Project Manager P4

Introduction

The position is located in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean based in Lima, Peru. The Regional Office has overall political and management responsibilities for the promotion of ILO principles, policies and decent work priorities in the region and provides strategic guidance and support to all country offices and Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) in the region.

The Responsible Business Conduct in Latin America (RBCLAC) Project is a regional initiative jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), with funding from the European Union. ILO is the administrative and convening agent of this multipartner action.

It promotes responsible business conduct (RBC) across nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean—Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Peru—based on international standards, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on RBC.

The project is currently in its second phase:

Phase I (2019–2022), funded by the EU’s Foreign Partnership Instrument (FPI), established the Project’s institutional structure and capacity-building framework. Over four years, it convened more than 3,000 technical meetings and training sessions, produced over 180 knowledge products, and provided technical assistance for the development of RBC regulatory frameworks in participating countries.

The Transitional and Bridge Phase (2023–June 2024), funded by the EU’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), sustained regional engagement, consolidated achievements, and prepared the groundwork for the next phase of the Project.

The current Phase II of the RBCLAC project (July 2024–June 2028), financed by DG INTPA, aims to build on previous progress made through three core components: (1) strengthening the capacities of businesses, workers’ organizations, and supply chain actors to implement due diligence, especially in high-impact sectors such as agriculture and mining; (2) supporting governments in developing policy and regulatory frameworks aligned with international standards; and (3) promoting the meaningful participation of workers, civil society, communities, and rights holders in RBC processes.

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Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the RBCLAC Project, the Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project implementation and provide technical advisory services towards the development and execution of related or future programs in the technical area of responsible business conduct.  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. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

Reporting lines: The Project Manager will liaise and work under direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and will receive technical guidance by the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct unit (MULTI/RBC) in ILO HQ. In addition, the incumbent also will work closely together with the directors in the ILO offices in the nine targets countries under the action and the DWT specialists in the region.

The Project Manager will oversee the work of administrative and other support staff of the Project, national officers and any other international or local consultant hired during the course of the project implementation.

Description of Duties

Project management:

1. Ensure effective implementation of the Project in the nine target countries through: the provision of inputs, the delivery of outputs, and the planning, monitoring and evaluation of 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. The incumbent will also take a particular lead in the timely implementation of project activities in Ecuador and Peru.

2. Responsible for the effective management of funds/budgets allocated to the project, assigned to the nine countries in the project.

3. Manage the human resources of the project team in the nine countries efficiently, including recruitment, performance and talent management. Plan, organize, supervise and monitor the work of staff working under the project.

4. Prepare reports for the Joint Steering Committee meetings

5. Manage joint programme structure comprised of EU, ILO, OECD and OHCHR and participate in meetings as the role of lead agency that ILO now holds for RBCLAC phase II.

6. Prepare the required implementation reports for the EU, ensuring coordination with the OHCHR and OECD on their inputs for such reports as per the EU-ILO implementation agreement.

Technical leadership and advice:

7. Provide policy and technical advice to relevant ministries and other government agencies, workers’ organizations, employers organizations and other stakeholders  on issues related to responsible business conduct (RBC) and business and decent work in the framework of the implementation of this project and in coordination with technical specialists in the countries concerned,  in close collaboration with the technical backstopping unit (MULTI/RBC).

8. Review, analyse and interpret economic, social and political trends in the nine countries under the programme. Identify trends or developments for which further research and programme development work is required to adequately respond to growing and changing needs in the area of RBC.

9. Ensure technical coherence among various ILO activities and projects in the area of RBC in the nine countries under the project and share expertise on RBC with ILO specialists and other ILO projects in the region; promote linkages between RBCLAC project and other projects in particular with the ´´Ver Crecer´´ project in Guatemala and other EU funded programs.

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Advocacy, networking and partnership:

10. 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 activities on RBC in the nine target countries of the project.

11. Liaise with the EU delegations in the nine countries under the project, the OECD, OHCHR  and other UN counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the ILO's interventions.

12. Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project, 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:

13. Undertake local resource mobilization activities with the multi-lateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project in coordination with the responsible Country Office, the technical backstopping unit (MULTI/RBC) and PARTNERSHIPS.

Knowledge management:

14. Write and disseminate information produced under the framework of the project through publications, news items for the website and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation in international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.

15. Ensure the development of information databases covering project activities; prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the implementation status and coordinate with concerned ILO departments and programs.

16. 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.

17. Undertake other duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master‘s or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, business administration, law or a 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 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 implementing or providing technical backstopping of activities and development cooperation projects on RBC or related fields in the region is required. This includes field experience in a leadership role for the implementation of projects in the technical field of RBC.

Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle, i.e. design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations.

A strong knowledge of responsible business conduct (RBC) issues in the region, is required.

A sound experience in managing multipartner projects, involving various international organizations as implementing partners is required.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of Spanish and English.

Competencies

• Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with directors and specialists in ILO offices as well as with officials of ministries of labour and social partners,
• Familiarity with other UN agencies and skills to manage relations with the partners of the project, outside ILO
• 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 and procedural matters, and to present them at high-level meetings.
• Ability to promote a 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 cooperation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments and social partners, and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services.
• Ability to plan and support the development of individuals’ 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.