Migration Health and AVRR Physician

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

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), UN Volunteers with at least twelve (12) months of continuous service in IOM, 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.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission and the direct supervision of the designated programme or migration health supervisor, with technical supervision from the Chief Migration Health Officer or Regional Health Assessment Programme Coordinator, the incumbent will conduct migration health assessment activities and provide medical support for AVRR cases. The physician will ensure that clinical assessments, documentation, referrals, fitness-to-travel decisions, medical travel arrangements and continuity-of-care planning are completed in line with applicable IOM, donor and destination-country requirements.

1. Conduct migration health assessments, including medical history, physical examination and review of available clinical records.

2. Arrange or review required investigations, including laboratory testing, imaging and other examinations, according to applicable programme and destination-country requirements.

3. Identify health conditions requiring treatment, referral, stabilization or follow-up, and coordinate care with relevant health facilities and treating physicians.

4. Support vaccination, tuberculosis management, pre-departure medical procedures and other health interventions in accordance with applicable protocols.

5. Ensure correct identification of migrants and complete, accurate and timely medical documentation, certification and data entry in relevant IOM systems.

6. Review AVRR cases with known or suspected medical conditions and assess decision-making capacity, fitness to travel and medical feasibility of return, as applicable.

7. Recommend additional assessment or stabilization when the available information is insufficient to confirm safe travel.

8. Determine required medical travel conditions, such as medical or non-medical escort, wheelchair, additional seats, stretcher, oxygen, medications, medical supplies or family support.

9. Review proposed itineraries from a medical perspective and complete airline medical forms, including MEDA or MEDIF, when required.

10. Coordinate with AVRR, Operations, Migration Health and relevant counterparts in the country of return to support safe travel and continuity of care after arrival.

11. Brief medical escorts on the case and travel management plan, coordinate required escort supplies, and review escort reports and travel-related incidents.

12. Apply infection prevention and control, patient safety, confidentiality, informed consent and ethical standards throughout service delivery.

13. Contribute to quality assurance through case review, record checks, data analysis, incident follow-up and implementation of applicable SOPs.

14. Maintain case records and relevant statistics, and prepare routine or ad hoc reports requested by the supervisor.

15. Perform other related duties as assigned.

• University degree in Medicine from an accredited academic institution.
• Valid licence to practise medicine in the duty-station country is mandatory.

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

• At least two years of relevant professional clinical experience, preferably in emergency medicine, internal medicine or a multidisciplinary hospital setting.
• Experience conducting medical assessments, preparing medical reports and coordinating referrals or patient care.
• Experience in migration health, humanitarian health, resettlement health or AVRR programming is desirable.
• Experience with fitness-to-travel assessment, medical movement support or continuity-of-care planning is an advantage.

• Good knowledge of clinical medicine, patient safety and infection prevention and control.
• Ability to make sound clinical decisions and clearly document the rationale for recommendations.
• Strong coordination and communication skills, including liaison with health facilities, operations teams and cross-border counterparts.
• Understanding of in-flight physiology or aviation medicine is an advantage.
• Good organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to respond flexibly to operational needs.

All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).

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

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

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.

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

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, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. 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