Programme Manager (Safe Mobility Offices Initiative)

Position Title: Programme Manager (Safe Mobility Offices Initiative)

Duty Station: Panama City, Panama

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P3

Type of Appointment: Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 27 July 2023

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. Candidates 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; Saint Lucia; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operates world-wide with a target of providing resettlement opportunities to many thousands of individuals each year. IOM provides a range of services and support to the USRAP including, but not limited to, case processing, migration health assessments, cultural orientation training, organized transportation and administration of a travel loan and collections program. The Department of Operations and Emergencies (DOE), specifically the Resettlement and Movement Division (RMM), has the organizational responsibility to provide direction, oversight and guidance to IOM’s global support to all resettlement programs.

Under the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), Resettlement Support Centres (RSCs) provide critical support and processing assistance for resettlement to the US. As part of an MOU between IOM and the US State Department Bureau for Population Refugees and Migration (PRM), IOM manages several RSCs which prepare applications for adjudication by and provide support to visiting US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers, facilitate security and medical screenings, provide information about arriving individuals to resettlement agencies in the US and offer Cultural Orientation (CO) training to individuals departing for the US.

Following the UN Secretary General’s request to IOM and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to co-lead the regional interagency response to the massive outflow of refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Office of the Director General’s Special Envoy for the Regional Response to the Venezuela Situation (hereinafter OSE) was established in 2019 to coordinate IOM´s response to the Venezuelan Situation and support migrants and refugees in transit in LAC. The OSE, located in Panama City, oversees coordination and operational programming for 17 countries in LAC, which operate under the framework of the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) while serving as co-lead with UNHCR of the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform, (hereinafter R4V). The OSE also co-leads the Technical Secretariat for the Quito process, which is a technical forum of host governments in the region responding to the regional Venezuela situation. As part of its overall mandate, one of the roles of the OSE is to promote the use of regular and safe pathways to migrants across the Western Hemisphere.

In April 2023, the Government of the United States of America (US) announced new measures that will form part of its revised migration policy, including efforts to limit the flow of irregular migrants across the southern US border with Mexico. This is to be done through, among other initiatives, expanding access to refugee resettlement and other lawful pathways such as: Humanitarian Parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV Program), which began initially with Venezuelans in October 2022 and expanded to include the other three nationalities in January 2023; Family Reunification Task Force Program for the parent, legal guardian, or child who was separated by the U.S. government at the U.S.-Mexico border between January 20, 2017 and January 20, 2021; the Family Reunification for family members of asylees and refugees; Family Reunification for certain nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who are principal beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and their qualifying immediate family members; and potentially labour pathways (H2-A and H2-B visas).

Through the self-onboarding platform “Movilidad Segura” and the “Safe Mobility Offices” (SMOs) established in strategic locations across the targeted countries in Central and South America, individuals will be provided with information on the different lawful pathways to go to the United States. The Offices are operated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNHCR, and the host governments who facilitate eligible individuals’ access to accelerated resettlement processing and to information on other lawful pathways. The first four SMOs are projected for Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. Apart from Guatemala, the other three countries are included in the RMRP 2023-2024, of which target populations include refugees and migrants from Venezuela and other migrants in-transit.

Under the overall supervision of the Director General´s Special Envoy to the Regional Response to the Venezuela Situation and the direct supervision of the Head of Operations (HoO) of the OSE and in close coordination with the Immigration and Border Management (IBM) Regional Thematic Specialist and the IOM Washington office, the Programme Manager (Safe Mobility Offices Initiative) will be accountable and responsible for the planning, management, implementation, oversight, and coordination of the regional “Safe Mobility Offices “ initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Manage, coordinate, and ensure the successful implementation of the regional SMO initiative, providing programmatic and technical inputs and support to relevant thematic focal points and field team members.
2. Develop, in close coordination with the relevant government stakeholders involved in the Oficinas de Movilidad Segura (OMS), a strategy to promote the use and the efficiency of a comprehensive other legal pathway mechanism with the goal to promote a safe, humane, and orderly migration.
3. Coordinate all activities implemented in the field through the OMS initiative and promote the development and use of common methodology in key thematic areas such but not limited to CBI assistance and renting shelter support.
4. Maintain high-level user skills of IOM PATH solution and encourage use of the system according to IOM Data Protection Principles across the implementing Missions to ensure integrity and quality of the data. In addition through PATH, monitor data of the Movilidad Segura project, and produce regular reports, statistics, and data analysis as requested by the donor.
5. Monitor project activities by project staff and relevant implementing partners including reporting, communications, and monitoring and evaluation activities, as well as budgetary, administrative, procurement, and technical aspects in line with IOM policies and procedures, and donor requirements.
6. Manage, train, and supervise the work of staff assigned to the as well as consultants recruited to support and/or undertake specific activities.
7. Closely coordinate with IOM’s US refugees and admission programme (USRAP) to ensure a smooth implementation of the workflow used by beneficiaries referred for resettlement under the protection pathway.
8. Ensure the timely preparation of project reports, dashboards, sit reps and other communications as well as check alignment with donor requirements and IOM standards and procedures.
9. Assess project progress, and take action to improve and expedite project delivery.
10. Pursue the establishment of partnerships with UN Agencies, humanitarian organizations, government, and community interlocutors, and with a broad range of stakeholders towards the successful implementation of the OMS programme, with a specific focus on UNHCR.
11. Oversee and provide technical support to the overall implementation of the IBG portfolio implemented in the framework of the RMRP Venezuela program, including, but not limited to, projects focusing on border management information systems, regular pathways, regularization, readmission cooperation, admission and stay channels, immigration policy, legal identity, counter-migrant smuggling, border and development/trade initiatives and Humanitarian Border Management (HBM), to ensure their impact, effectiveness, coherence and integrity, and their timely completion, in line with IOM’s policies, practices and the donor’s contractual requirements.
12. Undertake travel duty as required to develop, coordinate and/or support programme implementation.
13. Perform such duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Humanitarian Affairs, Economic Development, Business or Public Administration, International Studies, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in programme conceptualisation, development, monitoring, reporting and evaluation;
• Experience in border management, migration policies, and legal migration pathways;
• Experience in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities as well as with national and international institutions;
• Experience in organizing consultations, workshops, and seminars with high-level stakeholders.

Skills

• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relations with relevant Government counterparts, international organizations, and private sector entities;
• Excellent leadership, coordination, and information management skills;
• Detailed knowledge of the UN System, NGOs, and other international organizations/institutions;• Knowledge of migration data, labour migration patterns in the relevant region, and ability to negotiate with government authorities;
• Good knowledge of human and financial resources management;
• Strong conceptualization, analytical, and writing skills;
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal relationship skills;
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure with minimum supervision;
• Ability to establish and maintain partnerships with development partners, government counterparts, UN agencies, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Familiarity with financial and business administration;
• Sound and proven understanding of internal and international migration issues in the country and in the region;
• In-depth knowledge of the broad range of migration-related subject areas dealt with by the organization;
• Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

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

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 2

• 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 2

• 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. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

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