Employment Policy Specialist

Grade: P4

Vacancy no.: RBC/P/AM/2025/15
Publication date: 4 April 2025
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 5 May 2025

Job ID: 12936
Department: RO-Latin America and the Caribbean
Organization Unit: CO-Mexico
Location: Mexico City
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.

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.

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.

The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. However, external candidates applying for the professional category vacancies 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 will be expected to acquire a knowledge of a second working language of the Office during their initial years of service.

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Country Office for Mexico and Cuba (CO-Mexico).

The main role of the position is to provide high-quality technical assistance to ILO constituents and other national institutions in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Cuba in the area of comprehensive employment policy frameworks including youth employment policies, labour market programmes, employment services, the transition to formality and wage policies and in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes.

The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Director of CO-Mexico.

The incumbent receives technical guidance and advice from the Chief of the Employment, Labour Markets and Youth Branch (EMPLAB) of the Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department (EMPLOYMENT) at ILO headquarters. The Inclusive Labour Markets, Wages and Working Conditions Branch (INWORK) within the Conditions of Work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY) of the ILO also provides technical guidance.

The Employment Policy Specialist works in collaboration with the other specialists in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Central American Countries (DWT/CO-San José) and the Global Technical Team on Employment, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and with UN agencies at the country and regional levels.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. As primary specialist in the area of comprehensive employment policy frameworks, including youth employment policies, labour market programmes, employment services, the transition to formality and wage policies, the incumbent is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities on comprehensive employment policy frameworks and labour markets, develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical support at subregional, national and subnational levels to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, taking into account 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. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and ensure the effective management of staff and consultants 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, as applicable.
2. Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks. Provide expert policy and technical advice in the area of comprehensive employment policy frameworks including youth employment policies, labour market programmes, employment services, the transition to formality and wage policies 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.
3. Support ILO constituents in identifying their needs and provide adequate technical support, including through comparative policy analyses. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of employers’ and workers’ organizations in policy design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects.
4. Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Participate in multidisciplinary initiatives, efforts, developments, plans, reviews and actions with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda.
5. Initiate, design, conduct/commission and/or coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research and analysis that meets the evolving needs of constituents and other key stakeholders in the world of work in the area of comprehensive employment and labour market policies and leads to the formulation of recommendations and technical guidelines on policy, and the development of new and enhancement of existing methodologies and concepts related to the creation of decent work.
6. Develop and lead/coordinate the development of policies, initiatives, strategies and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools on aspects relevant to comprehensive employment policy frameworks responding to constituents’ needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the subregional and country levels and provide advice and technical support to constituents 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.
7. Provide technical inputs to oversee the drafting of/draft, peer review and edit reports, publications and other office documents, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings.
8. Support the strengthening of ILO constituents' capacity to design and implement policies and measures, monitor and improve the impact of policies and measures and refine and improve policies and measures as required in the area of employment and the transition to formality. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead and/or coordinate workshops, meetings and other events, using innovative methods, digital platforms and communication tools. Develop and run/implement global and/or 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.
9. Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the context of comprehensive employment policy frameworks and related areas and develop new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships with traditional and non-traditional partners, entities of the UN system, other international organizations, regional and national actors, private institutions, multilateral development banks, 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, 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 on job creation, formalization, job markets and wages.
10. Organize, facilitate and make technical contributions at seminars, conferences and other events. Represent and engage the ILO as a key player in meetings, conferences and forums at the international, regional, subregional, national and subnational levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of comprehensive employment policy frameworks.
11. Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account regional, subregional, national and subnational priorities on comprehensive employment policy frameworks and the need to position these within relevant cooperation frameworks. Provide technical backstopping for development cooperation projects and promote and facilitate coherence and knowledge-sharing among projects.
12. Play a key role in resource mobilization efforts to secure funding for new projects and activities in the field of comprehensive employment policy frameworks. Ensure effective coordination with concerned headquarters departments and field offices.
13. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, development, public administration or other relevant field.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the aforementioned 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 seven years of experience in policies and programmes relating to employment promotion and active labour market policies, including at the international level.

Languages

Excellent command of Spanish and working knowledge of English.

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following are required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the areas of employment promotion, youth employment, public employment services and the transition to formality, with the ability to plan, coordinate and guide the development and implementation of new concepts, policies, techniques and procedures in response to evolving technical needs.

Good knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities and ability to address broader issues outside the field of specialization.

Ability to lead and manage individual and group assignments and to supervise those undertaking the work.

Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance on latest policy developments in the technical area.

Excellent research and analytical skills.

Excellent drafting skills.

Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.

Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.

Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders.

Ability to represent the Organization 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 mobilize resources.

Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive 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.