Emergency Response Officer At International Organization for Migration

Position Title: Emergency Response Officer

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

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: 15 December 2022

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; Aruba (Netherlands); Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Curaçao; Fiji; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); 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:

At IOM Headquarters (HQ), within the Department of Operations and Emergencies (DOE), the Preparedness and Response Division (PRD) serves as the institutional Focal Point in preparing for and providing timely response to sudden onset disasters, as well as protracted crises. PRD oversees IOM’s timely, predictable and effective interventions in emergency situations by implementing a broad range of humanitarian programmes, in coordination with humanitarian partners, through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the cluster framework.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Preparedness and Response Division (PRD) and direct supervision of the Senior Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer, the Emergency Response Officer will be responsible for providing support for the development and implementation of IOM’s preparedness and response activities and services across the different regions of operations in the areas of emergency and crisis preparedness, mitigation and response in natural disaster and conflict settings.

In close collaboration with the sub sections of PRD at HQ, Regional and Country Offices, the Emergency Response Officer will be responsible for providing support to all aspects of the preparedness and response programming, including migration crisis management.

The position requires continuous interaction with fellow UN agencies and staff, government officials, donor governments, civil society, clusters, academia and other key partners involved in humanitarian emergency and recovery assistance. Particular interaction is needed with Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sections, specialized UN agencies, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Cluster Lead agencies, International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP), EU Civil Protection (EUCP), and key donors. It will also require interaction with external partners ranging from local stakeholders to regional organizations and international organizations involved in humanitarian assistance and programming worldwide.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Provide support to Regional and Country Offices on emergency response initiatives, humanitarian and response plans, strategies and flash appeals, including strategic planning of the inter-agency humanitarian programming cycle and relevant inter-agency discussions, whether bilateral or in the context of the IASC, in line with IOM agreements, policies and standards.
2. In coordination with PRD sub sections and units, analyse and strengthen IOM’s crises management systems to monitor emerging migration crisis situations around the world and report thereon, with primary emphasis on thematic areas such as forced displacement, slow-onset and sudden onset disasters, complex emergencies and caseloads such as mixed movements, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and stranded migrants.
3. Provide support to IOM’s participation in international, inter-agency and government-led coordination mechanisms, meetings, relevant conferences, workshops, and technical working groups, including IASC working groups, Needs Assessment, Inter Agency Group on Humanitarian Needs Overviews and Humanitarian Response Plans and other reference and ad hoc coordination groups with regard to potential humanitarian emergencies ensuring IOM presence and highlighting core migration crisis management, preparedness and response issues.
4. Assist in IOM’s contribution to institutional and inter-agency publications and reports ensuring that IOM preparedness and response capabilities are well reflected, including contribution to the development of the Institutional Questionnaire for Emergencies, the Global Annual Report on Operations and Emergencies, the coordination of IOM-led responses in the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) and IOM’s institutional reporting obligations for the Grand Bargain.
5. Strengthen IOM’s capacity on inter-agency coordination roles and responsibilities, including the humanitarian programme cycle, participation and strengthening of the humanitarian system, and the inclusion of IOM’s populations of concern in inter-agency planning.
6. Manage and coordinate IOM’s global emergency funds, in coordination with the Head of PRD and the Regional Thematic Specialists, and final approval of the steering committee (Director of DOE, Regional Directors and the Department of Finance Management). This includes resource mobilization of the funds, donor prioritization and selection of countries, the disbursement of funds, information exchange on all operational aspects of Global Emergency Funds (GEFs) within IOM and with the donor, internal and external reporting, review and advice on the overall performance, monitoring of implementation, and establishment of strategic programmatic linkages with other global projects.
7. Support Level 3 emergency responses to affected Country Offices, assist in the scale-up of IOM’s initial response capacity, strategic planning and resource mobilization, support the coordination and monitoring to the crisis response and the development and monitoring progress of the priority objectives identified in any scale-up response.
8. Liaise with other relevant IOM Departments, Divisions, Units and Programmes regarding projects, initiatives, talking points and events which might have implications for IOM’s humanitarian role; these include mixed movements, migrant assistance activities in humanitarian crises, emergency health and psychosocial support activities, gender related activities, gender-based violence prevention activities in camps, the Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) initiative, migrant and persons movements, among others.
9. Undertake duty travel as required, provide direct technical support to Country and Regional Offices on humanitarian response operations.
10. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, Humanitarian Affairs, 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 emergencies in the field of preparedness and response;
• Experience in migration and managing crises issues including project development, and management;
• Experience working at an international level with the UN, international organizations and non-government organization and in complex humanitarian operations, including conflict and post-conflict situations; and,
• Experience in liaising with donors, global partners, Permanent Missions, governmental authorities, other national/international institutions and INGOs.

Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in the thematic area relevant to project development;
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation; and,
• Knowledge or experience of regional issues is an advantage.

Languages

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

External applicants for all positions in the Professional category are required to be proficient in English and have at least a working knowledge of one additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).

For all applicants, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish 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 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.

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.