Programme Officer

Organizational Setting

The ILO Country Office for the Philippines (CO-Manila), together with the ILO’s tripartite partners, supports the realization of the Philippines’ national development frameworks particularly through the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (PLEP, 2023-2028) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the Philippines (UNSCDF, 2024-2028).   

The PLEP serves as the country’s new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), focusing on three priorities: (1) Maximizing productive, remunerative, freely chosen, and sustainable work and employment opportunities; (2) Ensuring labor market governance that respects all fundamental principes and rights at work, international labour standards and human rights; and (3) Building equitable and inclusive social protection.

The UNSCDF pursues three strategic priorities: (1) Human capital development, inclusion, and resilience building; (2) Sustainable economic development, innovation, and decent work; and (3) Climate action, environmental sustainability and disaster resilience.

To help achieve these priorities, the CO-Manila helps strengthen the institutional capacity of workers’ and employers' organizations as well as the overall capacity of the country to ratify and apply international labour standards.

Main Purpose

As a team member of the CO-Manila Programme Unit, the incumbent of the position will provide professional services for the efficient, effective and client-oriented delivery and administration of a range of programming activities. These services cover programming and administrative support in the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of programmes and projects in selected technical areas.

Work is governed by established rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines and includes the use of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The incumbent applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM).

The Programme Officer works under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer. Supervision received is focused on the overall delivery of results impacting the Office. Day-to-day work requires minimum supervision. Detailed instructions and guidance are provided for special assignments or the handling of unusual or complex matters.

While the incumbent is expected to cover relevant areas as maybe necessary, a key thematic area of responsibility is labour market governance with focus on international labour standards, social dialogue, industrial relations, labour law compliance, freedom of association and collective bargaining, workers’ rights and other related areas.

Working Relationships

Internal contacts are with staff and managers in field offices, project locations and headquarters to maintain effective working relationships, exchange information and obtain assistance on programming matters. The incumbent regularly liaises with and receives guidance from the Regional Programming Unit.

External contacts are primarily with counterparts in government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, United Nations (UN) agencies and other international organizations and donors

to exchange information and obtain assistance on programming matters, including resource mobilization.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide professional services for an identified set of programming services, including technical support and advocacy, training and first-line resource on technical information. Provide inputs for developing country operations plans for overall compliance with regional and global strategic priorities as well as with programming instructions. Conduct basic research and analysis and draft components of reports and presentations for situation analyses at the national level.

2. Provide timely, accurate and pertinent information on programme and budget matters for operational decision-making purposes through the strategic use of the results-based management. Use baselines, milestones, and indicators to measure, analyse and report on performance. Monitor and verify accuracy of programming data.

3. Participate in the assessment of country development plans and priorities. Contribute to the design and setting of programme objectives within the framework of the DWCP/LEP and stated priorities and outcomes. Stay abreast of the political and socio-economic situation and propose actions in response to new and emerging operational challenges.

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4. Participate in missions to monitor and report on programme implementation. Identify issues and propose corrective actions.

5. Work in cooperation with external partners and technical specialists in the preparation of draft Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Ensure MoUs are consistent with requirements and timelines for project implementation. Request and follow up on the timely submission of progress reports and raise areas of concern with concerned parties.

6. Seek and support partnerships with constituents and social partners, donors, and UN.

7. Participate in UN processes, particularly in support of the UNSDCF. Participate in other interagency fora and meetings with a view to identifying areas of common interest. 

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8. Keep abreast of changes to applicable standards and best practices. Share knowledge and provide guidance to staff. Oversee and guide the work of staff performing programme-related work. Supervise staff as applicable.

9. Monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of work methods and processes and make recommendations for improvements. Liaise closely with staff and managers to ensure effective and smooth service design and delivery, recommending improvements on interrelated processes.

10. Provide inputs to support the Office’s communication activities.

11. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education

University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in a field relevant to the job.

Experience

Minimum of two years of professional work experience in programme and/or project planning, monitoring, implementation, and evaluation activities.

Languages

Excellent command of an official language (English, French, Spanish) of the Organization.

Working knowledge of another official language of the Organization or an official national language of the duty station.

Knowledge and Competencies (technical/behavioural)

• Good knowledge of programming and results-based management (RBM) principles and concepts.
• Knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation).
• Knowledge of resource mobilization.
• Political awareness and understanding of socio-economic factors.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques for designing and assessing quality and efficiency of process execution.
• Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:

• Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Research and analytical skills. 
• Drafting skills.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities. 
• Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems. 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.