Head of External Relations (Canadian Nationals Only) (P)
Quick Summary
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,
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
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:
- Internal candidates
- External female candidates
- Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: 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, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.
Under the administrative supervision of the Head of Office, IOM Canada and the technical supervision of the Senior Director, Strategy and External Engagement in HQ, the Head of External Relations will lead strategic external engagement, partnerships and resource mobilization efforts in Canada.
- Design and implement a country-level resource mobilization strategy aligned with IOM priorities.
- Represent IOM in political engagement with high-level government officials and policy dialogue.
- Develop approaches to maximize IOM visibility and influence.
- Lead resource mobilization initiatives and donor engagement.
- Identify and prioritize strategic donors and funding opportunities.
- Lead strategic integration of external relations and resource mobilization.
- Maintain understanding of donor priorities, funding cycles and emerging trends.
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Requirements
~1 min read- Master's degree in Political, Social Sciences, International Relations or related field with ten years of relevant experience; or,
- University degree in the above fields with twelve years of relevant experience.
- Senior-level donor relations experience;
- Experience in policy dialogue related to international migration;
- Resource mobilization experience across donor types;
- Experience developing institutional resource mobilization strategies;
- Experience managing internal networks and knowledge sharing;
- Experience leading capacity-building initiatives;
- Experience advising senior leadership;
- Experience managing project budgets and staff.
- Engagement with Canada's political and governmental system;
- Knowledge of IOM systems and processes;
- Excellent public speaking and communication skills;
- Excellent capacity-building and management skills;
- Excellent writing skills;
- Familiarity with the global aid system;
- Ability to work in multicultural environments;
- Ability to prioritize and deliver under pressure.
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 French is required (oral and written)
Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, 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.
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.
Responsibilities
~2 min readInternationally 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. This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.
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
Location & Eligibility
Listing Details
- Posted
- October 2, 2026
- First seen
- October 2, 2026
- Last seen
- October 2, 2026
Posting Health
- Days active
- 10
- Repost count
- 0
- Trust Level
- 24%
- Scored at
- October 13, 2026
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