Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)

Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)

Grade: P5

Vacancy no.: BEY/DC/P/2022/01
Publication date: 29 August 2022
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 29 September 2022

Job ID: 9123
Department: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut
Organization Unit: RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut
Location: Amman
Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract duration: One year, subject to availability of funds

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 present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.

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 one-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.

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 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 [اضغط هنا لمشاهدة البريد اﻹلكتروني].

Introduction

One of the Jordan Response Plan 2020-2022 objectives is to enhance self-reliance and living conditions of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian and to contribute to the enhancement of the resilience of both beneficiaries and Systems.

While envisaged investments and expanded trade in Jordan will create jobs in the long term, it is important to support both Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians in securing decent livelihoods in the short term. To this end, pathways must be provided for both refugees and vulnerable Jordanians in host communities to graduate from different forms of cash-assistance into gainful employment. This requires on the one-hand the implementation of Employment Intensive Investment interventions that link daily work opportunities under decent work conditions with asset creation / maintenance in the communities. On the other hand, this requires support to job creation and employment by providing market-led skills development, job placement services and entrepreneurship development opportunities.

Several ILO projects operating in Jordan are engaged in these efforts, including with support from KfW for employment intensive investment. For a new phase KfW has requested the ILO to move the focus to working with the Ministry of Agriculture and afforestation interventions as well as with the Ministry of Local Administration. KfW has also asked the ILO to integrate a new component for graduation to gainful employment beyond the short-term daily work provided through EIIP. The project therefore has two key objectives:

• Outcome 1: Increased short-term income and improved living environment
• Outcome 2: Perspectives and improved access to the labour market for Syrian Refugees and Jordanians

The position of a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will have the primary responsibility to ensure effective management, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the new KfW funded project. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring coordination with and among other projects of the ILO in Amman, especially those linked to the Syrian response crisis in Jordan and working in close coordination with the ILO Jordan Country Coordinator.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent of this position will report to the Deputy Regional Director/ DWT Director in Beirut through the Jordan Country Coordinator. The incumbent will be backstopped by multiple DWT specialists, reflecting the hybrid nature of the project. The prime technical backstopping will be provided by the Resilience and Crisis Response Specialist. Additional support will come from the Skills, Enterprises and Employment Specialists.

Description of Duties

• Responsible for effective management, coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all project activities in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and administrative and financial procedures.
• Manage efficiently the human resources of the project including recruitment and performance management.
• Responsible for the completion of planned outputs and for progress made towards project outcomes; identify on time and monitor possible risks and challenges that could prevent the project objective to be reached; advocate for and implement alternative strategies to tackle these challenges.
• Manage efficiently the project budget. Ensure the timely availability and optimal utilization of resources and inputs in line with ILO standards and rules and propose possible budget changes, when required. Consult and agree with colleagues on workflows and processes, supervise the timely implementation of these workflows, and identify possible measures to improve their efficiency.
• Provide technical expertise and advice to the project team and when required to the project stakeholders, including relevant government agencies and other key institutions.
• Ensure that technical interventions and decisions are well founded and take into account the specific nature of the project outcomes including short term job creation in agriculture and forestry as well as the long-term job opportunities by enhancing employability through skills and entrepreneurship development.
• Supervise and guarantee the quality of procurement activities including the preparation and evaluation of bids and contracts, in coordination with ILO HQ PROCUREMENT, and oversee project team’s contract administration to ensure effective implementation of works contracts by trained civil works contractors.

Description of Duties (continued)

• Produce monthly project updates including employment numbers for circulation to project partners and formal six-monthly progress reports for submission to the donor, and other technical reports that may be required, and ensure dissemination of information covered by the project.
• Design and implement effective measures for the application of all social and environmental safeguards, including COVID-19 measures.
• Foster contacts and relations with KFW, in addition to concerned government ministries, employers' and workers' organizations, non- governmental organizations, target groups and development partners, and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of project activities.
• Identify training needs and conduct training workshops, seminars and technical meetings for private contractors, tripartite partners, NGOs, other agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities and develop and review manuals and training guidelines on relevant topics.
• Build synergies with relevant ILO projects in Jordan, particularly programmes testing the ‘graduation’ approach using skills development, career guidance and job referrals, to support women and men transition from short term employment and cash assistance to long term, sustainable, decent work.
• Design , prepare and implement complex forest and natural resource operations.
• Ensure the project activities are in conformance of the National Environmental Policies.
• Supervise environmental analyses, assessments, and environmental impact assessments.
• In close collaboration with the Resilience and Crisis Response specialist contribute to the regional platform on EIIP good practices and lessons learned.
• Represent the project at meetings with development partners; participate in internal and external project reviews and meetings, evaluations and monitoring missions.
• Disseminate the project results through different channels including ILO website, social media and others.
• Perform other duties as required.

Required qualifications
Education

Advanced university degree in engineering, employment and livelihoods or similar with relevant experience in the related field.

Experience

At least ten years' experience in the management of technical cooperation activities in a senior level position, of which at least seven years at the international level.

Knowledge and experience on forestry engineering, environmental and climate change issues.

Understanding of environmentally responsive skills and employment.

Understanding of skills and entrepreneurship development and their links to employment.

Languages

Excellent command of English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic will be and added advantage.

Competencies

• Ability to manage large projects comprised of diverse elements
• 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 formulate new concepts and methodologies, and to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research;
• 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;

Competencies (continued)

• Should be open to and able to make changes to accommodate culture and gender differences in order to interact effectively with individuals;
• Proven capacity to initiate and implement technical 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 current o

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