Thursday, August 11, 2011

Junior Economist - International Labour Office (ILO), Geneva, Switzerland

Junior Economist at the International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland - NGO Jobs


Vacancy No: RAPS/2/2011/TRAVAIL/01
Title: Junior Economist
Grade: P.2
Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment
Date: 4 August 2011
Application Deadline: 4 September 2011
Organization unit: TRAVAIL
Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

The following are eligible to apply:

- ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 15 and 16 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.

- External candidates.

Within the context of the ILO's efforts to promote staff mobility, applicants should expect to take up different assignments (field and Headquarters) during their career. The desirable length of the assignment in this specific position is three to five years, following which period the incumbent should be willing to move to another assignment and/or duty station.

The ILO values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities.

Applications from qualified candidates from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future, would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries is in Appendix I.

Conditions of employment are described in Appendix II.

INTRODUCTION
The position is located in the Conditions of Work and Employment Branch (TRAVAIL) of the Labour Protection Department (PROTRAV), which h covers a broad range of working conditions' dimensions including those related to occupational safety and health. TRAVAIL has been active in conducting policy-oriented research and in providing policy advice and technical assistance to encourage ILO constituents to improve conditions at work in the formal and the informal economies. TRAVAIL compiles and disseminates information on a range of working conditions' dimensions, maintains and regularly updates databases on national laws relating to maternity protection and work-family reconciliation measures, working time and minimum wages, publishes regularly a report on global trends in wages and wage policies, and develops and promotes tools to improve people's working life.

The position will be responsible for updating wage statistics and providing background analysis of global and regional wage trends as part of the work relating to the ILO's flagship report, Global Wage Report?, developing indicators and gathering data on maternity protection, working time, work and family reconciliation and other aspects of working conditions. The position will contribute to strengthening the ILO's capacity to deliver sound policy advice in the area of wages and other conditions of work. The position will work under the direct supervision of the Labour Economist (Wages and Income) and report to the Director of TRAVAIL.

Description of Duties
Specific duties

1. Investigate the key trends in wages, especially in the context of global economic crisis, and draft analytical contributions to the Global Wage Report and other related policy briefs and publications.

2. Collect wage data from international, regional and national sources, and maintain the ILO statistical database concerning wages in coordination with STATISTICS. Data collected include, among others, average wages (disaggregated by industry), wage distribution and inequality and wage share.

3. Serve as TRAVAIL's focal point on wage statistics to ILO's concerned units, ILO's constituency and public at large, closely consulting and cooperating with the Department of Statistics (STATISTICS) to ensure consistency on all relevant methodologies.

4. Assist in the development of decent work indicators by collecting and analysing data on wages, working time, maternity protection and other relevant working conditions, including on occupational safety and health, in coordination with STATISTICS.

5. Provide other statistical and analytical assistance to other activities undertaken in TRAVAIL, including activities to foster cohesion and coherence with the ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work (SAFEWORK) which is also part of the Labour Protection Department.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

Generic duties

1. Compile and maintain databases on selected subjects.

2. Analyse data for programme development and research studies.

3. Draft components of regional, country or related sectoral analyses for reports and publications.

4. Assist in technical backstopping, project implementation and monitoring, as junior desk officers.

5. Participate in technical missions for research and fact finding.

6. Assist in organizing workshops and seminars.

Required Qualifications

Education
  • Advanced university degree in economics or other related discipline with training in basic and applied econometrics.
Experience
  • Two years' experience at the international level in conducting comparative empirical analysis on trends in conditions of work.
  • Demonstrated experience in working with large data sets and in drafting papers an advantage.
  • Experience in using econometric and statistical software for applied work (STATA, SAS, SPSS or similar) an advantage.
Languages
  • Excellent command of English and a working knowledge of either French or Spanish. Knowledge of the other language would be a major asset.
Competencies
  • In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:
Technical competencies
  • Ability to carry out assignments in accordance with instructions and guidelines.
  • Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
  • Ability to conceptualize, plan, coordinate and conduct straight- forward research work.
  • Ability to write press releases, discussion papers, reports.
  • Data collection and analytical skills.
  • Computer skills.
  • Good understanding of labour market issues.
  • Ability to analyse wage trends based on a large data set.
  • Ability to draft clearly and concisely.
Behavioural competencies
  • Conscientious and ready to take responsibility;
  • team player and willing to network with colleagues in the ILO, both at headquarters and the field, and with other relevant national and international institutions;
  • spirit of initiative and ability to work with little supervision and under tight deadlines.
  • The ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.
Additional Information:
Interviews for this post will take place in principle between the last week of September and the end of November 2011. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.

To Apply: https://erecruit.ilo.org/public/hrd-cl-vac-view.asp?jobinfo_uid_c=24988&vaclng=en