National Project Coordinator - NOB

Introduction

The ILO is currently implementing employment-intensive infrastructure recovery works in the city of Aleppo in response to the devastating impacts of the earthquakes in February 2023. The employment-intensive approach has the dual objective of creating decent job opportunities including training opportunities to the vulnerable communities that lost their livelihood means as well as of restoring basic community infrastructures to enhance their access to basic services.

Beyond the earthquake response, the ILO intends to replicate its employment-intensive approach in Syria and launch a new project in November 2023 in underserved rural Aleppo, namely in Al Khafsa and Maskanah, with the aim to addressing the incapacitating impact of winter conditions on underserved communities in rural Aleppo and enhance their resilience. This will be achieved through the survey, clearance, and rehabilitation of critical road arteries, to allow access to basic services and livelihood opportunities.

The project will be implemented through the provision of income generating opportunities for communities to enable them to secure their basic livelihood needs, enhance their resilience through skills and employability development through both theoretical and on-the-job apprenticeship programmes. The rehabilitation of the critical roads will further allow for humanitarian access to the communities and commercial activities along the agricultural value chains. At the core of the employment-intensive infrastructure works is the promotion of the Decent Work Agenda.

The incumbent will be responsible for the community sensitization, design of the programme and budget, implementation and monitoring of activities, as well as the evaluation of the interventions.

Reporting Lines

The National Project Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of EIIP Technical Officer based in Aleppo, with technical backstopping from ILO Resilience and Crisis Response Specialist. Overall supervision will be provided by the ILO Syria Country Coordinator. The position will be based in Aleppo, Syria.

Description of Duties

1. Coordinate the project for timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation through management functions, including provision of technical and administrative supervision to the project team in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and according to the project document and work plan.

2. Monitor progress of the project and activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.

3. Review existing guidelines, standards, procedures, criteria, specifications and formats related to the various engineering aspects of the planning and implementation of the project (including environmental aspects) and provide leading support in their adaptation, modification and/or development, as required.

4. Provide guidance in the preparation of TORs and timely inputs and professional support in the recruitment of consultants and implementing partners, with technical guidance during procurement process and contract award to ensure the employment creation remains an objective.

5. Conduct rapid labour market assessment and skills profiling of the project beneficiaries in consultation with the social partners as well as with TVET institutions with the aim to providing market-responsive work-based learning (WBL) opportunities.

6. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers' and workers' organizations in the planning and implementation of activities under the project and obtain timely approvals for proposed activities.

7. Coordinate with and provide substantial technical support to the partners, governmental, UN agencies, and NGOs for the development of guidelines and specifications on labour-based / employment-intensive methodologies for different categories of works, including through the development of training materials and organization of training programmes to improve understanding on employment-intensive approaches and provision of technical support for implementing training needs assessments.

8. Coordinate with humanitarian actors in the field of cash-for-work initiatives and support the development of standard operation procedures (SOP) on employment-intensive infrastructure works including appropriate social and environmental safeguards.

9. Contribute to the preparation of all project documents including bids, contracts and programme technical and financial reports.

10. Oversee and provide guidance on the technical contracted works and inspect completed works.

11. Document all the high-quality visual materials such as photos, videos, and audios, and develop promotional materials that target the general public, the beneficiaries as well as potential donors in collaboration with the Communication Officer in ROAS and ILO Syria Country Coordinator.

12. Perform any other duties necessary as assigned by the ILO Syria Country Coordinator.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in Civil Engineering.

Experience

Minimum of three years of professional work experience in the relevant field.

Experience in managing and implementing infrastructure projects and programme as well as labour-based infrastructure works is a strong advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic.

Competencies

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:

• Strong understanding of the local context.
• Strong understanding of the ILO Decent Work Agenda
• Strong civil engineering skills to develop and monitor the progress against bills of quantities (BOQs)
• Familiarity with labour-based and local resource-based approaches to infrastructure improvement.
• Strong management skills and ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.
• Ability to plan and prioritize own workload.
• Ability to provide technical advice and training, and to guide and coordinate the work with public institutions, UN agencies, implementing partners.
• Ability to conceptualise and design research techniques and analyse complex cross-national practices and data sets covering a wide range of issues in the specialized technical field.
• Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation.
• Ability to provide technical support to senior specialists, carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
• Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.