Grade: P5

Vacancy no.: RAPS/2/2023/AS/01 Publication date: 22 May 2023 Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 22 June 2023

Job ID: 10864 Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific Organization Unit: DWT-Bangkok Location: Bangkok Contract type: Fixed Term

The following are eligible to apply:

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

Staff members with at least five years of continuous service with the Office are encouraged to apply.

Applications from candidates who have already separated from ILO service upon retirement or early retirement, will not be considered.

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.

The ILO welcomes applicants with experience in working within ILO constituents (governments, employers’ and business membership organizations, and workers’ organizations).

Applicants from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries can be found here: ILO Jobs: Non- and under-represented Member States

In addition to the interviews and tests that any candidate may be required to take, successful completion of the ILO Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates and any internal candidate applying to a higher category.

Notwithstanding the general considerations set out in the ILO Staff Regulations, this vacancy announcement is the only authoritative document pertaining to the qualifications required for this position. The minimum required qualifications were determined in view of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.

The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. However, candidates applying for the professional category vacancies who have not already successfully completed their probationary period within the ILO and whose mother tongue is not one of the working languages of the Office (English, French and Spanish), shall be required to possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the ILO working languages. If appointed they may be required to acquire a knowledge of a second working language of the Office during their initial years of service.

Please note that in the context of the new ILO organigram, the naming of the departments may be subject to change.

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR (DWT/CO-Bangkok). DWT/CO-Bangkok provides support to the work of ILO Country Offices in assisting governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations in East and South-East Asia and the Pacific in their efforts to promote Decent Work and Social Justice. This support includes technical and policy advice, information and analyses covering a wide range of specific subjects within the core areas of the ILO’s mandate.

The Senior Social Protection Specialist will be responsible for providing policy advice and technical assistance specifically to ILO’s constituents, in a portfolio of selected countries covered by DWT/CO-Bangkok, on social protection to influence national policies aiming at ensuring that more people have access to better managed, more adequate and gender equitable social security benefits. The specialist will be in charge of coordinating the ILO’s regional work in the area of social protection and will be part of the Global Technical Team on social protection and contribute to the implementation of the Programme and Budget outcome on social protection. S/he will actively promote and support the development and implementation of integrated policies to achieve universal social protection, including in the framework of the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All (ILO Flagship Programme) and the UN Secretary-General’s Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (Global Accelerator) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). S/he will collaborate with other technical specialists from the DWT/CO-Bangkok in the promotion of integrated approaches to formalization. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of and report to the Director of DWT-Bangkok. S/he will receive technical guidance and advice from the Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) at ILO headquarters. S/he will work in close cooperation with other technical specialists in the DWT-Bangkok Team and with Country Offices across the areas of geographical responsibility of DWT-Bangkok. The specialist will also work closely with DWT-Delhi specialist(s) on social protection for the development and implementation of a regional strategy on social protection.

Specific Duties

1.Assume primary responsibility for policy formulation and provide technical and policy advisory services to ILO constituents, national social security institutions, planning commissions, regional institutions and other stakeholders, with a particular emphasis on rights-based gender responsive public social protection schemes and programmes, including contributory social insurance and non-contributory benefits. This includes: promoting social protection systems that are rights-based, gender-responsive and inclusive and that provide protection throughout the life cycle; investments in social protection; and the building of sustainably and equitably financed social protection systems. This encompasses the design and implementation of social protection policies and strategies that are consistent with ILO’s work at country level, guided by the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) and other relevant ILO standards. 2.Lead, plan, provide expert advice and contribute to the development and implementation of national tailor-made and sub-regional policies, programmes, strategies and initiatives on social protection including on the extension of social protection systems and social protection floors. This entails collaboration with other social protection specialists , SOCPRO, ILO country offices and other relevant DWT/CO specialists, taking into consideration rights-based approaches as well as the priorities of the tripartite constituents in national dialogue. The country level policies take into account the national socio-economic context, advice with regard to the governance and administration of social protection schemes and programmes and advice in the area of the financial governance of social security systems. 3.Promote ILO’s social protection related standards among key stakeholders, including relevant governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and other target groups, and promote the integration of social protection policies and issues into national development frameworks, employment policies, Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs), National Development Plans and related initiatives. Support countries intending to ratify ILO social security conventions. 4.Assume the role of focal point, in coordination with the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), for social protection related work at the regional level, including participation in the UN Issue Based Coalition on Inclusive Economic Growth, and collaboration with the Asian Development Bank. Assume the role of regional Outcome Coordinator for social protection related to the ILO’s Programme and Budget policy outcomes. 5.Initiate, lead and coordinate for the region the development and implementation of joint partnerships and programmes with other UN agencies, development partners, research institutions, development banks and international NGOs, including members of the Social Protection Inter-Agency Coordination Board (SPIAC-B), particularly in relation to the promotion and implementation of national social protection floors. 6.Provide expert advice and advocate and promote ILO’s social security standards among key stakeholders, including concerned Governments, employers and workers’ organisations; and other target groups. Support countries wishing to ratify ILO social security conventions. 7.Initiate, design, supervise and conduct relevant analytical and policy-oriented research on sub-regional and national social security programmes and policies that will serve as the basis for the formulation of relevant national social security strategies. Contribute to the development of the ILO’s knowledge base on social protection in the region. Develop a roster of social security experts/consultants.

