Call for Applications: Project Officer (Migrant Protection and Assistance) At International Organization for Migration

Call for Applications

Position Title: Project Officer (Migrant Protection and Assistance)

Duty Station: Nicosia, Cyprus

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade UG

Type of Appointment: Special short-term ungraded, Six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 21 April 2024

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.

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), 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.

Context:

IOM in close cooperation with the Government of Cyprus will provide support in responding to the migrant situation in the country by the large and continuous migratory flows that have been placing heavy pressure in the reception and accommodation scheme, as well as relevant protection-centred services.

In this framework, the primary role of the Project Coordinator (Migrant Protection and Assistance) will be to effectively implement all appropriate responsibilities and assigned projects, according to the IOM standards, ensuring quality, cost effectiveness, transparency, and compliance with all IOM rules and regulations.

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Director and the direct supervision of Regional Response Coordinator and Chief of Mission (CoM) in Greece, and in close coordination with the Head of Office (HoO) in Cyprus, the Project Coordinator (Migrant Protection and Assistance) will be responsible and accountable for managing the below mentioned functions.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and monitor the operational and administrative day to day operations of the projects assigned under the portfolio of migrant protection and assistance, ensuring that planned activities are implemented in line with approved project documents and IOM’s Project Handbook.
2. Supervise the project staff, including hiring, assigning of duties, and providing feedback to staff members on their performance on a regular basis to ensure the highest standards of work and operational capacity.
3. Support monitoring of financial expenditures for projects to ensure adequate budget consumption rates to meet implementation milestones and deadlines. Follow up on budget unitilization in coordination with Senior Resource Management Officer (SRMO) in Greece, and report any deviations from the plan to CoM in Greece and keep the HoO informed.
4. Prepare financial, administrative and technical backstopping to projects, and support the CoM in liaisoning with headquarters units and project partners.
5. Ensure compliance of operations with IOM rules, regulations and policies. Ensure the continuous review of project implementation strategies and provide guidance and suggest corrective measures and action to be taken as necessary.
6. Assist the Mission in ensuring the achievement of maximum efficiency in project delivery, prepare frequent updates on results for senior management and counterparts.
7. Assist in maintaining close working relationships with the relevant government authorities, International Organizations (IOs) and other relevant stakeholders to assure compliance with the planned activities and forecasted results as formulated in the approved project documents, to coordinate and promote new activities, and to raise funds for projects.
8. Support in monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, quick re-adjustment of the operations, and advise on legal considerations and risk assessment.
9. Participate to the regular meetings with the stakeholders to encourage and facilitate their buy-in for the IOM emergency response activities based on the participatory and inclusive working methodology.
10. Prepare reports, briefings, donor reports, background information, regular updates, project summaries, narratives and statistical analysis as necessary and required.
11. Undertake duty travel in relation to project assessment and implementation, liaison with counterparts and problem solving.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Science, Business Administration, International Relations, Communications, Law or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Substantial field experience in emergency and/ or post conflict/transition/early recovery, with strong knowledge of IOM project life cycle.
• Relevant experience in protection with particular focus on child protection related issues particularly in emergency context.
• Experience in liaison with governmental and diplomatic authorities as well as with national and international institutions.
• Working experience in Greece in the emergency context is an advantage.

Skills

• Knowledge of EU policies and procedures and management of migration flows in EU MS.
• Knowledge of donor funding mechanisms and requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for donor liaison responsibilities.
• Excellent reporting and writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, train and motivate staff in a multicultural team environment.

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 Greek and/or 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.

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 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.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators

• 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 leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p df

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.

For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

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