Skills and Lifelong Learning Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the Inter-American Centre for Knowledge in Vocational Training (ILO/CINTERFOR). ILO/CINTERFOR is a technical service of the ILO, with the mission to develop a continuous learning community and horizontal cooperation among national organizations responsible for vocational training. ILO/CINTERFOR coordinates a network of education and vocational training institutions that belong to the Member States in the Americas and beyond. Aligned with the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019), ILO/CINTERFOR is dedicated to strengthening the capacities of individuals, institutions, and enterprises to seize opportunities in a changing world of work through capacity development, lifelong learning, quality education, and skills development for all.
The main role of the position is [to work in cooperation and provide technical assistance to the countries and member institutions of ILO/CINTERFOR in supporting the development of skills and lifelong learning policies, programmes, research and cooperation learning contributing to socioeconomic development and social justice, productivity increase, economic formalization, and combating poverty and inequality, from a rights and gender equity perspective.
The incumbent works under direct supervision of the Director of CINTERFOR and collaborates with the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Specialist receives guidance and technical advice from the Chief of the Skills and Employability Branch within the Employment Policy Department at ILO headquarters. The Specialist works in a team, with joint planning and communication and collaboration with other specialists in ILO/CINTERFOR and the Decent Work Teams in the region. The Specialist maintains coordination relationships with CINTERFOR members, labour ministries in the region, social partners, and vocational training institutions, social actors, and labor ministries in the region. Exchange relationships are also established and nurtured with organizations working on issues related to the ILO/CINTERFOR mandate, including research centers such as Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and universities, other United Nations agencies, development banks, non-profit organizations and labour rights advocates, and ministries in the region.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1.    As primary specialist in the area(s) of skills and lifelong learning, is responsible for substantial segments of the work programme. Identify priorities for skills development, develop strategies, as well as deliver and coordinate high-quality technical support at regional/subregional/national levels to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, taking into account 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. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and ensure the effective management of staff and consultants in accordance with ILO standards, the results-based management framework and through timely and effective use of the Performance Management Framework (PMF) and other feedback mechanisms, as applicable.
2.    Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks. Provide expert policy and technical advice in the area of skills and lifelong learning 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.
3.    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. 
4.    Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Participate in multidisciplinary initiatives and activities with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda.
5.    Initiate, design, conduct/commission and/or coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research and analysis that meets the evolving needs of constituents and other key stakeholders in the lifelong learning area and leads to the formulation of policy recommendations and technical guidelines and the development of new and enhancement of existing methodologies and concepts related to/in the area of lifelong learning.
6.    Develop and lead/coordinate the development of 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 and country levels and 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.
7.    Provide technical inputs to, oversee the drafting of/draft, peer review and edit reports, publications and other office documents, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional, sectoral and expert meetings.

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8.    Support the strengthening of ILO constituents' capacity to develop and implement policies and measures,  monitor the impact of policies and measures,  refine and improve policies and measures as required  in the area of skills and lifelong learning. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead and/or 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.
9.    Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships in the area of lifelong learning and related areas and develop new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships with other international and non-governmental organizations on lifelong learning and adult education, including development partners, UN agencies, regional bodies, multilateral development banks and international financial institutions, civil associations, research and other key stakeholders with a view to advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring polling of resources towards coordinated knowledge production and dissemination, policy coherence and cooperation, joint programme design and implementation, promoting awareness of ILO’s values and strategic objectives, resource mobilization, increased impact over policy, research and delivery of services in lifelong learning with increased impacts towards the achievement of decent work and social justice targets.
10.    Organize, facilitate and make technical contributions at seminars, conferences and other events. Represent and engage the ILO as a key player in meetings, conferences and forums at the international / regional / subregional / national / subnational levels concerned with strategies, policies or programmes in the field of vocational training and skills development. 
11.    Conceptualize, formulate, discuss and submit development cooperation project proposals, taking into account regional / subregional / national priorities on skills and lifelong learning and the need to position these within relevant cooperation frameworks. Provide technical backstopping for development cooperation projects and promote and facilitate coherence and knowledge sharing among projects. 
12.    Play a key role in resource mobilization efforts to secure funding for new projects and activities in the field of vocational training and skills development. Ensure effective coordination with concerned headquarters departments and field offices.
13.    Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

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Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Labour Economics, Economics of Education, Sociology of Education, Human Resources Development/Management, Vocational Education and Training, Educational 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.

Experience

At least seven years of experience in the field of skills development and lifelong learning, including technical and  vocational education and vocational training in the context of economic and social development, including at the international level.

Languages

Excellent command of Spanish and a working knowledge of English. Portuguese would be an advantage.

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

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area(s) of skills and lifelong learning, technical and vocational education and training, apprenticeships, labor economics, and the role of education and training in development and social justice with the ability to plan, coordinate and guide the development and implementation of new concepts policies, techniques and procedures in response to evolving technical needs.

Good knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities and ability to address broader issues outside the field of specialization.

Ability to lead and manage individual and group assignments and to supervise those undertaking the work.

Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance on latest policy developments in the technical area.

Excellent research and analytical skills.

Excellent drafting skills.

Excellent communication skills, excellent presentation skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills. Ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.

Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.

Ability to network and build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and to create and promote synergies across the Organization and with external stakeholders.

Ability to represent the Organization and present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO's position on it to partners with a view to gaining their support to advance the desired course of action.

Ability to mobilize resources.

Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.