Senior Protection Associate

Organizational Context

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is a leading UN agency dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration. It works with partners to save lives, protect people on the move, address displacement, and facilitate regular migration pathways. IOM fosters an inclusive and supportive workplace to maximize the potential of migration and enhance support for migrants.

Job Purpose

The Senior Protection Associate will assist in coordinating the direct implementation of protection activities under the guidance of the Head of Mobility Pathways and Inclusion Division and the supervision of the Protection Coordinator and National Protection Officer. This role provides crucial support for protection activities specifically related to Return & Reintegration and Counter-Trafficking initiatives. The position is vital for ensuring that vulnerable migrants receive appropriate assistance, protection, and support throughout their migration journey, contributing to IOM's mandate of protecting people on the move and facilitating safe and orderly migration processes within the Iraqi context.

Responsibilities

The Senior Protection Associate is responsible for supporting the technical supervision, coordination, and monitoring of migrant protection activities in Baghdad. This includes case management for vulnerable migrants, counter-trafficking support, and Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) activities. Key duties involve providing counselling, referrals, legal assistance, and reintegration support. The role requires supervising teams to ensure timely activity rollout, monitoring, and reporting. Identifying protection risks and needs, coordinating referrals to specialized services, and supporting pre-departure counselling are essential. The Associate will also ensure data collection tool compliance, coordinate capacity-building activities for staff and partners, and implement protection activities in line with IOM standards. Collaboration with other IOM sectors, mainstreaming gender and protection, and updating relevant tools and guidelines are also part of the responsibilities.

Work Experience

Requires work experience in migration and/or protection, with prior experience assisting mixed migrant populations, particularly victims of trafficking and survivors of gender-based violence. Experience communicating with diverse groups, government authorities, and humanitarian actors is necessary. Proficiency in Microsoft applications, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure are also essential.

Skills

Experience in case management, Counter Trafficking, AVRR, and/or Gender-Based Violence programming. Project management and implementation experience. Experience delivering protection trainings. Strong written and oral communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel). Willingness to collaborate with diverse groups.

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