Position Title : Director, Department of Mobility Pathways and Inclusion

Duty Station : Geneva, Switzerland

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 : 08 April 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

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. External female candidates:
3. Candidate from the following non-represented member states:

Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Dominica; Fiji; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People's Democratic Republic (the); Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM and female candidates.

Context:

In a context where the promise to leave no one behind and the Sustainable Development Goals are in danger of not being realized, IOM works to unleash the potential of migration by assisting States to establish, expand and enhance regular migration pathways, while reducing irregular migration. IOM works with partners to make existing and new regular pathways accessible and inclusive to enable more individuals to benefit from opportunities for development and protection.

Support to and expansion of regular migration pathways is one of the key features of the recently launched IOM Strategic Plan (2024 - 2028). The Organization has adopted a broad global approach to this new strategy aiming to focus its work along key migration routes.

Advancing regular pathways is also embedded in key international frameworks, notably the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and the Global Compact on Refugees. These international frameworks lay the foundation for joint action and transformative policies leading towards a comprehensive and system-based approach to the full spectrum of human mobility involving multiple stakeholders.

To seize the opportunities and face the challenges of migration in an increasingly interdependent and complex world, the Department of Mobility Pathways and Inclusion (DMPI) will aspire to become a global convening leader on expanded regular pathways to match the needs of migration with the development, demographic and labour market goals of sending and receiving States thereby offering long-term solutions for climate vulnerable people, migrants and those in need of international protection.

To meet this objective, the Department will support Member States in strengthening and setting up sound migration governance infrastructures by providing a broad range of interconnected migration management interventions and create a better ecosystem to deliver on migration's promise through innovative approaches and practices. A common, actionable, purpose based on shared interests and goals will underpin such global cooperation and approaches on regular pathways leveraging notably the power of private sector and Diaspora engagement for it to be effective.

Through integrated scale up services including, but not limited to, documentation and legal identity services, border management and visa systems, health and social services, settlement and integration support, skills training and recognition, resettlement and management of all types of movements across organizational programming, DMPI will enable that more individuals benefit from opportunities for development, seamless cross-border movements, and inclusive and regular pathways.

Under the overall supervision of the Director General and direct supervision of the Deputy Director General for Operations, the Director, Department of Mobility Pathways and Inclusion will lead IOM’s strategic engagement on mobility pathways and inclusion at the global level and lead and direct IOM’s operational approach to facilitating migration pathways, advising on global good practices, and facilitating strategic dialogue between states and regions, in order to expand coherence and the strategic impact of various initiatives currently under way. The core thematic expertise of the Department comprises the areas of border management and immigration, labour mobility and social inclusion, diaspora engagement, migration health, resettlement, integration support and movement management.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Lead and direct IOM’s strategic engagement with key partners in line with IOM’s strategy on regular migration pathways.
2. Lead and direct the Immigration and Border Governance, Labour Mobility and Resettlement and Movement Divisions in addition to policy initiatives that enhance mobility and regular pathways for migration with a focus on human rights-based approach and identity solutions and the related operationalization of visa, admission, stay, return management and readmission frameworks.
3. Enhance, promote and strengthen regular pathways through key operational measures such as robust border management technology and systems; preventing and responding to transnational crimes; strengthening identity management; and bolstering readmission cooperation.
4. Lead and manage a range of technical solutions aimed at improving border, identify and immigration processes notably the IOM-developed Border Management Information System MIDAS, the Electronic Readmission Case Management System (eRCMS), a digital platform that enhances return management and readmission cooperation by enabling governments to securely exchange returnee data on a reciprocal basis, the Pathways Tracking Assistance Hub (PATH).
5. Ensure technical and operational excellence in the management of global immigrant and refugee health assessment programmes, capacity development and technical assistance ranging from policy advice to operations, health informatics, data systems and research by fostering joint deliverables and cross-departmental and cross-divisional collaboration for better impact on the health of migrants, displaced persons and communities, ensuring that the health and well-being of migrants are integrated as crosscutting of all aspects.
6. Lead migration strategic foresight and policies by adapting solutions and pragmatic approaches, including fostering effective bilateral and multilateral cooperation on skills-based mobility, to establish, expand, and enhance pathways for regular migration in addition to strengthening collaboration with employers and private sector including skills development, recognition, matching, so that migrants are able to fully utilize their talents and contribute meaningfully to both their host and home communities;
7. Identify opportunities to pursue the expansion of regular migration pathways within existing multilateral and inter-governmental fora, including in the context of global migration processes (such as Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection) and other global cooperation frameworks.
8. Develop strategic partnerships with non-state actors that have a stake in facilitating and promoting regular migration pathways, including private sector entities, employer networks, civil society organizations, think tanks and partner agencies within the United Nations System.
9. Provide strategic advice to the Deputy Director General for Operations and senior leadership on key advocacy points, gaps and opportunities for strategic engagement in regard to regular migration pathways.
10. Provide strategic advice, recommendations and policy guidance to IOM Leadership Team regarding a global approach to regular migration pathways, so as to identify further opportunities, exchange best practices and build coherence across all Regions.
11. Seek new opportunities and spearhead the mobilization of resources on regular pathways and represent IOM in key fora across globally.
12. Support and provide substantive inputs to other organizational priorities and strategic initiatives at the direction of the Director General and Deputy Director General for Operations.
13. Undertake duty travel to key operational and policy settings, as required.
14. Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

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

Experience

• Minimum of fifteen years demonstrated experience working on migration issues;
• Strong experience liaising with governmental authorities, other national/internationalinstitutions, and NGOs; and,
• International work experience in border management, health, labour mobility programming highly desirable.

Skills

• Demonstrated diplomacy skills for representing and/or moderating migration governance issues in bilateral meetings and at external events;
• Excellent drafting ability and knowledge in budget development and financial administration;• Excellent leadership and management skills, and the ability to inspire and motivate others; and,
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

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.

Notes

Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 3

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 3

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

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 endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.