Grade: P4

Vacancy no.: DC/MEXICO/P/2023/01 Publication date: 19 June 2023 Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 26 June 2023

Job ID: 10947 Department: RO-Latin America and the Caribbean Organization Unit: CO-Mexico Location: Mexico City Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: One year

Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.

In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.

Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

The following are eligible to apply:

•  ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
•  External candidates.

The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

Introduction

The right to freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining have been established as fundamental rights by the international community through the International Labour Organization (ILO). These enabling rights and freedoms are grounded in the ILO Constitution and are essential in the promotion and realization of social justice. The most visible and consequential application of the respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining takes place at the level of the workplace when employers’ and workers’ organizations and all workers and employers are guaranteed a conducive climate for the exercise of these fundamental rights.

Mexico has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). Also, Mexico adopted in 2017 and in 2019, a Constitutional reform and to the Federal Labour Act, respectively, laying the foundations for a new labour justice system in the country and establishing processes to guarantee the principles on freedom of association and collective bargaining towards ensuring the representativeness of trade union organizations, certainty in the conclusion of collective bargaining agreements and trade union democracy, guaranteeing the personal, free and secret vote of workers.

Mexico is a signing party to the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is a trade arrangement that includes labour provisions such as the obligation to respect in law and practice the rights and principles contained in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, adopted in 1998, and amended in 2022, with emphasis on the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Against this framework, the ILO is implementing the development cooperation project “Observation and Engagement for Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Rights Realization (OBSERVAR) Initiative”. The project provides support to the Government of Mexico in workplace democratic processes, where the ILO participates as observer, that contributes to fostering an environment of trust in the transition towards a new labour relations model in the country. The project also provides technical assistance to the ILO tripartite constituents to enhance the understanding and practice of the rights and principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining, through activities of training and capacity building. The project provides for a platform for exchanges of ILO tripartite constituents at the international level on good practice to discuss the implementation of principles on freedom of association and collective bargaining, at the national and international level, and their linkages with trade agreements.

The Chief Technical Advisor position is located in the ILO Country Office for Mexico and Cuba (CO-Mexico), in Mexico City. The Office provides advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance to ILO’s constituents in coordination with relevant ILO specialists and departments (government, employers’ and workers’ organizations).

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The CTA will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme implementation and provide technical advisory services towards the development and execution of any future programmes to be developed in the sectors identified by the project. He/she/they 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’s financial and operating procedures. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas.

The position will primarily ensure the effective implementation of the OBSERVAR project, including the realization of workplace democratic processes observation missions, the establishment of a sustainable observation mechanism with ILO trained observers, and delivering advisory services and capacity building to ILO tripartite constituents. The means of action to be employed by the position include undertaking research; advocacy of ILO standards and principles; collection of technical information on labour law and dissemination of that information in a variety of ways, and training of government officials, representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations.

The position will provide expertise and technical advisory services to ILO constituents in the field of international labour standards and labour law, with focus on the rights and principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining. The position will provide programme development, capacity building (including with ILO’s International Training Center) and the promotion of international labour standards and tripartism.

Reporting lines: The incumbent will perform his/her/their duties under the supervision of Director of CO-Mexico and will report on technical matters to the Chief of the Freedom of Association Branch in NORMES for this development cooperation project.

The incumbent will liaise with the Technical Officer in the ILO HQ and will receive technical guidance, support and collaboration with other relevant technical specialists at the HQ.

He/She/They will also oversee the work of Admin and other support staff of the project/program, national officers and any other international and local consultant hired during the course of the project.

Description of Duties

Project management:

•  Ensure effective implementation of the project through timely provision of inputs, timely and efficient delivery of outputs, and planning, control, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible field office if applicable.
•  Responsible for the effective management of funds/budget assigned to the project.
•  Manage efficiently the human resources of the project / program including recruitment, performance and talent management aspects.

Technical leadership and advice:

•  Provide technical support to relevant government agencies and other key institutions, in undertaking their advisory responsibilities under the project.
•  Coordinate and lead observation missions for the implementation of the project, as well as participating in training seminars and workshops as resource person.
•  Provide technical advise regarding the implementation of commitments under international labour standards, and their relation with other instruments of international law, including implementation of labour provisions in international trade agreements to which the ILO members are parties and have requested assistance on.
•  Advise ILO constituents on the application of labour law and collective agreements, as well as on labour dispute settlement as effective means of attaining the Organization’s decent work and social justice goals. Draw on ILO international labour standards and appropriate comparative practices at the international level in giving this advice.
•  Facilitate tripartite consultations on labour reforms and undertake missions, which may be of a sensitive or controversial nature, including before parliamentary bodies, ministries or labour secretariats.
•  Establish and maintain networks of stakeholders active in the area of international labour standards and human rights at work, including academia, parliamentarians and labour dispute settlement bodies. This in particular for the purposes of identifying eligible observers to participate in ILO trainings and with a view to fostering a sustainable observation mechanism in line with the project objectives.

Advocacy, networking and partnership:

•  Strengthen relationship to cooperate and coordinate with the concerned governments, ministries and the employers’ and workers’ organizations, the target groups and the donor, in the planning and implementation of activities under the project.
•  Liaise with other UN agencies counterparts to promote ILO’s values, increase the project’s visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project’s interventions.
•  Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists.

Knowledge management:

•  Write and disseminate information materials on project / program in close collaboration with other relevant technical specialists.
•  Ensure the development of information systems covering ILO technical activities covered by the project, prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of program planning and implementation, and establish coordination with concerned ILO departments and programs.
•  Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners to reinforce the professional capabilities.
•  Organize meetings and seminars, and develop knowledge sharing tools designed to forge partnerships, share good practices with the main stakeholders of the project.

Education

Advanced degree in law, preferably with specialization in labour law, labour relations and international trade. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields 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

Minimum of seven years’ practical experience including at the international level in labour law and labour relations. Proven experience in cross-disciplinary research and demonstrated capacity to publish research results. Experience in the management of technical cooperation activities of which at least three years at the international level. Knowledge of Mexican labour law and the labour relations system is desirable. Demonstrable knowledge and experience on international trade law, with a particular focus on implementation of labour provisions in trade agreements. Demonstrable knowledge of ILO International Labour Standards on freedom of association and collective bargaining and the ILO Supervisory Bodies.

Languages

Excellent command of Spanish and English.

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;
•  Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports.

Conditions of employment

•  Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination.
•  Any extension of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.

For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including technical tests or interviews.

The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account – @ilo.org – should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.