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8.Identify pivotal policy issues in the region and contribute to the Social Protection Department’s policy developments and the formulation of national social security priorities within the conceptual framework of Decent Work Country Programmes. Contribute to the development of the Social Protection Department’s policy and country briefs, the World Social Protection Report, and its regional companion report for Asia, as well as other flagship publications. Identify, review and document relevant information pertaining to initiatives extending social security, achievements and impact of the various social security systems within the sub-regions (East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific). 9.Provide technical support and high level advice to directors of country offices and DWT specialists on the integration of social security priorities into their respective work programmes; to respond to the defined needs of constituents as expressed in the DWCPs; on the development of the ILO’s knowledge base on social protection in the region, and advocacy and promotion of national social protection floors within progressively comprehensive social protection systems. 10.Design country-level, bilateral or multilateral development cooperation projects. Liaise with donors and potential partners with a view to securing development resources and expanding the Office’s capacity to undertake various activities in the field of social security in the region. Guide and monitor the work of chief technical advisers and senior project staff in line with established ILO guidelines, and mobilise additional resources as needed. 11.Support the monitoring of social protection related SDGs by building capacities of national and sub-regional stakeholders on SDG monitoring and facilitating the collection of social protection data for the ILO’s Social Security Inquiry and ILO’s World Social Protection Database. Provide inputs to Office reports on sub-regional and national trends and issues in social protection. 12.Support countries in the design and implementation of activities under the United Nations Secretary-General Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and collaborate with other technical specialists to the design and implementation of integrated policies and strategies to promote formalization. 13.Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties: Generic Duties

1. Lead, organize, plan, supervise and control the work of a technical unit (including managerial functions). 2. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics, information or policy guidelines in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognized technical specialization. 3. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes. 4. Assume full responsibility for policy formulation and providing policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of technical cooperation activities. 5. Develop project design, review proposals, formulate, revise and submit project proposals and negotiate funding. 6. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities. 7. Lead technical advisory missions. 8. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings. 9. Prepare recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO recommendations on related technical fields. 10. Write manuals and training guides on related topics. 11. Disseminate information on action programmes through publications and press releases as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns. 12. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators. 13. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, conference reports, Director General’s report to International Labour Conference).

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, actuarial studies 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 required 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 social protection. Demonstrated experience in high-level policy development, research, and providing high-level advisory and capacity-building services. Experience in designing, supporting the implementation and assessing social protection programmes. Experience in the design and management of international development programmes or projects is an advantage, as is relevant experience in at in the sub-regions covered by the DWT/CO-Bangkok. Experience in working with ILO constituents would be an asset.

Languages

Excellent command of English is required. A working knowledge of another working language (French, Spanish) of the Organization would be an advantage.

Competencies

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

In addition to the ILO core competencies required at the P4 level, the Job specific competencies include:

•  demonstrated and recognized technical and /or managerial leadership;
•  demonstrated knowledge of all branches of social security, both contributory and non-contributory programmes;
•  ability to synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects;
•  ability to provide seasoned advice on good practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization;
•  demonstrated technical expertise to formulate new concepts and methodologies;
•  ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for programme development in Member States;
•  ability to produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and ILC, technical publications, training manuals and draft resolutions)
•  ability to manage large projects to coordinate activities among projects, evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects.
•  ability to communicate with a variety of audiences (both specialized and non-specialized).
•  develop and nurture positive relations with the ILO constituents and ability to negotiate.; and
•  ability to take initiatives and to prioritize work and meet strict deadlines.

Behavioural competencies

Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes.

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.
•  The first contract will be issued for a twenty-four month period.
•  A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment.
•  Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance.

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

Important Information

Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at hrpartner@ilo.org

Recruitment process

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

Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place during the 3 to 4 months following the application deadline. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.

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 assessment centres, 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.\