National Project Officer - NOA (DC)

Introduction

EU4Employment in BiH is EU-funded initiative aimed at facilitating post-pandemic employment and access to the labour market in support of green and digital socio-economic recovery in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Action targets individuals who face compounded labour market barriers and whose access to current and prospective economic opportunities generated by structural and sectoral transformations is severely constrained (including young people, women, Roma, persons with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, long-term unemployed, low-skilled workers and people formally trained for vocations that are over-supplied in the domestic labour market). It provides technical assistance to key beneficiary institutions (public employment services, ministry in charge of employment, funds for professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disability, and other relevant institutions) and builds capacity of organizations and partnerships involved in grant implementation. Beside this initiative, the ILO is implementing similar activity funded by EU and Sweden – EU4Employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, IPA 2020, targeting same end beneficiaries and institutions. 
The overall approach of the Action is based on a balanced mix of carefully designed grant schemes and the provision of high-quality technical assistance by the ILO. The technical assistance shapes and guides the grant component to introduce innovation, break entrenched ineffective practices, and introduce sustainability. The Project Officer is responsible for continuous progress monitoring of the project against the indicators set in the log frame, overall monitoring and coordination of the grant component, provision of inputs into the progress reports, and coordination of outputs to ensure synergies and complementarities between two project interventions (EU4Employment IPA 2020 and IPA 2021) and continuity and sustainability of results among other duties under supervision of the Project Manager.

Reporting lines

The Project Officer reports directly to the Project Manager and works in coordination with the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest (DWT/CO-Budapest). Cooperation with the relevant ILO HQ departments will be required. The Project Officer closely coordinate his/her work with ILO National Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Description of Duties

1.Work in close collaboration with the Project Manager to design and revise project annual work plans, as well as preparation of the budget proposal, considering different approaches and alternative methods, management, problem identification and problem resolution, especially for the parts of the project supporting the institutional and capacity development of project grantees.  
2.Review, verify and analyze work plans, progress and final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness, and monitor the progress of project activities. Follow-up on delayed documents, clarify information, and answer questions about clearance and processing requirements to support successful completion of agreed activities. 
3.Follow-up with relevant technical officers with counterparts in organizations and line ministries at national level, partner and executing agencies, government offices, constituents and in other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets. 
4.Assist in the programming and control of resources of the project, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action. Identify problems and propose solutions and actions. 
5.Provide training on monitoring and evaluation to both beneficiary institutions and grant beneficiaries; Undertake monitoring missions to project sites independently or accompanying others; Actively participate in and provide inputs to development of the implementation agreements, technical assistance and closely monitors achieved results of implementing partners. 
6.Participate in the preparation and conduct of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings. Speak on behalf of the Project when attending these gatherings alone. Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying others.
7.Brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on project matters. Draft, edit, or translate into local language official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information materials.  
8.Lead in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on status of the overall activities of the Project. 
9.Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Country Director.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in economics, social sciences, public policies, development studies or a relevant field. An advanced degree on studies on labour economics or social sciences would be a strong advantage.

Experience

At least one year of professional experience at the national level in the area of project management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in working effectively with government bodies in charge of policy making and with development partners would be an asset.

Technical requirements: Good knowledge of implementation of technical programmes for business operation improvement and grants management. 

Languages

Excellent knowledge of the working language of the duty station (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian) and a good knowledge of English.

Competencies

• Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration, and evaluation concepts and procedures, and of the mandate and structure of labour market institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Knowledge of the office’s financial rules and regulations. 
• Good knowledge of the context and challenges for the project areas of expertise.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution, and good drafting skills.
• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyze problems with implementation
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to clarify information
• Demonstrate collaborative and teamwork experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team, as well as to work on his/her own initiative.
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, web-browsers and database applications. 
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.