnerable groups in Türkiye.
5.    Keep abreast of developments related to employment of refugees and vulnerable groups flag bottlenecks and advise on necessary actions to overcome them with a view to reach the outcomes of the project.
6.    Analyse relevant documents and information on employment policy produced by the project, government and research institutions, universities and other relevant organisations and provide written analysis on the findings to management.
7.    Brief ILO specialists, project experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on relevant project activities.
8.    Undertake regular missions to project sites and conduct regular meetings with stakeholders and beneficiaries, as deemed necessary.
9.    Any other duties as assigned by the ILO Director for Türkiye.  

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in economics and administrative sciences, social sciences, or a relevant technical field. An advanced degree in studies on labour economics and industrial relations or a master’s in business administration would be a strong advantage.

Experience

•    A minimum of three years of experience in project management; employment policy, including for refugees and other vulnerable groups.
•    Proven experience in working with government institutions and/or social partners (workers’ and employers’ organizations) on issues covering employment policy. 
•    Proven experience in working with the private sector, as well as expertise in the dynamics of employment of refugees and other vulnerable groups. 
•    Prior experience of working with national or international development partners would be an asset.
 

Languages

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Turkish.

Competencies

Among nine ILO core competencies, following competencies are particularly important for this position:

Takes Responsibility for Performance, Quality Orientation, Integrity and Transparency, Communication, Orientation to Learning and Knowledge Sharing.

Others:
•    Good knowledge of the context and challenges for refugees and other vulnerable groups on formal employment in Türkiye.
•    Knowledge of the ILO’s mandate and decent work agenda. 
•    Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors. 
•    Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures. 
•    Research and analytical skills as well as drafting skills. 
•    Ability to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders. 
•    Ability to manage competing priorities. 
•    Strong presentation skills, in Turkish and English effectively: both orally and in writing. 
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.