Senior Specialist in Workers' Activities - Beirut

Grade: P5

Vacancy no.: CALL/P/2026/7
Publication date: 10 August 2026
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 10 September 2026

Job ID: 13732
Department: ACTRAV
Organization Unit: ACTRAV
Location: Beirut
Contract type: Fixed Term

The ILO is issuing a call for expression of interest for the above position. The selection process is not subject to the rules and procedures defined in Annex I of the ILO Staff Regulations.

The following are eligible to apply:

• 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. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

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 can be found here: ILO Jobs: Non- and under-represented Member States

Recruitment for this vacancy is subject to the availability of funding.

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for the Arab States (DWT-Beirut). DWT-Beirut covers the following countries and territories: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. DWT-Beirut provides technical support in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) and other ILO country support activities within the framework of outcome-based work plans. [OD1.1]This technical support covers a wide range of specific subjects within the four core areas of the ILO’s mandate; rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue. The Bureau for Workers Activities (ACTRAV) specialists are part of global teams with a presence at both ILO headquarters and in the regions. Worker specialists are integral members of Regional Offices, Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) and Country Offices, and the International Training Centre in Turin (ITC-ILO).

The Senior Workers’ Activities Specialist is responsible for planning, providing, developing and coordinating technical advisory services in the field of workers' activities in the region as specified by the Director of ACTRAV at ILO headquarters, and assisting workers’ organizations in their efforts to provide their members with improved/new services, thus extending their representation and their capacity to become strong, relevant, independent and representative organizations, able to fulfil their roles and responsibilities in the promotion of workers’ interests, in line with the principles of ILO standards.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the incumbent supports workers’ organizations in strengthening their institutional capacity, representativeness, democratic governance, coordination and cooperation, and ability to effectively engage in social dialogue, collective bargaining and labour market governance processes. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening independent and representative workers’ organizations and, where appropriate, supporting cooperation and unity of action among workers’ organizations, particularly in contexts marked by fragmentation, plurality or competing trade union structures. The incumbent will also support their engagement on emerging labour and socio-economic challenges in the Arab States region, including informality, labour migration, economic transformation, just transition and other issues affecting workers and their organizations.

The incumbent has double reporting responsibilities, reporting to the Director of ACTRAV at ILO headquarters for policy, technical and operational aspects and to the Deputy Regional Director of DWT-Beirut for administrative matters.

The Senior Specialist works in close coordination with ACTRAV’s Regional Desk Officer at ILO headquarters and in collaboration with the other specialists in the DWT/CO team, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and with UN agencies at the country and regional levels.

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Lead the work of the Bureau of Workers Activities (ACTRAV) as per the country and regional coverage as specified by the Director of ACTRAV and ensure the effective management of all financial, human, and other resources 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 at the field level. Plan, manage and coordinate a broad programme of work within ILO and multilateral programmes in the area of workers’ activities in designated countries. Lead work streams/teams involved in this work and manage staff and consultants as applicable.

2. Lead the design, development, implementation, monitoring and promotion of related programmes, strategies, approaches, and policies with a view to enhancing and positioning the Organization’s technical leadership in the area of workers’ activities, in designated countries. Lead, manage and coordinate high-level advocacy and technical and policy advisory services on workers’ activities to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social justice, fostering 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.

3. Provide thought leadership in the area of workers’ activities to ILO constituents and other concerned stakeholders, including through the continuous strategic positioning of the Organization and its mandate within the United Nations system. Act as a catalyst in formulating policies on critical issues related to the promotion of workers’ activities relating to decent work across ILO’s strategic objectives and build bridges and synergies between strategic policy areas. Coordinate cross-organizational teams/initiatives to ensure integration and policy coherence to advance broad programme development on workers’ activities.

4. Review and facilitate the strengthening and effective implementation of inclusive institutional, legal and policy frameworks in relation to workers’ activities. Provide authoritative policy and technical advice in the area of workers’ activities 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.

5. Support ILO workers’ constituency in identifying their needs and provide adequate technical support, including through comparative policy analyses. Provide technical advice and support to workers’ organizations on trade union development, organizing strategies, collective bargaining, institutional strengthening, democratic governance, representativeness, coordination and cooperation, and service delivery to members. Facilitate the effective participation and advocacy role of workers’ organizations in policy design, implementation and evaluation of decent work programmes and projects at the regional/sub-regional and national Level.

6. Provide technical inputs to the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) as well as UN and other development cooperation frameworks. Build and stimulate multidisciplinary initiatives and efforts with a view to ensuring an integrated approach for the delivery of the Decent Work Agenda. Ensure that workers’ organizations are effectively consulted and engaged in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of DWCPs, development cooperation initiatives and other relevant policy processes.

