Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration
Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.
For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:
1. Internal candidates
2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states:
Candidates from the following non-represented members states: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Second-tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.
Context
Under the direct supervision of Regional Crisis Coordinator and in close coordination with the Senior Programme Coordinator, the Senior Operations Officer will be supporting the management, oversight and coordination of IOM’s Operations. The operation is framed around International Organization for Migration (IOM) Strategic Plan to the Response consisting in four area of operations: provision of technical expert capacity to partners, cluster support, Needs and Population Monitoring (NPM) and facilitating logistical access to partners.
Responsibilities
STRATEGIC PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING
1. In coordination with the Regional Crisis Coordinator and the Senior Programme Coordinator, develop, contribute to and promote IOM’s strategy; support strategic planning, results orientation and operational excellence.
2. Contribute to ensuring the appropriateness and effectiveness of programmes in line with IOM’s Strategic Plan. Ensure accuracy of results reporting and recommend process improvements including the systematization and transfer of capacities and experiences in support of IOM’s global knowledge management. This includes incorporating lessons learned into the next planning cycle.
3. Support key stakeholders, based on the agreed level of visibility of IOM’s response to the crisis, on the development of appropriate policies, strategies and advocacy messages.
4. Advocate for and promote risk management procedures aligned with IOM Strategic Plan. Ensure that risks are regularly assessed, with priority risks identified and risk treatment plans are in place and embedded in the planning of the response.
OPERATIONS OVERSIGHT, PROGRAM SUPPORT, MONITORING & REPORTING
5. Provide overall leadership and oversight to IOM’s programme operations and technical support functions.
6. Participate actively in the strategic development of new programmes and ensure that proper thematic and cross-cutting support is in place for timely and successful implementation and reporting.
7. Ensure strong engagement on operational aspects of IOM’s response with donors, agencies and other stakeholders.
8. Liaise with the Programme and thematic support leads to contribute to high quality programming and to the mainstreaming of protection, gender, age and disability inclusion throughout the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of projects.
9. Coordinate the selection and recruitment of relevant staff; supervise the work of directly reporting staff, including quality assurance, content direction, and substantive support, where required, to achieve objectives of the IOM Strategic Plan.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATION
10. In coordination with the Regional Crisis Coordinator, lead on partnerships with actors contributing to the response, and promote liaison with governmental authorities and diplomatic missions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and the private sector with a view to identifying areas for developing joint activities/ projects.
11. Collaborate with the Regional Office and relevant Headquarters (HQ) colleagues in the coordination and implementation of high-level meetings, with a view to ensuring high-level participation.
INTER-AGENCY ENGAGEMENT
12. Participate actively in the UN crisis coordination architecture, represent IOM and ensure alignment of IOM Strategic Plan and the Humanitarian Response Plan.
13. Play an integral role in crisis coordination discussions with internal and external stakeholders, participating in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and cluster coordination meetings, and in facilitating the integration of approved plans into IOM’s response.
14. In close coordination with the Regional Crisis Coordinator and Senior Programme Coordinator actively pursue opportunities for joint programming, where relevant to IOM’s strategy and the Humanitarian Response Plan, specifically with key partners.
15. Liaise with OCHA and UN/Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)_and other coordination mechanisms on issues related to the Humanitarian Response Plan and IOM programming, contributing actively and providing support to the inter-agency planning process and the overall humanitarian strategy. Ensure that IOM’s obligations within the humanitarian cluster system are carried out, including on reporting and representation.
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
16. Oversee relevant programme support in accordance with IOM's rules and procedures. Report regularly to the Regional Crisis Coordinator and as needed to the Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Operations Coordinator and other HQ based staff and interested partners on progress achieved and developments. Ensure regular and special reporting, including narrative, impact, policy, financial, evaluation, and statistics covering IOM activities.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
17. Facilitate knowledge generation and management through the identification of best practices and lessons learned to ensure more comprehensive and efficient delivery.
18. Contribute to the knowledge products development and knowledge service delivery.
19. Conduct regular field visits Country Offices and build strong working relationships with local or regional stakeholders, as relevant, represent IOM at events and meetings, and monitor programme activities within the country where IOM operates.
OTHER
20. Contribute to the country offices, Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and risk mitigation and management mechanisms are in place.
21. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Education
- Master’s degree in Development, Political or Social Sciences, Law, International Relations or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or
- University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.
Experience
- Experience in the Middle East and North Africa region;
- Experience in country or field-level humanitarian programmes with displaced populations, both internal and refugee, with programmatic and coordination roles;
- Experience in liaising with inter-agency mechanisms and stakeholders, including within the UN family, Government and donors;
- Experience in developing strategic products for knowledge and information management in a high-pressure environment with multiple stakeholders;
- Significant experience in general management as well as project and resources management;
- Significant experience in diplomacy, fundraising, and public relations, as well as in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities and international institutions; and,
- Experience in delivering large and diverse programmes in complex settings in a range of migration programming, both in the context of emergency and development programming.
Skills
- Knowledge and experience in both Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and Refugee coordination structures;
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; Ability to prepare and deliver speeches on various activities of the Organization;
- Strong liaison and negotiation skills;
- Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming;
- Knowledge of Monitoring and Evaluation procedures and Frameworks;
- Effective resources management skills, sound knowledge of financial and business administration and of the principles and practices of management;
- Ability to deliver during crisis response;
- Demonstrated management processes to develop high impact data visualization, design and data analysis products and tools; and,
- Good level of computer literacy.
Languages
IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.
For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
