Protection Officer

Organizational Context

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is a UN-related agency dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration. It operates globally, saving lives, protecting migrants, and facilitating pathways for regular migration. The Protection Officer role is situated within the IOM Venezuela Country Office, reporting to the Chief of Mission and Head of Programmes, and coordinating with regional and headquarters protection divisions.

Job Purpose

The Protection Officer is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of protection activities within the IOM Venezuela Country Office, with a specific focus on Counter Trafficking, Child Protection, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This role is crucial for ensuring that protection principles are integrated into various IOM interventions, including Assisted Voluntary Return & Reintegration, Emergency Responses, Immigration and Border Management, and Transition and Recovery initiatives. The officer will work in close coordination with UN-managed humanitarian strategies and government counterparts to address the protection needs of vulnerable populations on the move and affected communities, thereby contributing to IOM's mandate of promoting humane migration and protecting people.

Responsibilities

The Protection Officer will coordinate and monitor the implementation of protection programs, including financial and operational aspects, and supervise assigned projects. This includes managing the daily activities of the protection team, providing technical guidance, and ensuring compliance with IOM policies. A key duty is facilitating the mainstreaming of protection, including GBV, and cross-cutting issues like disability and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) into IOM's regular programs and crisis response. The role involves coordinating the GBV Action Plan, participating in inter-agency protection forums, and monitoring protection needs of mobile populations. Additionally, the officer will follow up on individual cases, coordinate case management, contribute to knowledge management through technical guidance and capacity building, and maintain strong relationships with government authorities and partners. The position also requires contributing to the unit's information management and communication capacities and undertaking travel for project assessments and liaison.

Work Experience

Required experience includes humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, protection, and human rights. Specific experience in protection/GBV in emergencies and familiarity with coordination mechanisms is essential. The role requires experience in providing technical guidance and capacity building on protection/GBV principles to diverse stakeholders, project management, and coordination. Liaising with governmental authorities and NGOs is also necessary. Experience with a UN agency or international NGO in protection and assistance for displaced persons or migrants is an asset.

Skills

Key skills include the ability to supervise and lead multidisciplinary teams, work effectively in dynamic environments, formulate programmatic inputs, and pay attention to detail. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for rapid solutions, and good communication skills in multicultural settings are required. Knowledge of migration-related subjects, international protection standards, and case management principles is beneficial. Strong IT skills and data analytics proficiency are also considered assets.

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