Senior Protection Associate

Organizational Context

IOM, established in 1951, is a leading UN agency focused on migration, promoting humane and orderly migration globally. It operates by saving lives, protecting people on the move, and facilitating regular migration pathways. The organization fosters an inclusive and supportive workplace. This role is situated within IOM Venezuela's emergency protection program, supporting the Chief of Mission and Protection Officer.

Job Purpose

This Senior Protection Associate role supports the coordination, quality assurance, and operational oversight of IOM Venezuela's emergency protection program, particularly in response to the devastating earthquakes of June 2026. The purpose is to ensure timely access to life-saving assistance and to prevent, mitigate, and respond to protection risks affecting displaced and earthquake-affected populations. The role focuses on vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. The incumbent will provide technical and operational support to Protection Assistants, consultants, mobile protection teams, and implementing partners, ensuring interventions are timely, accountable, technically sound, and compliant with IOM policies and protection principles.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include assisting in the identification and analysis of protection issues to support mainstreaming and risk mitigation. The role involves supporting the implementation of protection project activities, coordinating with other sectors, and reporting on outcomes. Providing technical support to implementing partners on case management and ensuring services align with minimum standards is crucial. The Associate will help build partnerships with protection actors and community networks to foster a protective environment. Data collection and analysis for protection concerns, conducting capacity assessments for partners, and supporting the design of capacity-building strategies are also key duties. Adapting protection guidelines and tools, strengthening referral pathways, and mentoring staff and partners on psychological first aid are important. The role also requires participation in interagency coordination and liaising with relevant focal points on cross-cutting issues.

Work Experience

Experience is required in protection programming, including case management, human rights, trafficking in persons, and protection monitoring. A comprehensive understanding of human rights and protection principles is essential. Experience in consolidating operational information, tracking workplans, supporting donor reporting, and applying data protection standards is desirable. Specialized training in protection in emergencies, case management, GBV risk mitigation, child protection, counter-trafficking, AAP, PSEA, or humanitarian coordination is advantageous. Experience supporting protection mainstreaming across various sectors is also desirable.

Skills

Strong facilitation skills, experience in providing technical support to implementing partners, excellent communication and analytical skills, strong coordination skills, demonstrated knowledge of training and capacity building activities, and strong interpersonal and teamwork skills are required. The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals is also essential.

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