Grade: P4
Vacancy no.: CALL/P/2025/01 Programme Manager, P4, CO-Hanoi, Hanoi
Publication date: 9 May 2025
Application deadline (midnight Hanoi time): 25 May 2025
Job ID: 12981
Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific
Organization Unit: CO-Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: 12 months (from 01 July 2025) with the possibility of extension
Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.
In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.
Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.
The following are eligible to apply:
The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.
In accordance with the DWCP 2022-2026 and the UNSDCF 2022-2026, the ILO in Viet Nam is supporting the Viet Nam constituents to implement a multifaceted social protection programme portfolio with the overall aim of improving the social protection system and extending the coverage and benefits to the people in Viet Nam.
Irish Aid- ILO Partnership Programme
As part of the Irish Aid-ILO Partnership Programme (2022-2025), the global project “Accelerating the Achievement of Universal Social Protection to Leave No One Behind” aims to promote and strengthen social protection in selected countries and foster South-South cooperation and exchange of knowledge. The project contributes to the implementation of the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All (SPF’s) 2016-30. Viet Nam is one of the countries supported by the ILO/Irish Aid project.
DFAT -ILO Project
The project financed by the Government of Australia under its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), entitled “Towards a Multi-Tiered Social Protection System in Viet Nam that Leaves No One Behind (2023-26)”, contributes to the improvement of social protection coverage and adequacy in Viet Nam, through the creation of a true multi-tiered social protection system, designed along a life-cycle approach, which leaves no on behind.
The project aims to address key issues faced by the Vietnamese social protection system today, including its low coverage rates, the low adequacy of many of its benefits, and the greater challenges in accessing social protection faced by specific vulnerable groups of the population, such as women, persons with disabilities and persons of ethnic minorities.
UN Global Accelerator
As per Vietnam commitment to strive to become a pathfinder country of the UN Global Accelerator (GA) on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, the ILO co-implements a UN joint project to support national dialogue, diagnostics capacity building and activities to support the commitment in terms of GA, including the development of the national roadmap and its implementation, and a M-GA project (collaboration between the UN and the World Bank) on decent jobs and social protection to support the green and demographic transitions.
Recovery and resilience building in the aftermath of the Typhoon Yagi
The ILO with resources from the UN-Viet Nam Pooled fund and the Japan Social Safety Net (SNN) fund is supporting the recovery and resilience building in the Northern part of Viet Nam. The resilience building part includes activities related to the role of social protection.
The Programme Manager will be responsible for managing the implementation of the first two projects, while also contributing to the implementation of the activities under the GA, M-GA and the Yagi response and ensure the coordination and consistency of the ILO portfolio on Social Protection (including activities implemented under additional funding sources). He/she will ensure that the programmes contribute to coherent ILO country intervention on social protection, including its contribution to the national plans for the achievement of the SDG, under the overall framework of Viet Nam Decent Work Country Programme (2022-2026) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) (2022-26). The portfolio includes the coordination of technical assistance and training activities and the provision of high-level technical advice to the Vietnamese counterparts.
With ILO as lead of the subgroup dedicated to social protection under the UNSCDF Result Group 1, the Programme Manager will also be in charge of technically coordinating the programme implementation with the Government and other participating UN Agencies. The technical coordination will be done in close collaboration with the Resident Coordinator’s Office which is in charge of the overall programme coordination.
The Programme Manager will report to the Director of the ILO Country Office for Viet Nam (CO-Hanoi) with technical backstopping provided by the Social Protection Specialists of the Decent Work Technical Support Team in Bangkok (DWT/CO-Bangkok). Technical inputs and support will also be provided by the Universal Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) and Global Accelerator Technical Coordination Team in ILO Headquarters in Geneva. In coordination with ILO Country Office, the Programme Manager will work in close collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator, the Resident Coordinator’s Office and the other implementing agencies of UNSDCF and UN Global Accelerator, and the ILO experts in charge of other components of the Irish Aid Project, including the Global and the Southern Africa components.
The Programme Manager will be responsible for the management of ILO components under the abovementioned projects, including the design, supervision and monitoring of all activities required for the achievement of the objectives and their related outputs, in accordance with the respective Programme/Project implementation plans.
The incumbent will undertake the following tasks:
1. Ensure effective coordination, implementation of the Programme/Projects activities, in accordance with the standards, policies, programme strategies, programming guidelines, administrative and financial rules and procedures of the ILO and country/action programmes and the Joint SDG Operation Guidance.
2. Prepare and provide contributions to reports and publications concerning development cooperation delivery, monitoring and evaluation, including provide inputs to the Annual Report of ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All, webpages of projects and digital country pages.
3. Manage efficiently the ILO human resources of the projects, including recruitment where applicable, training, technical supervision and monitoring, and performance evaluation. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project.
4. Prepare periodic and ad-hoc progress notes on the status of the planning and implementation of the programmes and establish coordination with concerned UN partner agencies; the UN RCO, the technical specialists in DWT/CO Bangkok and ILO HQ departments as well as external partners in Viet Nam.
5. Be responsible for the effective planning, management, monitoring and timely delivery of funds/budget assigned to ILO in the Irish-Aid, DFAT and the social protection part of the Global Accelerator and other projects with a social protection component.
6. Provide technical expertise and advice to the Programme team and when required to the stakeholders of the projects including the National Assembly’s Committee of Cultural and Social Affairs, the Government (Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs), the social partners, other relevant government agencies and key institutions.
7. Conduct research, produce and publish technical reports, policy notes, and lead the development of communication products to raise the visibility of the Programmes.
8. Lead the development and deliver seminars, workshops, technical meetings and training courses for the programme.
9. Promote the ILO’s policy approach on social security, including on the nine social security branches, and related technical areas of the programmes in line with the relevant International Labour Standards.
10. Initiate and plan projects. Analyse needs and appraise the suitability of proposed programmes and projects in meeting these needs. Support resource mobilization on social protection by engaging with Embassies and local donors in coordination with the Country Office. Contribute to ILO response (and lead on social protection) to calls for proposals of the Joint SDG Fund (for the Global Accelerator and M-GA) as well as other pooled funds. Support discussions with other development partners including development banks (World Bank and others).
11.Identify and coordinate technical and strategic partnerships and develop new/reinforce existing partnerships and collaborative relationships for the delivery of support to constituents for strengthening the national social protection system.
12. Serve as chair of the UNSDCF Results Group 1 Subgroup on Social Protection, in coordination with the Resident Coordinator, the ILO Country Office and other UN Agencies. Contribute to UN Global Accelerator’s coordination team (ILO level) and Global Accelerator Steering Group.
13. Carry out other duties as may be assigned.
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, law or other relevant fields, with demonstrated expertise on social protection issues.
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.
At least seven years’ experience, including at the international level in providing technical advisory services in the area of social protection. Demonstrated expertise on social protection issues is required. Experience in outreach to the informal economy would be an asset.
Excellent command of English is required including ability to draft quickly and clearly.
• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/program’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for program development.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
• Excellent managerial skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies and to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research.
• Ability to develop training strategies and design training materials.
• Ability to formulate project proposals, policy documents and procedural matters.
• Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to provide high quality services.
• Ability to plan and support the development of individual’s skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.
• The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non- discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Demonstrated technical expertise to devise new methods, concepts, approaches and techniques, the ability to provide social protection policy advice.
• Demonstrated experience of working with other International Organisations.
Conditions of employment
For more information on conditions of employment, please visit the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.
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.
Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.
Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including technical tests or interviews.
The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.
Fraud warning
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