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7. Provide stewardship, design, and conduct/coordinate innovative and gender-mainstreamed research, including on frontier/emerging issues, that meets the evolving needs of workers’ organizations and other key stakeholders and positions the ILO at the forefront of research in workers’ activities. Research may include issues relating to labour market transformations, industrial relations, collective bargaining, trade union renewal, workers in the informal economy, migrant workers and other emerging issues affecting workers and their organizations.

8. Develop and lead the development of workers’ activities related policies, initiatives, strategies and a range of original and evidence-based technical and policy knowledge products and tools responding to workers’ organizations’ needs and priorities and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. Promote and facilitate their dissemination at the regional and country levels. Provide advice and technical support to workers organizations 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.

9. Lead the development, review and quality control of major reports, publications, documents, and other office documents, including for the Governing Body, International Labour Conference, and regional, sectoral, and expert meetings in relation to workers’ organizations.

10. Support the strengthening of workers’ organizations’ capacity to design and implement policies and measures, monitor the impact of policies and measures and improve policies and measures as required in the area of workers’ activities taking into account the need for policy coherence and an integrated approach to decent work. Support workers’ organizations in strengthening their institutional capacity, democratic governance, organizing and recruitment strategies, collective bargaining capacity, policy engagement, coordination and cooperation, and service delivery to members. Oversee the design of tools and learning materials, pilot new guidelines, lead workshops, meetings, and other events, using innovative methods, digital platforms, and communication tools. Develop and implement 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.

11. Formulate and develop conceptual approaches for development cooperation activities, taking into account the regional, subregional and national priorities on workers’ activities and the need to position these within relevant development cooperation frameworks. Design and develop programmes and projects and coordinate their implementation, in accordance with established monitoring and reporting standards, including financial resources, and coordinate activities among projects. Manage stakeholder engagement, mobilize resources and negotiate funding, terms and conditions.

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12. Identify opportunities for technical and strategic partnerships and broker collaborative relationships to benefit the broad areas of the Decent Work Agenda with traditional and non-traditional entities of the UN system and other international organizations, regional and national actors, multilateral development banks and international financial institutions, research institutions, academia, civil society and workers organizations, ensuring that such partnerships promote the effective participation of workers’ representatives and respect the principles of tripartism and social dialogue., with a view to advancing ILO’s strategic objectives and ensuring policy coherence and joint programme design and implementation, promoting awareness of ILO’s values and strategic objectives, resource mobilization, influencing policy and financing decisions in support of decent work objectives, workers activities.

13. Maintain close and continuous engagement with workers’ organizations across the region through regular consultations, field missions, participation in trade union events and direct support to workers’ organizations, ensuring that ILO interventions remain responsive to their priorities, challenges and emerging needs.

14. Convene and represent the ILO at major regional and national meetings and events, including with strategic players, national and international development partners, international financial institutions and multilateral and regional institutions of the UN system and other key stakeholders/organizations. As the ILO’s technical representative on worker activities, play a key role in promoting and advocating the Decent Work Agenda.

15. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, labour law, public administration, industrial relations, political science, social 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 ten years of experience, including at the international level, working with workers’ organizations and trade unions, including experience in areas such as social dialogue, collective bargaining, trade union development, organizing, workers’ education, labour policy and institutional capacity development.

Languages

Excellent command of English and Arabic. A working knowledge of French or Spanish would be an advantage.

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

Excellent knowledge of industrial relations systems, collective bargaining, trade union organization and development, workers’ education methodologies and social dialogue institutions and processes.

Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with workers’ organizations and to build trust-based relationships with trade union leadership at national, subregional and regional levels.

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches in the area(s) of economic and social policies, industrial relations, workers’ rights and trade union organizations and development with the ability to lead and oversee their application in response to evolving needs and priorities. Detailed and comprehensive expertise in workers’ activities, enabling the incumbent to serve as a reference expert across the Organization.

Excellent knowledge of the full range of policy areas and advanced understanding of the ILO’s mandate. Ability to maintain a comprehensive wealth of knowledge of related external issues.

Technical leadership skills.

Managerial skills for the effective management of human and financial resources. Ability to provide clear direction and to develop, inspire and encourage high-performing, pioneering and motivated individuals and teams, specialized in the technical area of work.

Excellent research and analytical skills.

Excellent communication skills, negotiation, promotion and advocacy skills.

Excellent drafting skills.

Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.

Ability to build and negotiate strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of key stakeholders and to create innovative opportunities for promoting synergies and ensure organizational results and success over the immediate, mid-term and long-term horizon.

Ability to represent the Organization with authority and credibility 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 articulate the Organization’s mandate/strategic objectives/programmes when formulating and delivering information and presentations and adapt presentation methodology to address the needs of different audiences.

Ability to mobilize resources.

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

Recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place during the 3 to 4 months following the application deadline. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.