Project Manager – P4

Introduction

The position is located in the METI project, which is part of the of the Investment, Sectoral Strategies and Transitions IST Team of the Employment Investment (EMPINVEST) branch of the Employment Department. EMPINVEST mainstreams employment and decent work into investments, trade and sectoral strategies from policies to the operational programmatic level. A major work area of the IST team is the promotion of employment considerations into trade, investment, industrial and general sector policies. The project “Mainstreaming Employment into Trade and Investment in the Southern Neighbourhood METI, Phase II” of the EU, following the previous METI project, phase I (2020-2024) is a four-year regional project implemented by the International Labour Office (ILO) and financed by the European Union (EU), DG NEAR. METI II builds on the foundational analysis and studies carried out under METI I but focusses on the implementation of the derived recommendations. Its action-oriented approach can be therefore placed under the slogan “from export potential to employment reality”. The overall objective of METI II will be to design and implement trade and investment policies and measures that optimise the quantity and quality of employment created, in particular for women and youth, and MSMEs.

The Project Manager works in collaboration with other specialist in the DWT/CO team in Cairo and the DWT/CO team in Beirut, with counterparts in other UN agencies and other international partners at the country and regional level.
Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO, the Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme implementation and provide technical advisory services towards the development and execution of the project and of future activities to be developed. He/she 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. He/she is also the main responsible for all M&E requirements and for the financial supervision of the project. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

Reporting lines: supervision to be received by the incumbent (level and type) and to be given by the incumbent.

• The Project Manager will liaise and work under direct supervision of the Country Director of the CO-Cairo and under technical supervision of the Lead of the IST team and under the overall guidance of the Chief of the EMPINVEST branch and will receive technical guidance, support and collaboration with other relevant technical specialists at HQ and in the DWT teams in the MENA region, in particular from the DWT/CO Cairo.
• The Project Manager also oversees the work of associated administrative and other support staff related to the project, national officers and any other international or local consultant hired during the course of the project.
• The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management of the METI project and for achieving the program outputs. The Project Manager will report to the Lead of the IST team, ILO and work in close cooperation with the international and national staff of the project. He/she will have regular exchange with the donor DG Near. The Project Manager will work closely with his/her national counterparts.

Description of Duties

Project management:

1. Ensure effective implementation of the Project through the timely provision of inputs, the timely delivery of outputs and activities, and the planning, effective backstopping, monitoring and evaluation of activities, and reporting of the project activities. Deliveries and outcomes must be in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and the administrative and financial procedures in consultation with the responsible Field Office, if applicable.

2. Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the project.

3. Coordinate and supervise the work of the project staff in implementing the work plan. Identify the skills and expertise that will need to be imported and arrange for the appointment of staff if needed.

4. The Project Manager participates in the HR management of the staff under the project. He/she supports the country offices in the recruitment process under the guidance of the Lead of the IST team, he/she supervises project staff and takes care of their professional development in cooperation with country offices.

5. Manage the Project Annual Progress Reports, Evaluability Assessment (EA), Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) and final evaluation, supported by a M&E specialist of the CO Cairo and in close cooperation with project staff.

Technical leadership and advice:

6. Provide technical advice and secretariat support to relevant governments, ministries and other key partners (in particular social partners), in close collaboration with the responsible country offices.

Advocacy, networking and partnership:

7. Strengthen relationships to cooperate and coordinate with governments, ministries, employers’ and workers’ organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, in the planning and implementation of project /programme activities.

8. Cooperate closely with the implementing partners and the donor, in the planning and implementation of activities under the Program.

9. Liaise with other UN counterparts, bilateral donors and the CSO to promote ILO’s values, increase the project’s visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO’s interventions.

10. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project/programme, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards, in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.

Mobilization of resources:

11. Undertake local resource mobilization activities with the multi-lateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project/programme in coordination with the responsible Country Office and PARDEV.

Knowledge management:

12. Write and disseminate information on project/programme materials in close collaboration with other relevant technical specialists at HQ.

13. Ensure the development of information databases covering project/programme activities; prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the implementation status and coordinate with concerned ILO departments and programs. Ensure that monitoring and evaluation exercises are conducted as scheduled and prepare reports for submission to the donor.

14. Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities.

15. Ensure that gender issues are mainstreamed in all implementing activities, including workshops, commissioning of research, giving presentations and in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

16. Undertake other duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, international economics, development economics, social or political sciences.

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 seven years of relevant professional experience, including at the international level, working on issues in the field of international economics and the labour market.
• Familiarity with the MENA region would be an asset, in particular with regard to their labour markets and trade context.
• Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with officials of ministries of labour, trade or investment and donors would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of one working language of English, and good working knowledge of  Arabic language.

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.
• Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings.
• Ability to promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement development co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services.
• Ability to plan and support the development of individual’s skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures;
• Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation challenges and opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.