Senior Project Manager, Labor Remediation Research

ICF is hiring Senior Project Manager, Labor Remediation Research to support the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT) in creating a comprehensive global tool to support worker driven remediation approaches to labor abuses in global supply chains.

On behalf of OCFT ICF conducts research, analysis, and preparation of written communications related to international child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, trade, and supply chain, and forced labor remediation.

Remediation of labor exploitation in global supply chains intends to restore workers that have been harmed by a business's activities to the situation they would have been in had the impact not occurred. Access to Remedy is a critical pillar of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). In particular, Guiding Principle 22, in Pillar II, shares that where "business enterprises identify that they have caused or contributed to adverse impacts, they should provide for or cooperate in their remediation through legitimate processes".

Under the UNGPs, it is also the obligation of States and governments to support Access to Remedy efforts. ILAB is the U.S. government’s (USG) leader on guidance, advisory, and technical assistance projects that support effective worker-driven remediation. ILAB’s Comply Chain tool – an eight-step guide to worker-driven social compliance – takes a remedy-by-design approach, embedding worker voice across all phases of the social compliance process and preventing violations before they arise. It highlights company best practices on effective remediation, and shares examples of the USG legal tools and technical assistance and cooperation programs that promote effective remediation.

The Senior Manager, Labor Remediation Research will support research and literature review on corporate best practices on worker driven remediation by applying knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods. The Senior Manager will write for the intended audience, formulate strategies to engage with relevant stakeholders based on USDOL priorities and interests, and advise USDOL on worker driven remediation. This position also coordinates between elements of USDOL, U.S. Government agencies, the private sector, trade unions, civil society organizations, and regional and international organizations. The position will be a full-time, remote or hybrid position (occasional meetings will occur at USDOL in Washington DC or in the ICF office in Rockville, MD). 

 Key Responsibilities: 

• Support research and requirements gathering, conceptual and stylistic direction and implementation of Worker Driven Remediation tool and remediation standards
• Support coordination of key informant interviews with the private sector, trade union stakeholders and collate their experiences with worker-driven remediation. Conduct the interviews as needed
• Support drafting of sector-specific guidance for how to implement standards in key sectors
• Support stakeholder engagement workshops with the private sector, trade unions and civil society organizations for continuous improvement of policies and project outputs
• Serve as a senior staff member responsible for all phases, activities, staffing, and outcomes involved in project activities, including project and budget management, for the entire project.
• As needed, present in front of audiences, discussing amongst stakeholders, and writing documents for publication in English

Required Qualifications:  

• Master’s degree in international affairs, international relations, public policy, economics, political science, communications, planning, statistics, technology and policy, or related discipline 
• 5+ years of experience with project management including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, managing budgets, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to the U.S. Government client(s)
• 5+ years of experience conducting policy research and policy implementation in topics related to workers’ rights, labor relations, freedom of association and collective bargaining, and workforce development. Research methodologies include literature reviews and quantitative and qualitative approaches
• 5+ years of convening and working with trade union and civil society stakeholders in the area of labor rights and worker voice
• Ability to obtain low-level security clearance (U.S. citizenship, having resided in the U.S. for the past 2 years, and ability to perform the work of this position from a location within the United States)

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Lived experience with worker organizing, trade union organizing, and/or freedom of association and collective bargaining strongly preferred
• Working with US government agencies on worker voice, worker empowerment, and/or remediation, either with U.S. Departments of Labor or Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection
• Advising multinational corporations on issues related to child labor, forced labor, worker voice, freedom of association, and/or collective bargaining
• Leading NGO programs on-the-ground in production countries (particularly in Africa or Asia) that promote decent work and/or worker voice, freedom of association, and/or collective bargaining
• Leading academic and/or legal research on worker empowerment, freedom of association and/or collective bargaining, and/or worker voice
• Working on sector-specific worker-led initiatives that have led to effective remediation policies, including manufacturing, apparel/garments, and agriculture
• Having a broad network of stakeholders in the worker voice space, including companies, NGOs, trade unions, civil society organizations, industry organizations, and governments
• Working on U.S. Government-funded international development projects

Working at ICF

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/veteran status. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO & AA policy.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please email Candidateaccommodation@icf.com and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Read more here: Requesting an Accommodation for the ICF interview process.

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Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: