Strategy and Operations Officer At International Organization for Migration

Position Title : Strategy and Operations Officer

Duty Station : Geneva, Switzerland

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P3

Type of Appointment : Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 04 August 2021

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading 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 a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications 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:

Antigua and Barbuda; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Fiji; Gabon; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Libya; Luxembourg; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

Within the Department of Migration Management (DMM), the Immigration and Border Management (IBM) Division’s Immigration and Visas (IV) Unit provides at the request of and in agreement with Member States, immigration and visa policy guidance and expertise as well as technical and operational solutions related to immigration, consular and visa-related matters. The work of the unit focusses on facilitating safe, regular and orderly migration and mobility, in support of the following: a) the IOM Constitution by providing migration services including processing; b) the IOM Member State (MS) Strategy by providing secure, reliable, flexible and cost-effective services for persons who require international migration assistance; c) the IOM Migration Governance Framework by assisting States to provide safe and regular access to available migration channels, including implementing well administered visa and entry schemes with limited wait times and reasonable fees; d) the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 10, Target 7 which seeks to facilitate orderly, safe and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies; and e) the Global Compact for Migration, Objective 3 which references the need to facilitate accurate information and access to visas, with pathways that respond to the needs of migrants, and Objective 5 which calls for States to enhance availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the IBM Division and direct supervision of the Head, Immigration and Visa Unit, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing cross-cutting support to the IV Unit’s programmes and provide recommendations to the Unit on strategy and operations with a focus on sound financial and Results-Based Programme Management. In addition, the successful candidate will provide direct operational oversight over the global Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC) Project, ensuring compliance with all donor and contractual requirements.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. In close coordination with the Head, Immigration and Visa Unit, formulate, articulate and recommend strategic initiatives in support of enhanced operational effectiveness, sound financial management, resource mobilization and development of innovative new solutions.
2. In close coordination with the Head, Immigration and Visa Unit, oversee all activities of the global CVAC network across its 36 locations and supervise Headquarters (HQ) and field-based project management support staff, ensuring efficient and cost-effective operations, adherence to contractual obligations with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and VFS Global and proper risk management, and in line with IOM Staff Rules and Regulations. Manage; and, ensure the implementation of new IV activities to meet programme objectives, including the preparation of project documents, hiring staff, procurement and planning support to field missions implementing IV programmes.
3. Oversee all activities of the Global CVAC Network across its 36 locations and supervise HQ and field-based project management support staff, ensuring efficient and cost-effective operations, adherence to contractual obligations with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and VFS Global and proper risk management.
4. Oversee the daily administrative, operational and budgetary aspects of the CVAC project, in close coordination with field mission management ensuring client service excellence and avoidance of complaints and financial penalties.
5. Supervise the CVAC ICT Coordinator, ensuring all ICT related responsibilities under the IOM MOU with VFS Global are complied with and updated in an accurate and timely manner.
6. Provide strategic inputs on new immigration, consular and visa-related programming; assist the Project Development Officer with the scoping and design of new projects in support of country offices, with a focus on budgetary planning, efficiency, control and oversight, to include financial viability in relation to user pay programming.
7. Review and assess existing unit/programme processes and recommend and lead successful implementation of process improvements and operational transformation and innovation initiatives.
8. Propose amended budgets and project proposals for current and future programming, conduct ongoing trend observance, perform financial modelling and analysis of evolving volumes/data available and set applicable service fee levels to enable cost-recovery operations for user pay projects.
9. Enhance the quality of the unit’s financial and accounting policies, systems and controls with a focus on financial risk management across all unit functions, operations, activities, procedures and policies with a special view to the Internal Governance Framework (IGF) reform and in close coordination with DRM.
10. Provide joint supervision of the IV Programme Monitoring Unit in MAC; set objectives and strategy for use of data, review processes and procedures, enhance data analysis and systems towards greater efficiency, transparency and strategic objectives.
11. Deliver relevant strategic and operational trainings, presentations and webinars and contribute towards preparations for regular VAC – PAC (Programme Advisory Committee) meetings.
12. Provide support to negotiations with private sector partners and other third parties to include provision of research, analysis and recommendations; review Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and other funding opportunities; in coordination with Office of Legal Affairs (LEG), review relevant agreement clauses and provide relevant guidance.
13. Identify and implement key performance management metrics into current and future programming and process design to enhance results-based programming.
14. Perform any other IV programmatic tasks as requested by the Head, Immigration and Visa Unit.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Business or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,

• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in overseeing regional/global projects;

• Experience in leading strategy development and business transformation;

• Experience in preparing and reviewing financial forecasts and analyses;

• Experience in supporting the management of multi-million dollar global project budgets;

• Experience in the usage of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet and data analysis;

• Experience supervising the development and implementation of administrative control procedures.

Skills

• Proven success working in complex multi-stakeholder environments, requiring decision-making skills under tight deadlines;

• Demonstrated ability to present a significant amount of information from various sources in a concise way; and,

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

External applicants for all positions in the Professional category are required to be proficient in English and have at least a working knowledge of one additional UN Language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese).

For all applicants, fluency in English and working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is required (oral and written).

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

Notes

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database

(https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• 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.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• 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 action and delegated work.

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.

• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.