ILO Job Opportunity 2026: Regional Desk Officer

ILO Job Opportunity 2026: Regional Desk Officer – Latin America and Caribbean is a senior P5-level position based at ILO headquarters in Geneva. The role focuses on coordinating workers’ activities across the region, advising senior officials, managing regional priorities, supporting development cooperation projects and strengthening relations with workers’ organizations. The application deadline is 10 September 2026.

Background & Job Description

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is inviting applications for the Regional Desk Officer – Latin America and Caribbean, a P5, fixed-term position within the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV). The position is based in Geneva and carries vacancy number CALL/P/2026/8. It was published on 10 August 2026, with applications closing at midnight Geneva time on 10 September 2026.

The role is focused on coordinating and supporting the ILO’s work with workers’ organizations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The successful candidate will determine regional priorities, organize ACTRAV activities and provide strategic advice on issues affecting workers and their organizations.

The position also involves working closely with specialists in workers’ activities across ILO regional, DWT/CO and other offices, while coordinating with the Programme Officer for Workers’ Activities at the Turin Centre.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Director of ACTRAV.

Tasks

The Regional Desk Officer will have a broad range of strategic, coordination and advisory responsibilities.

Key duties include:

Planning, organizing, coordinating and monitoring ACTRAV’s relations work in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Determining regional priorities and ensuring alignment with ILO and ACTRAV plans and priorities.
Supporting the Director in managing and monitoring work assigned to specialists in workers’ activities.
Advising senior ILO officials on matters affecting workers’ organizations.
Representing the ILO at official events and conferences.
Preparing policy briefs and documents concerning workers’ organizations and labour relations.
Coordinating services for members of the Workers’ Group at the Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional and sectoral meetings.
Reviewing ILO reports and documents and ensuring workers’ concerns from the region are appropriately reflected.
Drafting and approving communications and press releases.
Undertaking missions to Member States to strengthen relations with relevant organizations.

The officer will also contribute to personnel, budgetary and procedural matters related to the efficient operation of the regional desk. Another major responsibility is developing and preparing development cooperation projects for submission to donors, negotiating project objectives and costs, and overseeing implementation and donor reporting.

The role further contributes to ACTRAV’s work on areas including the Programme and Budget, Strategic Plan, Decent Work Country Programmes, Global Jobs Pact, Social Justice Declaration and Sustainable Development Goals.

Qualifications

Education

Applicants should possess an advanced university degree in economics, labour law, public administration, industrial relations, political science or another relevant field.

A first-level university degree in one of these or another relevant field may be accepted in place of an advanced degree if accompanied by an additional two years of relevant professional experience beyond the experience requirement stated for the position.

Experience

Candidates must have at least 10 years of professional experience at the national level dealing with issues related to the relations, actions and programmes of workers’ organizations.

Of those 10 years, at least seven years must have been at the international level in a senior position.

Languages

Applicants must have an excellent command of one ILO working language — English, French or Spanish — and working knowledge of another.

Importantly, one of the languages must be English.

Technical and Behavioural Competencies

The position requires extensive knowledge of the ILO’s work, policies, programmes and procedures, together with a strong understanding of workers’ organizations and labour-related programmes and policies.

Candidates should also demonstrate political insight, sound judgement, diplomacy and the ability to advocate for policy changes in challenging circumstances.

Other important competencies include:

Resource mobilization and donor engagement.
Project development and management.
Strong leadership and management skills.
Ability to advise senior officials.
Negotiation and communication skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to represent the organization at a high level.
Effective oral and written communication.
Ability to plan and organize work according to established priorities.
Good working knowledge of standard computer software.

Candidates must also be able to work effectively in teams and establish strong professional relationships. The ILO emphasizes the ability to work in multicultural environments while demonstrating gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour.

Additional Information

Both internal and external candidates are eligible to apply for the position. The ILO particularly welcomes qualified applicants from non- or under-represented Member States. Recruitment is subject to the availability of funding.

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is offered on a fixed-term contract at P5 level.

Applicants must complete the ILO’s online application form. The recruitment process may include written tests and a competency-based assessment centre, followed by interviews. The ILO indicates that evaluation and interviews are tentatively expected to take place during the three to four months following the application deadline.

The ILO also states that it does not charge applicants any fees at the application, interview, processing or training stages. Applicants should be cautious of fraudulent communications and verify that recruitment-related messages originate from an official @ilo.org email address.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official ILO recruitment system before the 10 September 2026 deadline.

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