Senior Regional Specialist on Labour Economics

Grade: P5

Vacancy no.: RAPS/6/2023/AM/01

Publication date: 24th November 2023

Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 4th January 2024

Job ID: 11439

Department: RO-Latin America and the Caribbean

Organization Unit: DWT/CO-Santiago

Location: Santiago

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

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.

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for the South Cone of Latin America (DWT/CO-Santiago), in Santiago, Chile, and serves as the Specialist on Labour economics for the Region of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Regional Office (RO) has overall political and management responsibilities for the promotion of ILO principles, policies and decent work priorities in the region as well as for providing strategic guidance and support to all ILO Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) and Country Offices (COs) in the region. DWT/CO-Santiago covers Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay and also provides technical advice and support to the ILO Country Offices in Argentina and Brazil. DWT/CO-Santiago provides high-quality, timely and integrated technical support to Country Offices under its geographical competence in the design, implementation and monitoring of Decent Work Country Programmes and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks.

The main role of the position is to provide high-level technical advisory services in the field of employment and labour market policies, including inputs to macroeconomic and productive development frameworks and their relation to employment policies, labour market analysis, national sustainable development plans and other policy and operational strategies for the entire ROLAC region. The Specialist will coordinate programmes and activities required for the development of integrated and coherent policies and the promotion of decent work in line with the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, the ILO Global Call to Action for a Human-Centered Recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant regional frameworks. The Specialist will provide technical support to ILO constituents for leveraging the expertise and knowledge, and developing effective policies aimed at promoting enabling environments for sustainable enterprises generating full, productive and freely chosen employment and decent work opportunities for all.

The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director and receives technical guidance from the Director of the Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department at ILO headquarters. The Specialist will be a member of the ILO's Global Technical Employment Team.

The Senior Specialist works in collaboration with the other specialists in the DWT/CO teams and takes a coordinating role with employment specialists where appropriate. The Senior Specialist collaborates with relevant technical departments at ILO headquarters, UN entities and UN agencies at the country and regional levels, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and other relevant partners.

1. Plan manage and coordinate a broad programme of work in the technical area of Labour Economics across the ROLAC region. Lead work 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 these areas. Lead, manage and coordinate high-level advocacy and technical and policy advisory services at the regional and subregional levels 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 areas of importance 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 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.

4. Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks. Provide authoritative policy and technical advice in the area of Labour Economics 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 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.

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 with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda.

7. Lead innovative gender-mainstreamed regional, subregional and country specific research projects on decent work issues, in particular related to Labour Economics, that provide clear and operational policy recommendations, including at sectoral level and ensure an integrated approach/perspective, with a view to influencing policy agendas of countries and recommendations of other international agencies and multilateral organizations.

8. Develop and lead/coordinate the development of regional, subregional and country-level Labour Economics policies, initiatives, strategies and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to constituents' needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the global, regional and country levels. 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.

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.

10. Support the strengthening of ILO constituents' capacity to design, implement and improve (as required) policies and measures, as well as monitor their impact in the area of Labour Economics, taking into account the need for policy coherence and an integrated approach to decent work. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead/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.

11. 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 partners/entities of the UN system and other international organizations, regional and national actors, private institutions, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, research institutions / academia, civil society and other key stakeholders in the area of Labour Economics with a view to advancing ILO's strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence, promoting awareness of ILO's values and strategic objectives, resource mobilization and influencing policy and financing decisions in support of decent work objectives in the area of Labour Economics.

12. Convene and represent the ILO at major international/regional 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, play a key role in promoting and advocating the Decent Work Agenda.

13. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Advanced level university degree (Master's or equivalent) in economics, social sciences 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.

At least ten years of experience in labour economics, labour market analysis and employment policy, including at the international level. A proven publication record based on research related to enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, labour economics, employment policies or economic development.

Relevant experience related to Latin America and the Caribbean would be an advantage.

Excellent command English and Spanish.

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

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches in the area(s) of development economics, employment and labour market-related issues, as well as solid knowledge of labour economic issues in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean 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 position it as a leader in Labour Economics. 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.

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

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 – – should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.

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