Protection Response Officer, Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR)

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy.

For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), UN Volunteers with at least twelve (12) months of continuous service in IOM, staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.

Organizational Context and Scope

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) is one of the core areas of International Organization for Migration (IOM) expertise, and a field in which the organization has over 40 years of experience. IOM United States of the America (USA) works with the US Department of State to provide eligible beneficiaries, both in the United States and in third countries, with their access to assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin or of legal status in a safe and dignified manner. In addition to travel arrangements, IOM’s assistance may include counselling of voluntary returnees, acquisition of travel documents, provision of medical or other escorts, departure, transit and arrival assistance.

The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) funded-Global Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Program proposal aims to provide migrants with irregular status in the United States and third countries access to assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin or legal status in a safe and dignified manner.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) and close coordination with the Regional Thematic Specialist for Protection in the geographical area of deployment, the Protection Response Officer, Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) will have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. In close coordination with the Chief of Mission (CoM), Global AVR Programme, the Regional Office and Migrant Protection division (MPX) Regional Technical Specialist (RTS), relevant Units at HQ, as well as with Government counterparts and other relevant public/private sector’s partner organizations in the geographical area of the response, conduct protection assessments and identify risk mitigation strategies focusing on, among others, operational setting and accessibility of services, including shelter, legal framework, protection risks for specific vulnerable groups, key protection actors on the ground and available referral pathways, safe environments for return in countries of origin (CoOs), etc
2. In coordination with the Chief of Mission, lead and support national and international protection staff to ensure high-quality outcomes for migrants, while providing operational management and ensuring adherence to IOM policies.
3. Ensure relevant stakeholders are kept informed about ongoing activities and developments through the drafting of and contributing to weekly and quarterly reports.
4. Collaborate with the emergency coordinator, RMO and other relevant staff, units and programs as needed to ensure migrants have access to relevant services.
5. Liaise with national actors and relevant protection actors in the country for referral, when need be, to appropriate services.
6. Coordinate with relevant actors, including consular authorities, to facilitate access to documentation, family tracing, and reunification where possible.
7. Ensure appropriate protection information management in line with IOM and interagency standards.
8. Participate in relevant coordination mechanisms or task forces at local level.
9. Provide remote and in-person support for the setup of the response and provision of assistance, ensuring a coherent approach across all interventions. Be available for short-notice international deployments outside the duty and home station, when required by the program, to support urgent protection responses.
10. Represent IOM in a variety of meetings and forums, including with program donors, partners, and stakeholders, as required.
11. Monitor the implementation of protection activities and measure progress against objectives, indicators, and targets.
12. Identify the priorities that arise during the implementation of the Programme and contribute to the design and development of the new projects under the Programme and activities based on solid results framework and in response to emerging trends and priorities, as well as donor interests and requirements.
13. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, International Relations/Affairs, Research, Law or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or
• Bachelor’s degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• Experience working with migrants, civil society, and governments;
• Proven experience in leading and managing a large multinational team;
• Proven experience managing protection programming across multiple countries, as well as mainstreaming protection across operations;
• Proven experience providing protection and assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations and communicating with individuals who have complex needs;
• Experience working in programs that include a movement operations component is an advantage.;
• Experience with IOM or other UN agencies, particularly working on assisted voluntary return and reintegration, and specialized protection programs, is preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of IOM and inter-agency protection standards and operational procedures and guidelines;
• Demonstrated coordination skills;
• Ability to research and adapt to different operational and cultural contexts;
• Demonstrated writing, editing, presentation and training facilitation skills;
• Excellent computer skills: excellent knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email/internet software, statistical analysis packages;
• Knowledge of UN cooperation frameworks and bilateral donor programming requirements;
• Ability to gather, consolidate, and attribute information from multiple sources;
• High degree of judgment and initiative, ability to work with a high degree of independence within assigned areas;
• Demonstrated interpersonal and teamwork skills;
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of diverse cultural and national backgrounds.

Languages

All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).

For this position, fluency in English and Spanish are required.

Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, and Russian) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values- all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Notes

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security as well as accreditation, any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.

IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies