Associate Liaison and Policy Officer

Position Title : Associate Liaison and Policy Officer

Duty Station : New York, United States of America

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P2

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

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 12 November 2020

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; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Fiji; Gabon; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Luxembourg; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

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

Context:

The United Nations established a Network on Migration (Network) to ensure effective, timely and coordinated system-wide support to Member States to supporting the implementation, follow-up, and review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

The Network consists of members of the UN system for whom migration is of relevance to their mandates. The Network operates with IOM as the Coordinator and an Executive Committee (EC) which provides overall guidance and set strategic priorities to support Member States in the implementation, follow up and review of the GCM. The Network’s Executive Committee initial members include ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UN DESA, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF and UNODC.

In carrying out its mandate, the Network will prioritize the rights and wellbeing of migrants and

their communities of destination, origin, and transit. It will place emphasis on those issues where a common UN system approach would add value and from which results and impact can be readily gauged.

A Network secretariat has been established to support the work of the Network, under the overall authority of the Director General of IOM, who serves as the Network Coordinator. The secretariat is responsible for servicing the work of the Network and is based in IOM Headquarters in Geneva.

IOM as the UN Migration Agency and the Coordinator and Secretariat of the Network, is working closely together with sister UN Agencies to achieve the objectives stated in the Terms of Reference for the UN Network on Migration and carry out the activities outlined in the Network’s inaugural Workplan. Concretely, IOM is co-leading Core Workstream 2.1 dedicated to bolstering the capacity of the Network at global, regional and country levels to support Member States to implement the GCM, and Core Workstream 2.2 focused on empowering Member States to develop and implement GCM national implementation plans. For each of these Core Workstreams, Working Groups have been established to steer and oversee the implementation of the deliverables articulated under the workstream through the provision of technical advice and inputs.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the UN Migration Network Secretariat, and the direct supervision of the Migration Network Policy Officer in NY, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting Network secretariat colleagues in all Network communications and continued development of the Network website, and support to Network working groups.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Support the Senior Communications Officer on all Network communications and branding, including website updates and maintenance, engagement on social media, newsletter content, and assist with the development of website content and communications campaigns.

2. Contribute to the development of the GCM’s Global Knowledge Platform and Connection Hub, including support to managing the online platform, systematizing categorization of inputs and expanding capacity of Network website.

3. Provide substantive and logistical support to the Network Secretariat Working Group coordinator on all working groups, ensuring coherence among Network Working Groups and facilitating their linkages with other constituent parts of the Network.

4. Support preparations of Working Group meetings and ensure appropriate follow-up with their respective leads.

5. Draft policy papers, briefings notes, talking points and summaries as required.

6. Maintain effective communications with civil society, private sector, academia, and other migration actors in relation to their engagement with Network Working Groups.

7. Contribute to efforts to support team skills training and discussions on values/diversity; and

8. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in International studies or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or

• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience and knowledge of the UN system;

• Experience in organizing seminars/events;

• Professional experience in migration area and excellent knowledge of existing migration and other relevant frameworks and approaches.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills, especially in a multilingual setting; good writing skills;

• Creative thinking, efficiency, objectivity;

• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan;

• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously within a team of colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds;

• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office (word, excel, outlook) and web-based applications, and website management;.

• Proven analytical and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and manage simultaneous critical tasks;

• Capacity to work independently under pressure with tight deadlines.

Languages

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

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of French and/or 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

1 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 three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• 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.

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 action and delegated work.

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

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.

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