Grade: NOA

Vacancy no.: BEY/DC/2025/32
Publication date: 19 December 2025
Application deadline (midnight local time): 13 January 2026

Job ID: 13448
Department: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut
Organization Unit: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut
Location: Damascus
Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: Two years

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 above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date.

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 recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.

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 [email protected].

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 two-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.

*Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is 22983 (USD) yearly.

Introduction

The International Labour Organization (ILO) plays a key role in advancing decent work solutions in contexts of displacement and return across Syria and neighbouring countries. In host countries, its interventions focus on expanding access to decent work and supporting socio-economic development. In Syria, the ILO contributes to creating the conditions for sustainable returns by supporting reintegration and promoting socio-economic recovery.

Guided by Recommendation No. 205 on Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience, the ILO implements a comprehensive forced displacement and return programme that bridges humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts through the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus. This programme promotes inclusive and sustainable reintegration by combining policy reform, institutional strengthening, and interventions that generate employment, enhance social protection, and formalize livelihoods for returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and local communities.

Key initiatives under this programme include:

• The PROSPECTS Partnership, funded by the Government of the Netherlands and jointly implemented with UNHCR, UNICEF, IFC, and the World Bank. In the Arab States the project covers Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. It contributes to the empowerment of refugees in the host countries, returnees and vulnerable local communities through interventions that promote decent work.
• The Joint Durable Solutions Project, funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by UNHCR, IOM, and ILO, covers Lebanon and Syria. It seeks to strengthen resilience and create conditions for safe, voluntary, and dignified returns through integrated support for livelihoods, skills development, and employment-intensive recovery.

Together, these programmes contribute to rebuilding livelihoods, strengthening labour market institutions, enhancing skills systems, and revitalizing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Syria and in the host countries. They are implemented in close coordination to ensure a coherent, cross-border approach to return and reintegration, aligned with the ILO’s Programme of Support for Syria and its broader mandate to promote decent work, social justice, and inclusive recovery. Against this backdrop, the objectives of the National Skills Development Officer position is to support ILO’s expanding interventions under PROSPECTS in the area of skills development and employment.

This will be achieved through supporting ILO’s skills development interventions in Syria, which aim to align training with labour market needs and expand access to decent work for returnees, IDPs and local communities. ILO will conduct demand-driven labour market assessments, deliver skills development interventions, map existing training programmes, and build the capacity of TVET institutions and trainers. These efforts will enhance the quality and relevance of training, promote skills recognition and portability, and strengthen pathways from training to employment in priority sectors critical for Syria’s recovery.

The position of National Skills Development Officer will be based in the ILO office in Damascus, Syria and will be supporting the Skills and Employability components of the program.

Reporting lines:

The Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Technical Project Officer as first Line Manager and will report to the Technical Officer for Skills and Employability as matrix manager. S/he will work under the overall guidance of the Regional PROSPECTS/DS Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) and the Programme Manager for the EU Durable Solutions Programme.

Description of Duties

1. Support the design, implementation, and reporting of skills development interventions by preparing ToRs and work plans, supporting and motoring the execution of implementation agreements with implementing partners, and consolidating progress reports Prepare and regularly update the skills development–related components of the projects work plan, monitoring plan, and technical progress reports in close coordination with monitoring, evaluation and reporting officers.
2. Follow-up with relevant technical officers with counterparts in organizations and line ministries at national level, partner and executing agencies, government offices, constituents and in other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.
3. Monitor the progress of activities, follow up on delayed inputs, clarify technical information, and ensure timely processing to facilitate the successful delivery of planned outputs.
4. Support the design and delivery of quality technical inputs on skills development and employability, including support to the roll out of labour market and training needs assessments.
5. Participate in the preparation and conduct of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, consultative and capacity-building sessions for national TVET institutions, training providers, and social partners, focusing on competency-based training, work-based learning, and skills recognition frameworks.
6. Brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on project skills development matters.
7. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government institutions in planning and implementing activities related to skills development, TVET enhancement, and employment services.
9. Monitor and provide technical support to implementing partners and training institutions to ensure the effective rollout of skills development interventions, including pilot training programmes and initiatives linking training to employment.
10. In collaboration with national and local stakeholders, analyse and document the outcomes of skills interventions and assist to design any upscaling and replication strategies.
11. Liaise with PROSPECTS partners, relevant UN agencies, and line ministries to ensure coherence and complementarity in skills-related interventions and represent the ILO in coordination and donor meetings in Syria when necessary.
12. Support in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on status of the overall activities of the Project related to skills development to inform project reports, presentations, and advocacy materials.
13. Contribute to the design of follow-up project phases and fundraising initiatives, particularly those addressing skills gaps and promoting employment in key recovery sectors.
14. Provide inputs to communication and visibility material produced for activities and collaborate closely with the Visibility and Communication Officer to produce and publish the material.
15. Support the processing of payments related to contractual obligation of the different activities and arrange collection of relevant supporting documents, in close coordination with the administrative and finance officer.
17. Go on field missions and monitoring spot check visit to different locations within the country to verify and monitor implementation of activities.
18. Undertake any other tasks related to the advancement of skills development and employability.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in engineering, economics, finance, business administration, development studies or a relevant field.

Experience

At least one year of professional experience at the national level in the area of TVET sector in Syria. Proven experience in working effectively with government bodies, private sector, UN and other international organizations would be an asset.

Technical requirements:

Good knowledge of the development field, with a strong focus on skills development, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and active labour market programmes. Familiarity with labour market assessment methodologies, competency-based training design, and institutional capacity building for skills systems.

Languages

Excellent command of Arabic (written and spoken) language and very good command of written and spoken English is required.

Competencies

• Good coordination and organizational skills.
• Good knowledge of the context and challenges of the TVET sector in Syria.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution, and good drafting skills.
• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyze problems with implementation.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate collaborative and teamwork experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team as well as work on his/her own initiative.
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline.
• Proficient in Microsoft Words, Power Point, Excel, web-browsers and database applications.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.

optional section (if needed)

Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.

Recruitment process

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

If you are unable to complete our online application form due to technical issues or absence of VPN, Kindly send your CV along with a cover letter to [email protected]. Please make sure to specify your name and the position you are applying for in the subject.

Fraud warning

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