Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, based in Lima, Peru. The Regional Office has overall political and management responsibilities for the promotion of ILO principles, policies and decent work priorities in the region as well as providing strategic guidance and support to all ILO Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) and Country Offices (CO’s) in the region.  The Bureau for Workers Activities (ACTRAV) specialists are part of global teams with a presence at both ILO headquarters and in the regions. Worker specialists are integral members of Regional Offices, Decent Work Technical Support Teams and Country Offices, and the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO).

The Senior Workers’ Activities Specialist is responsible for planning, providing, developing and coordinating technical advisory services in the field of workers' activities to the ILO Country Offices as specified by the Director of the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) at ILO headquarters, and assisting workers’ organizations in their efforts to provide their members with improved/new services, thus extending their representation and their capacity to become strong, relevant, independent and representative organizations, able to fulfil their roles and responsibilities in the promotion of workers’ interests, in line with the principles of ILO standards.  The incumbent keeps the ILO (regional units and ACTRAV at ILO headquarters) informed of the concerns, interests and perspectives of workers’ organizations in the countries covered by the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and keeps workers’ organizations informed of the work of the ILO, as well as promoting their participation in tripartite and bipartite initiatives in line with the 2002 International Labour Conference Resolution on tripartism and social dialogue.

The incumbent has double reporting responsibilities, reporting to the Director of ACTRAV for policy, technical and operational aspects and to the Deputy-Director of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean for administrative matters.

The Senior Specialist works in close coordination with ACTRAV’s Regional Desk Officer at ILO headquarters and ACTRAV technical specialists in the Latin America and Caribbean region and in collaboration with the other specialists in the Regional Office, DWT/COs, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and with UN agencies at the country and regional levels.

Key duties and responsibilities

1.    Lead the work of the Bureau of Workers Activities (ACTRAV) as per the country and regional coverage as specified by the Director of ACTRAV and ensure the effective management of all financial, human, and other resources in accordance with ILO standards, the results-based management framework and through timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework (PMF) and other feedback mechanisms at the field level. Plan, manage and coordinate a broad programme of work within ILO and multilateral programmes in the area of workers’ activities in designated countries. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and manage staff and consultants as applicable. 
 
2.    Lead the design, development, implementation, monitoring and promotion of related programmes, strategies, approaches, and policies with a view to enhancing and positioning the Organization’s technical leadership in the area of workers’ activities, in designated countries. Lead, manage and coordinate high-level advocacy and technical and policy advisory services on workers’ activities to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, fostering the integration of cross-cutting policy drivers, including international labour standards, social dialogue, gender equality and non-discrimination, and a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies. 

3.    Provide thought leadership in the area of workers’ activities to ILO constituents and other concerned stakeholders, including through the continuous strategic positioning of the Organization and its mandate within the United Nations system. Act as a catalyst in formulating policies on critical issues related to the promotion of workers’ activities relating to decent work across ILO’s strategic objectives and build bridges and synergies between strategic policy areas. Coordinate cross-organizational teams/initiatives to ensure integration and policy coherence to advance broad programme development on workers’ activities. 

4.    Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks in relation to workers’ activities. Provide authoritative policy and technical advice in the area of workers’ activities to ILO constituents and other concerned stakeholders with a view to promoting the formulation of inclusive and gender-responsive policies and programmes, and their impactful implementation and monitoring to ensure equitable outcomes.  Promote relevant international labour standards. 

5.    Support ILO workers’ constituency in identifying their needs and provide adequate technical support, including through comparative policy analyses. Provide technical advice and support to workers’ organizations on trade union development, organizing strategies, collective bargaining, institutional strengthening, democratic governance, representativeness, coordination and cooperation, and service delivery to members. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of workers’ organizations in policy design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects at the regional/sub-regional and national Level. 

6.    Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Build and stimulate multidisciplinary initiatives and efforts with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda. Ensure that workers’ organizations are effectively consulted and engaged in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of DWCPs, development cooperation initiatives and other relevant policy processes.

