🇨🇭 Programme Manager Job in Switzerland 🦺 Leading the Vision Zero Fund at the ILO 🌍

The position is located in the Occupational Safety and Health and Working Environment Branch within the Labour Governance and Sectoral Policies Department. The Vision Zero Fund is part of the ILO global Programme Safety and Health for All, which aims to improve the health and safety of workers worldwide and is implemented within the Programme's Results Based Management Framework, contributing to the implementation of the ILO's Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health and its Plan of Action 2024 to 2030.

🦺 About the Vision Zero Fund

The Vision Zero Fund is an initiative launched by the G7 and endorsed by the G20, with the aim of preventing work-related deaths, injuries and diseases in supply chains. The Fund supports nationally appropriate action across regions, particularly in low-income and least developed producing countries, by governments, business, social partners and NGOs. Its main objective is to increase collective public and private efforts aimed at fostering and enhancing concrete prevention activities in supply chains.

Striving to achieve the vision of zero work-related injuries and diseases, the Fund's approach is to focus exclusively on the prevention of workplace accidents and protection from work-related injuries and diseases in sectors operating in supply chains, and the building of needed public sector programmes in countries linked to such supply chains. Supported actions bring together the public and private approaches necessary to achieve zero work-related injuries and disease. This leads to changes and improvements in working conditions and in sector and company level practices, for example sourcing practices, infrastructure and equipment procurement and maintenance, development of occupational safety and health management systems, training of workers on safety and health procedures, implementation of OSH standards and assessment requirements, creation of company-based bilateral safety and health committees and provision of occupational health services, as well as public capacity, for example capacity building for OSH regulatory frameworks and labour inspection institutions, skills development for workers and managers, and know-how for the establishment of national work-related injury insurance schemes.

In the framework of Safety and Health for All, the Programme Manager is responsible for the overall leadership and management of all aspects of the Vision Zero Fund, and supports the promotion of ILO standards and policies in relevant technical areas, namely OSH, in full alignment with ILO policies and approaches and applicable internal rules and procedures.

🤝 Reporting Lines

The Programme Manager works under the supervision of the Chief of the Occupational Safety and Health and Working Environment Branch at ILO headquarters, and in close collaboration and consultation with the Branch Partnerships, Programme and Operations Team Lead, receiving technical guidance and support from relevant technical specialists at headquarters and in the regions.

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🌍 Main Responsibilities

The Programme Manager is responsible for the overall management of the Fund, including its operational, financial, administrative and human resource management, meaning staff recruitment and performance management, resource mobilization, country and global operations, alignment with ILO standards and policies, and public statements on behalf of the Fund.

📋 Ensure effective coordination and planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities, in conformity with the framework of Safety and Health for All and ILO policies, programming rules and guidelines and administrative and financial procedures

🧭 Provide policy advice, in coordination and collaboration with ILO headquarters and field specialists, in the technical areas covered by the Fund, ensuring technical quality and coherence with other ILO activities on OSH

💶 Manage efficiently the funds and budget assigned to the programme and the human resources of the Fund, including recruitment, performance and talent management aspects

🏛️ Lead secretarial support to the Fund's governance structure, namely the Steering Committee and Advisory Committee, including preparation of meetings and regular reports, and the development of technically accurate concept notes and project documents for submission to the Steering Committee

🎯 Ensure the Fund effectively contributes to achieving the objectives of the Safety and Health for All Programme Strategy, the overarching Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health 2024 to 2030, and the ILO strategy on decent work in supply chains

🔍 Assess the technical quality and degree of implementation of programme activities and resources, identify problems and resource or financial deficiencies, propose corrective action to management, explore and report on inter-agency cooperation possibilities, and develop and review programme information materials including knowledge products

🤝 Foster contacts and relations with governments, employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of programme activities

📣 Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the programme in collaboration with technical specialists

💰 Promote relationships with the multilateral and bilateral donor community and oversee and monitor resource mobilization proposals in coordination with the Partnerships department

📊 Prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of programme planning and implementation and establish coordination with concerned ILO departments and programmes, notably within the Governance department

🎤 Represent the Fund at relevant meetings, seminars and evaluations, and build and enhance strategic partnerships with government policymakers, workers' and employers' organizations and civil society organizations

✅ Required Qualifications

🎓 Education: advanced university degree in a relevant field such as international development, law, occupational safety and health, public administration, social sciences, medicine, engineering, economics or other relevant fields. A first-level university degree, meaning bachelor's or equivalent, in one of the aforementioned fields with an additional two years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree

💼 Experience: at least ten years' experience in the management of development cooperation activities, including at the international level, including experience in a leadership role for the implementation of projects. Proven management experience, preferably with the ILO or a UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of the project cycle, meaning design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Proven experience in partnership building and networking and in effective fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations. Familiarity with ILO policies and procedures including experience working with the donor community, officials of ministries of labour and social partners, and experience on OSH will be a distinct advantage

🗣️ Languages: excellent command of one working language of the Organization, meaning English, French or Spanish, and working knowledge of one or more additional working languages would be considered an advantage

🌟 Competencies

🧭 Management and leadership skills

📊 Strategic planning, decision-making, policy formulation and problem-solving skills

📋 Proven ability to apply operational, administrative and financial procedures, practices and rules in organizations of similar size and complexity

👥 Demonstrated skills and ability in advising and leading work teams and motivating and engaging staff

🤝 Strong integrity, interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy

🎤 Facility with public debate around complex, evidence-based policy issues

🌍 Ability to deal effectively with constituents and donor agencies, to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes

🏛️ Ability to mobilize support of governments, social partners and other relevant key partners such as international and local companies, NGOs and international or national agencies, manage stakeholder relations and build consensus

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📋 The Details

📍 Location: Geneva, Switzerland

📌 Grade: P5

🆔 Vacancy number: DC/OSHE/P/2026/01, Job ID 13709

🏢 Department: Governance, Organization Unit OSHE

📄 Contract type: fixed term

⏳ Contract duration: one year

📅 Publication date: 13 July 2026

⚠️ Conditions of Employment

📌 Any appointment or extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules

🩺 Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered, and the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination

🔄 Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment, and extensions are subject to availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance

🛡️ The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse and may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration

🌈 The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates, and also encourages applicants with disabilities

📩 How to Apply

All candidates must complete an online application form through the ILO recruitment system, which provides instructions for the online application procedure. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test or an interview, and the ILO may use communication technologies such as video or teleconference and email for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process.