Duty Station : Nairobi, Kenya
Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P4
Type of Appointment : Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension
Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible
Closing Date : 05 December 2016
Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and 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 environment. Applications from qualified female candidates are especially encouraged. For the purpose of the vacancy, the following candidates are considered as first-tier candidates:
- Internal candidates
- Qualified applicants from the following NMS countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bahamas, Botswana, Belize, Congo, Cabo Verde, Djibouti, Micronesia (Federated States of), Gabon, Gambia, Guyana, Iceland, Cambodia, Comoros, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Libya, Montenegro, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Maldives, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Seychelles, Slovenia, Suriname, El Salvador, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, United Republic of Tanzania, Holy See, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Vanuatu, Samoa
- External female candidates.
Context:
The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operates world-wide with a target of providing resettlement opportunities to 110,000 or more 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. Some 1200 multi-disciplinary staff members work in support of the USRAP which has an annual budget in the range of USD 340 million. 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 direct supervision of the Head of Operations, Africa in Nairobi, Kenya and the general supervision of the Head of IOM Kenya Country Office, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the overall management of refugee resettlement projects throughout Sub-Saharan Africa under the guidance of the Head of Operations, Africa.
The region supported by the Deputy Head of Operations, Africa, is large in scope, comprised of numerous types of working environments that may include urban, rural and camp settings, and
has a number of locations that are operationally complex and logistically challenging. This may include, but is not limited to, areas containing intra-, inter- and/or non- state conflict, areas of extreme political sensitivity and/or volatility, border regions, hardship locations and remote locations. Some of these locations currently or will in the future have sub-offices under the overall technical supervision of the Head of Operations, Africa. Travel to all locations of operational importance in the region for the purposes of monitoring and oversight, including to remote and hardship areas and to areas with a wide variety of security advisories, is expected.
Core Functions / Responsibilities:
- In coordination with the Head of Operations, Africa, support the oversight of refugee resettlement projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Oversight includes technical assistance, staff training, development and succession planning, helping ensure all necessary refugee movements are carried out effectively, developing and standardizing regional operating procedures, and working to prevent fraud and malfeasance in resettlement activities.
- In locations in Sub-Saharan Africa where IOM has no offices, manage resettlement operations to ensure refugee movements occur in an efficient and effective manner. This may include site visits and coordination with a range of partners, including host governments, resettlement countries, UN agencies and the USRAP Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Africa administered by Church World Service.
- As needed, assist the Head of Operations in guiding and supervising Operations Officers at IOM country missions in Sub-Saharan Africa with resettlement projects, including working with relevant staff to ensure smooth transits and departures, solve challenges, monitor the administrative and logistical support provided to resettlement projects by the IOM mission, operate efficiently within established budgetary constraints, work effectively with partners and host governments, and implement and strengthen fraud and malfeasance prevention and response mechanisms.
- Support the Head of Operations, Africa, in communicating and coordinating with external partners, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and resettlement countries. Develop and maintain a positive working relationship between Operations staff members and external counterparts.
- Through communication with host governments, resettlement countries, US Embassy Refugee Coordinators, UNHCR, RSC Africa, relevant IOM units and other partner organizations, create, routinely update and disseminate a streamlined schedule for Africa Operations that details all planned activities related to resettlement, including activities undertaken by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), RSC Africa and the IOM Migrant Health Division (MHD).
- In close coordination with the USRAP Monitoring Officer in Washington, DC, design and administer operational audits of IOM missions implementing USRAP projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Create mechanisms by which projects can be remotely monitored and establish operational standards and measures of efficiency for Sub-Saharan Africa by which projects can be evaluated.
- Create and implement an effective feedback mechanism for resettlement beneficiaries with the objective of giving beneficiaries a voice and providing them with an additional avenue for reporting issues related to IOM personnel, service providers, fraud and sexual exploitation and abuse. Report on and utilize the feedback to improve the delivery of services.
- Based on best practices from other regions and with a focus on providing a safe and secure location for refugees to live, design and implement an operational standardization of Transit Center (TC) activities across Sub-Saharan Africa, including establishing rules, regulations and
standards related to such areas as health, hygiene and security.
- Support the Head of Operations, Africa, in organizing and analysing data received by Operations Officers from across the region on resettlement activities and departures from Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States and other resettlement countries.
- Represent Operations Africa at meetings, workshops and international conferences as needed and prepare reports, briefings, background information, narratives and statistical reporting as required.
- Pro-actively implement fraud prevention measures in all aspects of program delivery in accordance with IOM policies and PRM Fraud Prevention and Mitigation Measures. Bring to the attention of the Head of Operations, Africa any non-compliance of staff or other areas of concern and provide plans for improvements that will maintain the integrity of activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Update staff members of changes in workflow and/or procedures, and provide additional training as required.
- Suggest possible improvements to the Head of Operations, Africa, in order to properly support the overall development of operations staff and movements-related activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education
• Master’s degree in Social Science, International Relations, Regional Studies or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or
• University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.
Experience
• Field and regional management experience in movement/operations projects in at least two different regions;
• Service in movement/operations, with a focus on resettlement projects, at two levels below this position (for instance, experience serving as an Operations Officer and Operations Coordinator in relation to an application for the position of Deputy Head of Operations);
• Experience in project cycle management, preferably with particular emphasis on the USRAP;
• Demonstrated record of establishing and maintaining good working relationships with governmental and diplomatic authorities, national, regional and international institutions, as well as civil society actors;
• Experience serving as a donor liaison and writing donor reports;
• Knowledge of resettlement programs and IOM financial management and budgetary procedures;
• Experience managing staff at various levels and from a range of cultural backgrounds, including teams of international staff.
Languages
Fluency in English is required.
Desirable Competencies:
Behavioral
• Accountability – takes responsibility for action and manages constructive criticisms;
• Client Orientation – works effectively well with client and stakeholders;
• Continuous Learning – promotes continuous learning for self and others;
• Communication – listens and communicates clearly, adapting delivery to the audience;
• Creativity and Initiative – actively seeks new ways of improving programmes or services;
• Leadership and Negotiation – develops effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders;
• Performance Management – identify ways and implement actions to improve performance of self and others;
• Planning and Organizing - plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;
• Professionalism - displays mastery of subject matter;
• Teamwork – contributes to a collegial team environment; incorporates gender related needs, perspectives, concerns and promotes equal gender participation;
• Technological Awareness - displays awareness of relevant technological solutions;
• Resource Mobilization - works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of IOM.
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.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by 05 December 2016 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.
For further information, please refer to:
In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly completed.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. You can track the progress of your application on your personal application page in the IOM e-recruitment system.
Posting period:
From 22.11.2016 to 05.12.2016
Requisition: VN 2016/238 (P) - Deputy Head of Operations, Africa (P4) - Nairobi, Kenya (54903167) Released
Posting: Posting NC54903190 (54903190) Released