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7.    Provide stewardship, design, and conduct/coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research, including on frontier/emerging issues, that meets the evolving needs of workers’ organizations and other key stakeholders and positions the ILO at the forefront of research in workers’ activities. Research may include issues relating to labour market transformations, industrial relations, collective bargaining, trade union renewal, workers in the informal economy, migrant workers and other emerging issues affecting workers and their organizations.

8.    Develop and lead the development of workers’ activities related policies, initiatives, strategies and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to workers’ organizations’ needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the regional and country levels. Provide advice and technical support to workers organizations and other stakeholders on effectively using such tools. Contribute to Office-wide efforts to analyse, document, and disseminate lessons learned and information on innovative practices. 

9.    Lead the development, review and quality control of major reports, publications, documents, and other office documents, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference, and regional, sectoral, and expert meetings in relation to workers’ organizations. 
 
10.    Support the strengthening of workers’ organizations’ capacity to design and implement policies and measures, monitor the impact of policies and measures and improve policies and measures as required in the area of workers’ activities taking into account the need for policy coherence and an integrated approach to decent work. Support workers’ organizations in strengthening their institutional capacity, democratic governance, organizing and recruitment strategies, collective bargaining capacity, policy engagement, coordination and cooperation, and service delivery to members. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead workshops, meetings, and other events, using innovative methods, digital platforms, and communication tools. Develop and implement regional capacity development programmes, knowledge sharing and training events, including in collaboration with the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO) and/or with other relevant partners as applicable. 

11.    Formulate and develop conceptual approaches for development cooperation activities, taking into account the regional, subregional and national priorities on workers’ activities and the need to position these within relevant development cooperation frameworks. Design and develop programmes and projects and coordinate their implementation, in accordance with established monitoring and reporting standards, including financial resources, and coordinate activities among projects. Manage stakeholder engagement, mobilize resources and negotiate funding, terms and conditions.

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12.    Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships and broker collaborative relationships to benefit the broad areas of the Decent Work Agenda with traditional and non-traditional entities of the UN system and other international organizations, regional and national actors, multilateral development banks and international financial institutions, research institutions, academia, civil society and other key stakeholders, with a view to advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence and joint programme design and implementation, promoting awareness of ILO’s values and strategic objectives, resource mobilization, influencing policy and financing decisions in support of decent work objectives,  workers activities. 

13.    Maintain close and continuous engagement with workers’ organizations across the region through regular consultations, field missions, participation in trade union events and direct support to workers’ organizations, ensuring that ILO interventions remain responsive to their priorities, challenges and emerging needs.

14.    Convene and represent the ILO at major regional and national meetings and events, including with strategic players, national and international development partners, international financial institutions and multilateral and regional institutions of the UN system and other key stakeholders/organizations. As the ILO’s technical representative on worker activities, play a key role in promoting and advocating the Decent Work Agenda.

15.    Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, labour law, public administration, industrial relations, political science or other 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 experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least ten years of experience, including at the international level, in workers’ activities and in dealing with the issues pertaining to programmes of workers’ organizations and trade unions.

Languages

Excellent command of Spanish and a working knowledge of English.  Knowledge of Portuguese would be an asset.

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

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

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches in the area(s) of economic and social policies and trade union organizations with the ability to lead and oversee their development and implementation suited to evolving needs and priorities. Detailed and comprehensive expertise in own area to serve as the reference expert across the Organization.
Excellent knowledge of the full range of policy areas and advanced understanding of the ILO’s mandate. Ability to maintain a comprehensive wealth of knowledge of related external issues.
Technical leadership skills.
Managerial skills for the effective management of human and financial resources. Ability to provide clear direction and to develop, inspire and encourage high-performing, pioneering and motivated individuals and teams, specialized in the technical area of work.
Excellent research and analytical skills.
Excellent communication skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills.
Excellent drafting skills.
Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.
Ability to build and negotiate strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of key stakeholders and to create innovative opportunities for promoting synergies and ensure organizational results and success over the immediate, mid-term and long-term horizon.
Ability to represent the Organization with authority and credibility and present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO's position on it to partners with a view to gaining their support to advance the desired course of action. 
Ability to articulate the Organization’s mandate/strategic objectives/programmes when formulating and delivering information and presentations and adapt presentation methodology to address the needs of different audiences.
Ability to mobilize resources.
Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.