Head of Protection, Return and Reintegration Unit (P)

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:

1. Internal candidates

2. 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.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been operational in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2006, working in close collaboration with the Government of CAR (GoCAR), United Nations agencies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and international partners to address the complex migration, humanitarian, and development challenges exacerbated by decades of conflict, displacement, and instability.

• Master’s degree (or higher) in Social Work, International Law, Political or Human Science, Public Administration Management, or a related field from an accredited academic institution, with at least seven years of relevant professional experience, preferably in similar roles; or,
• University degree in the above fields from an accredited academic institution, with at least nine years of relevant working experience, preferably in similar roles.
   

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

• Professional experience in leading and overseeing protection programming in contexts of migration or displacement, Return and Reintegration, addressing refugee and IDP issues, in adherence to relevant inter-agency protection standards and guidelines, showing increasing levels of responsibility;
• Demonstrated experience leading the coordination and implementation of AVR programmes;
• Demonstrated experience and expertise directly implementing and coordinating large, specialized protection programming such as Migrant Protection or/and Child Protection Case Management (including Child Best Interest Procedure) and addressing GBV;
• Demonstrated experience working with other sectors and partners in implementing, measuring, and providing training on protection mainstreaming;
• Experience in using MiMOSA;
• Experience and expertise in Protection information management, more specifically in protection analysis, protection monitoring, or results-based protection are an asset;
• Experience in coordinating migrant responses in Migrant Resources Centres, or similar contexts with Protection operations, programme development and management, and/or partnerships management, with demonstrated experience in coordinating activities as part of humanitarian or mixed migrants’ responses;
• Experience in leading and supervising multidisciplinary teams;
• Excellent track record of effective working relationships with government and non-government partners, including donors;
• Professional experience should include fieldwork in multiple duty stations; and,
• Working experience in the hardship conditions is an asset.
   

• Demonstrated work ethics and commitment to humanitarian principles;
• Proven leadership and negotiation skills, particularly in a multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural environment;
• Understanding of complex protection environments;
• Proven strategic coordination and stakeholder engagement skills;
• Demonstrated strategic leadership, analytical and creative thinking;
• Ability to work under extreme pressure; and,
• Flexibility and focus on processes and their improvements.
   

For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (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.

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. 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, and any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in 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.