Introduction

The project on “Strengthening Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and trade readiness in Thailand” aims to strengthen the promotion and enforcement of labour laws compliance with international labour standards, with focus on the fundamental principles and rights at work, especially as they are applied in trade sectors. Funded by the Government of Canada’s Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), this 36-months project will run from 2025 to 2028.

The overall goal of the proposed project is to promote Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) and their application in law and practice in Thailand, including through current and future Free Trade Agreement (FTAs). The two objectives are: 1) to strengthen mechanisms to promote FPRW and its application (including promoting ratification of the fundamental Conventions on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining – Convention No. 87 and Convention No. 98, and the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155)), and 2) To support the advancement and sustainable implementation of the National Plan of Action on the Elimination of Child Labour (NPA) at national and provincial levels, with a focus on the trade sector, by assisting ILO constituents in reviewing and revising the NPA, providing technical input, and supporting the National Child Labour Survey.

The Project will provide technical assistance aligned with ILO conventions on Freedom of Association (FOA), Collective Bargaining (CB), Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and child labour, support institutional capacity-building on addressing FOA, CB, OSH and child labour, and facilitate social dialogue and sharing of learnings or good practices among ILO’s tripartite and bipartite social partners to promote fair labour practices and labour rights and core labour standards including collective bargaining, discrimination, and occupational safety and health, especially on trade sectors.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Project on “Strengthening Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and trade readiness in Thailand”, the National Project Coordinator will ensure the delivery and implementation of the project’s expected outputs and objectives.

Reporting lines

The National Project Coordinator will be based in Bangkok, Thailand. The National Project Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR (DWT/CO-Bangkok) and will closely coordinate with and receive guidance from the Senior Programme Officer for Thailand and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The incumbent will coordinate activities under the technical guidance and advice from the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch (FUNDAMENTALS) in ILO Headquarters and the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and Southeast Asia (DWT-Bangkok).

The National Project Coordinator will facilitate close coordination with the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Bangkok to promote complementation of the project activities and avoid duplication with the regional project on Trade, Labour, and FPRW in Southeast Asia.

Main duties and responsibilities

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will lead and manage the project and ensure its timely implementation, including provision of technical and administrative supervision to the project team in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and in according to the final project document. Key responsibilities include strategic planning, management of project resources, coordination with tripartite partners (government, employers’, and workers’ organizations both at the national and local levels) and other stakeholders, liaising with EDSC and other development partners, monitoring project progress against objectives, and ensuring high-level communications to increase project’s visibility. The NPC will also provide high quality technical inputs and advice on key outputs and activities of the project in close coordination with the relevant ILO specialists of DWT – Bangkok and, when appropriate, external consultants. The NPC will ensure that the project contributes to and leverages ongoing ILO country interventions under the framework of the Thailand Decent Work Country Programme and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Specific duties will include the following:

1. Ensure effective management including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project’s activities in accordance with the policies, programme strategies, programme guidelines, administrative and financial procedures of the ILO and country/action programmes.
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 data.
3. Set up the Project Advisory Committee at the national and possibly local sub-committees/ working groups and spearhead the preparation for meetings, the selection of interventions, project partners and implementing agencies.
4. Participate in the organization and facilitation of conferences, workshops, seminars, training sessions, consultative meetings and webinars and other relevant activities, in close collaboration with the CO – Bangkok, ILO Technical Specialists of DWT Bangkok and main project partners and beneficiaries.
5. Prepare briefs, periodical reports and statistical data and contribute to the production of training, advocacy and communication materials in English and Thai (local) languages.
6. Prepare periodic and ad-hoc progress reports on the status of the Project’s implementation and coordinate with concerned tripartite and other partners in the country, relevant UN agencies to ensure strong sustainability of the outputs.
7. Identify and implement synergies and efficiencies with the Thailand Decent Work Country Programme and related in-country projects and programmes, to enhance the impact and sustainability of the Project.
8. Support the mobilization of additional resources for implementation of the project’s activities.
9. Assist in the programming and monitoring of available resources, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by comparing and analyzing the resource situation with planned activities.
10. Prepare terms of references for external collaborators, identify consultants for conducting certain project activities, prepare cost estimation and provide support for preparing contracts and provide guidance and assess their work.
11. Monitor the implementation and ensure the completion of contracts; identify difficulties and propose solutions based on reports and undertake field missions in relation to project implementation.
12. Undertake regular and ad-hoc visits to monitor project activities and ensure quality delivery and compliance with ILO guidance.
13. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in economics, management, social science or related fields with demonstrated expertise or equivalent experience. Training in results-based planning, design, data collection, monitoring and evaluation methodologies and project cycle management is an advantage.

Experience

At least three years of relevant professional experience at the national level preferably in project management and topics related to international labour standards, economic, social and environmental transitions, sustainable enterprises, and work experience collaborating with the Governments, Workers’ and Employers’ organization, civil society, UN Agencies and other stakeholders will be advantage. Proven ability to promote gender equality through project work.

Languages

Excellent command of English and an official national language of the duty station.

Competencies

• Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Capacity to negotiate share gains with external partners.
• Capacity to engage in high-level policy dialogue with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures.
• Ability to draft reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation and monitoring and evaluation and ability to provide technical support to Project Manager carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and relevant software packages.
• High standards of integrity, professionalism, personal discipline, and impartiality.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team.
• Ability to work under political and time pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.