The ILO Job Opportunity 2026 for Regional Desk Officer – Latin America and Caribbean is a P5-level position in Geneva for experienced labour, workers’ organizations, and international development professionals. Applications close on 10 September 2026.
The ILO Job Opportunity 2026: Regional Desk Officer – Latin America and Caribbean provides an opportunity for an experienced professional to join the International Labour Organization (ILO) at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The position is a P5 fixed-term appointment within the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV). It focuses on coordinating the ILO’s relations and activities with workers’ organizations across Latin America and the Caribbean, advising senior officials, supporting regional priorities and contributing to development cooperation initiatives.
According to the vacancy information provided, applications must be submitted by 10 September 2026 at midnight Geneva time.
ILO Job Opportunity 2026 at a Glance
| Job Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | International Labour Organization (ILO) |
| Position | Regional Desk Officer – Latin America and Caribbean |
| Department | Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) |
| Grade | P5 |
| Vacancy Number | CALL/P/2026/8 |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Contract | Fixed-term |
| Published | 10 August 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 10 September 2026 |
| Minimum Professional Experience | 10 years |
| International Experience | At least 7 years in a senior position |
| Languages | English plus working knowledge of another ILO working language |
About the ILO Regional Desk Officer Position
The Regional Desk Officer will support the ILO’s work with workers’ organizations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
The position involves strategic planning, regional coordination, policy advice and representation. The successful candidate will help determine regional priorities and ensure that ACTRAV activities are aligned with broader ILO plans and priorities.
Working under the supervision of the Director of ACTRAV, the officer will collaborate with specialists in workers’ activities, ILO regional offices, Decent Work Teams and Country Offices, as well as the Programme Officer for Workers’ Activities at the Turin Centre.
This makes the vacancy particularly relevant to senior professionals with substantial experience in labour relations, workers’ organizations, international development and policy.
Key Responsibilities
Regional Planning and Coordination
The Regional Desk Officer will be responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring ACTRAV relations and activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Key responsibilities include:
- Determining regional priorities.
- Aligning regional activities with ILO and ACTRAV plans.
- Coordinating activities involving workers’ organizations.
- Supporting the Director in managing work assigned to specialists.
- Monitoring regional activities and priorities.
- Strengthening relationships with relevant organizations.
The position requires someone who can understand complex regional issues and translate them into practical priorities and programmes.
Policy Advice and Representation
Another important component of the role involves providing advice to senior ILO officials.
The successful candidate may be expected to:
- Advise senior officials on issues affecting workers’ organizations.
- Prepare policy briefs and related documents.
- Represent the ILO at conferences and official events.
- Review ILO reports and documents.
- Ensure regional workers’ concerns are appropriately reflected.
- Draft and approve communications and press releases.
Strong political awareness, diplomacy and communication skills are therefore essential.
Supporting Workers’ Group Activities
The officer will coordinate services for members of the Workers’ Group at the ILO Governing Body, International Labour Conference and regional and sectoral meetings.
The role therefore requires an understanding of workers’ organizations and labour-related policies, together with the ability to operate effectively in an international institutional environment.
Development Cooperation and Donor Engagement
Development cooperation is another significant area of responsibility.
The successful candidate will contribute to developing and preparing projects for submission to donors. This includes helping establish project objectives and costs, negotiating project arrangements and overseeing implementation and donor reporting.
Experience in resource mobilization, project development, donor engagement and project management will therefore be valuable.
Missions and Regional Engagement
The Regional Desk Officer will undertake missions to ILO Member States when necessary to strengthen relations with relevant workers’ organizations and other stakeholders.
The position therefore requires strong interpersonal and representation skills and the ability to work effectively across different cultural and institutional environments.
ILO Regional Desk Officer Qualifications
Education
Applicants should have an advanced university degree in a relevant discipline such as:
- Economics
- Labour law
- Public administration
- Industrial relations
- Political science
Another relevant field may also be considered.
