Senior Project Support Associate (maternity cover)

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.

The Regional Office (RO) Dakar Regional Project Development Unit coordinates and facilitates the full range of project support and institutional quality assurance related to Project Cycle Management (PCM) and Results Based Management (RBM) in Western and Central Africa (WCA).

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Director for Operations and direct supervision of the Regional Project Development Officer, the Senior Project Support Associate will support Country Offices (COs) in the implementation of project activities in WCA region.  The role involves also collecting, analyzing, and presenting project-related data and information to support the IOM’s Regional and Country Offices in WCA.  

1.    Assist in the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of project activities in the region.
2.    Circulate information on new Calls for Proposals and/or funding opportunities to Country Offices and maintain records of dissemination and follow-up actions.
3.    Provide administrative support during the review and endorsement processes by checking completeness, required documentation, and correct routing; track Country Office submissions and follow-up to facilitate timely processing in IOM internal systems, including PRIMA, in line with established procedures. 
4.    Compile, summarize, analyse, and present information/data on specific project topics, highlighting noteworthy issues for the consideration of appropriate parties.
5.    Maintain regional project pipeline and implementation tracking tools and carry out timely updates of trackers and key documents in the Regional Office Dakar SharePoint.
6.    Monitor project burn-rates and implementation progress in the region and flag any issue to the supervisor for follow-up.   
7.    Draft status reports; identify shortfalls in delivery, bring them to the attention of the supervisor and suggest corrective measures. Report any project non-compliance issues to the supervisor.  
8.    Draft correspondence on project issues; prepare and update reports, briefing notes, graphics, statistical tables, and other forms of documentation.
9.    Support the organization of meetings, webinars, workshops and trainings related to project implementation and use of PRIMA, including preparation of materials and logistical arrangements. 
10.    Respond to complex information requests and inquiries; set up and maintain files/records.

11.    Participate in meetings and conferences; maintain effective liaison and coordination with relevant partners, donors and other stakeholders as needed.  
12.    Provide inputs for the development of Standard Operations Procedures (SOP) and concept papers and provide general support for the development of new projects. 
13.    Perform other related duties as assigned.

•    High school diploma with six years of relevant experience; or,
•    Bachelor’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law or related fields from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant professional experience.

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

•    Experience working in an international organization or familiarity with the UN system.
•    Demonstrated experience in project implementation, monitoring, reporting, and compliance functions. 
•    Experience in maintaining project documentation, trackers, and knowledge management tools. 
•    Familiarity with Results-Based Management and project cycle processes in a support of administrative capacity is an advantage

•    Good understanding of project implementation and reporting processes at the operational support level. 
•    Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple tasks. 
•    Ability to prepare routine correspondence, presentations, and reports. 
•    Effective interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with colleagues from diverse cultures and professional backgrounds. 
•    Attention to detail and the ability to work accurately under pressure while maintaining confidentiality. 
•    Proficiency in MS Office applications, including SharePoint, CoPilot and Excel. 
•    Experience using IOM internal systems, including PRIMA and Wave, is an advantage.

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

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.

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