Regional Protection Officer
Organizational Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is a UN-related agency focused on promoting humane and orderly migration. The Protection Unit within the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) provides thematic oversight and technical support for Protection, Return, and Reintegration programs across the region, working with country offices to ensure safe and dignified assisted voluntary return and reintegration services for beneficiaries.
Job Purpose
The Regional Protection Officer will support the Protection Unit within IOM's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This role is crucial for providing thematic oversight and technical guidance to Protection, Return, and Reintegration programs throughout the LAC region. Working in coordination with IOM Headquarters, the Global Office in Washington D.C., and country offices, the officer will help ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive comprehensive protection services, including safe and dignified assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin or legal status. Assistance may encompass protection screening, counseling, travel document acquisition, escorts, and support during departure, transit, and arrival.
Responsibilities
The Regional Protection Officer will contribute to drafting and reviewing protection assessments and identifying risk mitigation strategies, focusing on operational settings, service accessibility, protection risks for vulnerable groups, and referral pathways. The role involves providing technical guidance and support to protection staff in the LAC region to ensure high-quality outcomes and adherence to IOM policies. The officer will ensure appropriate coordination in line with IOM and interagency standards, participating in relevant coordination mechanisms. They will provide remote and in-person thematic support to Country Offices, ensuring a coherent approach to interventions, and may be deployed for urgent protection responses. The role includes representing the Regional Office in technical meetings, identifying operational priorities, and contributing to project proposal development. Additionally, the officer will support case management coordination, review complex AVR cases, and contribute to developing and delivering training on AVR, case management, and protection interventions, fostering the exchange of lessons learned and best practices.
Work Experience
Required experience includes working with migrants, civil society, and governments; collaborating in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams; supporting protection programming and mainstreaming protection across operations, preferably in multiple countries; and providing protection and assistance to vulnerable migrants. Experience in return and reintegration programs is essential. Experience in capacity building, training delivery, and developing operational tools is preferred, as is experience with IOM or other UN agencies.
Skills
Key skills include demonstrated knowledge of IOM and inter-agency protection standards, operational procedures, and guidelines; strong coordination skills; ability to research and adapt to diverse operational and cultural contexts; excellent writing, editing, presentation, and training facilitation abilities; proficiency in MS Office Suite and statistical analysis packages; knowledge of UN cooperation frameworks and donor requirements; ability to gather and consolidate information from multiple sources; strong judgment and initiative for independent work; excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills; and the proven ability to build effective working relationships with diverse individuals.