A first-level university degree may be accepted instead of an advanced degree if accompanied by two additional years of relevant professional experience beyond the stated experience requirement.
Professional Experience
The position requires a substantial level of professional 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.
This requirement makes the vacancy a senior international career opportunity rather than an entry-level or early-career position.
Applicants should therefore ensure that their CV clearly demonstrates the progression of their professional experience and distinguishes national-level work from international senior-level experience.
Language Requirements
Candidates must have an excellent command of one ILO working language: English, French or Spanish, together with a working knowledge of another.
Importantly, English must be one of the languages.
Strong written and oral communication skills are particularly important because the position involves policy documents, advice to senior officials, negotiations, representation and international coordination.
Technical and Professional Competencies
The ILO is seeking candidates with extensive knowledge of its work, policies, programmes and procedures.
Applicants should also demonstrate a strong understanding of:
- Workers’ organizations
- Labour relations
- Labour policies
- International development
- Programme management
- Development cooperation
- Resource mobilization
- Donor relations
Political insight and sound judgement are also important. The successful candidate must be capable of advocating for policy changes and navigating challenging institutional and political environments.
Leadership and Interpersonal Skills
The position requires strong leadership and management capabilities.
Other important competencies include:
- Strategic thinking
- Negotiation
- Communication
- Policy advocacy
- Analytical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Project management
- Senior-level advisory skills
- Representation
- Planning and organization
- Teamwork
- Relationship management
The ability to work effectively in multicultural environments is also important, with the ILO emphasizing gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour.
Who Should Apply?
The opportunity may be particularly relevant to experienced professionals working in areas such as:
- Labour relations
- Workers’ organizations
- Trade union relations
- International development
- Public policy
- Industrial relations
- Labour law
- Development cooperation
- Donor-funded programmes
- International organizations
- Workers’ rights
- Social justice
Because of the P5 classification and extensive experience requirements, candidates should assess whether their career history demonstrates the required senior-level international exposure before applying.
Recruitment Process
According to the vacancy information provided, applicants will complete the ILO’s online application process.
The recruitment process may include:
- Initial application and screening.
- Written assessment or test.
- Competency-based assessment centre.
- Interviews.
- Final selection.
The provided information indicates that evaluation and interviews are tentatively expected to take place during the three to four months following the application deadline.
Applicants should ensure that their application accurately reflects their professional experience and provides evidence of the competencies required for the position.
Important Application Information
Both internal and external candidates are eligible to apply. The ILO particularly welcomes qualified applicants from non- or under-represented Member States. Recruitment is also subject to the availability of funding.
Strong SEO Keywords
ILO jobs 2026, ILO Job Opportunity 2026, ILO Regional Desk Officer 2026, ILO Regional Desk Officer Latin America and Caribbean, ILO P5 jobs, ILO Geneva jobs, ILO careers 2026, International Labour Organization jobs, United Nations jobs 2026, UN jobs Geneva, Geneva jobs 2026, ACTRAV jobs, Bureau for Workers’ Activities jobs, labour relations jobs, workers organizations jobs, trade union jobs, international labour jobs, international development jobs, senior international jobs, labour policy jobs, industrial relations jobs, development cooperation jobs, ILO P5 vacancy, ILO jobs in Switzerland, international organization careers, UN careers 2026
ALSO CHECK
ICRC Entry-Level Jobs 2026: Early-Career Opportunities in Humanitarian and International Careers
WWF Assistant Job 2026: Salary, Requirements, Responsibilities and How to Apply
Czech Government Scholarships 2027/2028: Fully Funded Study Opportunities in Czechia for International Students
Follow Us On Our Social Media Platforms
WhatsApp Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUYDUNb8GCx4V2QqkBoiuq?mode=ems_copy_t
WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb60pjHL2ATw5rPOEw2l
Facebook Page:
3 thoughts on “ILO Job Opportunity 2026: Regional Desk Officer – Latin America and Caribbean”