Programme Coordinator (labour Migration)

Organizational Context

IOM, a UN-related agency, is the leading body in migration, promoting humane and orderly movement. IOM Malaysia manages diverse migration programmes, including a growing labour migration portfolio focused on private sector engagement and human rights in supply chains. This role, Programme Coordinator (Labour Migration), sits within the Malaysia Country Office, coordinating labour migration programming and providing technical support to regional initiatives.

Job Purpose

The Programme Coordinator (Labour Migration) will coordinate IOM Malaysia's labour migration programming, ensuring programmatic coherence, technical quality, and synergies across related projects and initiatives. A key purpose is to lead the implementation of the regional Migration, Business and Human Rights in Asia (MBHR-Asia) programme in Malaysia. The role also involves serving as a technical resource person in a defined thematic area, such as research, capacity-building, remediation, or migrant worker voice, providing expert guidance, supporting implementation, and contributing to monitoring and reporting for assigned areas. This position is critical for enhancing regular labour migration pathways, strengthening the protection and respect for migrant workers' rights in Asia, and promoting effective human rights due diligence in supply chains. The role contributes significantly to IOM's broader mandate of promoting humane and orderly migration, protecting vulnerable migrant workers, and fostering ethical business practices in line with UN Guiding Principles.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the MBHR-Asia programme in Malaysia, overseeing operational, budgetary, and programmatic aspects of labour mobility and social inclusion projects. This includes supervising designated staff, consolidating programme inputs, meeting reporting requirements, and aligning implementation with Country Office and regional strategies. Identify funding opportunities, liaise with donors, and contribute to advocacy strategies to support government understanding of migration benefits and migrant rights. Implement IOM Malaysia’s private sector engagement strategy by building partnerships, delivering technical outreach, and promoting responsible business practices related to labour migration and ethical recruitment. Participate in national and regional forums to strengthen networks. Coordinate technical implementation of labour mobility projects, ensuring workplans are met and challenges addressed. Provide technical advice as a resource person, identify stakeholder engagement priorities, and contribute to designing new programmes. Support project design and resource mobilization by drafting concept notes and proposals. Liaise with Resources Management Officers to ensure financial standards are observed. Coordinate donor report preparation, support visibility and communication materials, and monitor programme implementation through workplan reviews, results tracking, and identifying corrective actions. Conduct duty travel for monitoring and coordination.

Work Experience

Required experience includes working in international development, managing and implementing programmes related to labour migration, migrant worker protection, private sector engagement, and partnership-building. Candidates should have experience liaising with governmental authorities, national/international institutions, and donors. Demonstrated experience in programme and project management, including budget planning and monitoring, is essential. Experience engaging with the private sector, particularly on business and human rights issues or forced labour, is an advantage.

Skills

Effective communication (oral and written) with diverse stakeholders, including presentations and meeting participation. Proven diplomatic skills and expertise in implementing complex, participatory projects, working effectively with government institutions, personnel, and donors. Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, demonstrating courtesy, tact, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people from diverse cultural and national backgrounds.

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