Senior Project Associate (Socioeconomic Integration)
Organizational Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a UN-related organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration. The IOM Costa Rica project "Regular Migration Status and Socioeconomic Integration for Migrants" aims to support migrants who choose to remain in Costa Rica. This involves assisting them in accessing legal status, basic services, and livelihood opportunities within the Great Metropolitan Area (GAM). The Senior Project Associate role operates under the supervision of the Head of Program and the Head of the Migration and Development Unit.
Job Purpose
The Senior Project Associate (Socioeconomic Integration) plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of project activities focused on the socioeconomic integration of migrants in Costa Rica. The primary purpose is to facilitate access to employment services and comprehensive livelihood support for migrants admitted by the Government of Costa Rica who do not opt for assisted voluntary return. This involves enabling them to generate sustainable income aligned with their residency status. The role requires providing technical, administrative, and operational support for activities conducted in collaboration with the National Employment System, including mapping employment services, profiling migrants, facilitating job placement, and promoting inclusion in the formal financial system and labor market through partnerships with trade associations and private sector organizations.
Responsibilities
The Senior Project Associate will independently lead and coordinate project implementation, monitoring progress, and analyzing challenges to adjust strategies as needed. Responsibilities include researching and compiling data on migration trends, monitoring budget expenditures, and ensuring financial, administrative, and technical aspects align with IOM policies and donor requirements. The role involves planning and conducting capacity-building workshops, participating in meetings, and maintaining liaison with local authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders. The Associate will coordinate the preparation of reports and ensure timely submission of status updates. Additionally, they will identify and document best practices, contribute to SOP development, and supervise reporting staff, performing other assigned duties.
Work Experience
Required experience includes strong previous involvement in labor migration and socioeconomic integration processes, staff supervision, and communicating with diverse cultural backgrounds. Experience in coordinating with institutional and UN counterparts is also necessary. Previous experience in socioeconomic integration activities and familiarity with related intervention areas are advantageous. Excellent analytical, writing, systematization, organizational, and planning skills are essential, along with the ability to multitask and work effectively both independently and in a team.
Skills
Key skills include leadership and team management (supervision, coaching, training, delegation, conflict resolution, decision-making), strong communication (active listening, clear verbal/written communication, interdisciplinary collaboration), compliance and quality assurance (policy implementation, risk assessment, ethical decision-making), and interpersonal skills (emotional intelligence, empathy, cultural competence, relationship building, negotiation, adaptability, resilience).