Director, Global Office in Washington, D.C. At International Organization for Migration

Position Title : Director, Global Office in Washington, D.C.
Duty Station : Washington DC, United States of America
Classification : Professional Staff, Grade D2
Type of Appointment : Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension
Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible
Closing Date : 04 December 2024

IOM, UN Migration Agency in Washington, D.C., United States of America is looking for a Director, Global Office in Washington, D.C., who will oversee the entire bandwidth of IOM relationship with the United States.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

Strategy and Vision

1. Lead and coordinate the implementation of the IOM Strategic Plan through the strengthening and holistic management of the relationship with the United States, its institutions and other relevant institutions in the country.

Representation

2. Represent IOM towards the United States, its institutions and permanent missions, as well as provide strategic advice and guidance, in coordination with the Regional Director and the Leadership Team at HQ.

3. Guide and provide strategic insight and support to IOM country offices worldwide in their liaison, advocacy and fundraising efforts with United States delegations, institutions and other related stakeholders.

4. Develop strategic partnerships with key stakeholders within the United States system to ensure adequate understanding of IOM and its mandate as well as operational capacities.

5. Alert the Leadership Team through the Senior Director of OPAC of any developments requiring senior level intervention.

6. Prepare adequate documentation in coordination with HQ and Regional Offices to support United States policy and decision-making processes in a timely manner.

7. Share United States policy developments with IOM country offices globally.

Advocacy and Fundraising

8. Ensure timely and transparent sharing of information with country offices globally on arising engagement and fundraising opportunities with the United States.

9. Ensure high quality representation of IOM towards the United States, its institutions and other relevant institutions in the country on all levels and provide strategic guidance to GTSs, as well as knowledge management on the established relationships.

Capacity Building

10. Enable GTSs, as well as IOM country representations both within and beyond the United States to confidently advocate for IOM in full understanding of both IOM’s and the United States’ mandates by developing capacity building opportunities as follows:

• Capacity building for IOM country representation and senior programme implementation on liaison and advocacy with United States delegations; and,
• Capacity building for United States-funded programme and resource management staff on United States-specific implementation guidelines.

11. Develop an outreach programme for United States officials and congress members on IOM’s mandate, operational capacities and IOM-United States relationship opportunities.

Oversight

12. Direct the operational, human resources, administrative, budgetary and financial activities of the Global Office in Washington, D.C. and ensure compliance of United States-funded projects implemented by IOM country offices globally with United States contractual obligations.

13. Provide strategic advice and guidance to maintain high standards in project implementation funded by the United States, including through regular monitoring visits of the Global Office Team to implementing country offices.

14. Alert Chiefs of Mission, Regional Directors and/or HQ of any arising issues with projects which may impact the wider reputation of IOM with the United States.

15. Ensure timely support provision by GTSs to:

• IOM country offices on liaison, advocacy, fundraising and proposal development in coordination with United States Government Departments, international development agencies and delegations.
• Review of reports and proposals as well as the regular evaluation and monitoring exercises.

Knowledge management

16. Establish and lead a knowledge management system which enables relationship management in line with IOM’s personal rotation.

17. Ensure regular lessons learnt and best practice exercises with both funding United States institutions and IOM country offices, in order to address potential opportunities and challenges in a timely manner.

18. Ensure staff within the Global Office in Washington, D.C. are always fully informed about emerging trends and opportunities while maintaining a clear understanding of developing migration trends and status of discussions both within and beyond the United States.

Representation and strategic partnerships

19. Represent IOM towards Multilateral Banks and other international and regional organizations.

20. Ensure any strategic partnerships with UN entities, which may impact the relationship with the United States, are duly communicated with the United States counterparts in coordination with the relevant UN partner and their representation in Washington, D.C. and New York City.

21. Establish strategic working relationships and develop joint advocacy towards the United States in coordination with the Senior Director for Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications for events of global importance and/or regional emergencies which require coordinated outreach with other UN entities, where necessary.

22. Perform any other duties that may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Science, International Relations, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with fifteen years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Extensive experience with the United States Congress, Appropriations Committees, National cycle/budget and administrative budget;
• Extensive experience in diplomacy, fundraising and public relations, as well as in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities and international institutions;
• Extensive experience leading strategic implementation processes in diverse regions; and,
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing high-performing diverse teams.

Skills

• Intrinsic knowledge and understanding of the United States and its institutions
• Excellent communications skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to prepare and deliver speeches on various activities of the Organization. • Excellent liaison and negotiation skills.
• In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration related subject areas dealt with by the Organization.
• Knowledge of the United States, 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.
• 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.