Regional Thematic Specialist (Humanitarian Response and Recovery) (P)
Organizational Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN-related organization established in 1951, promotes humane and orderly migration. It focuses on saving lives, protecting migrants, resolving displacement, and facilitating legal migration pathways. The organization works with governments and partners to provide services and advice. This role operates within the Regional Office, supporting Country Offices across the region.
Job Purpose
The Regional Thematic Specialist (Humanitarian Response and Recovery) provides expert advice and supports the implementation of institutional policies from Headquarters within Country Offices across the region. This role ensures consistent, cohesive, and quality evidence-based programming by offering oversight and thematic expertise. The specialist contributes to thought leadership on critical migration issues, including saving lives, protecting individuals on the move, addressing displacement, and facilitating regular migration pathways. The position also involves identifying regional opportunities and risks, fostering knowledge sharing, encouraging policy and research development, and supporting cross-thematic collaboration. Externally, the specialist advocates for and provides technical program recommendations to regional entities, Member States, and migration forums, serving as the primary resource for humanitarian response and recovery expertise in the region.
Responsibilities
This role involves leading the Regional Office Humanitarian Response and Recovery Unit, providing strategic direction, and managing its delivery of guidance and support to Country Offices. The specialist will advocate for and represent IOM's strategic plan to external stakeholders. Key duties include delivering technical assistance on thematic priorities, coordinating crisis responses, and providing training and capacity building to staff and partners. The role requires developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with diverse regional actors and mobilizing resources by advocating programmatic priorities with donors. Oversight responsibilities include facilitating project development, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation, as well as supporting risk management and the promotion of cash-based interventions. The specialist will also contribute to knowledge management, policy development, and data analysis, and lead engagement in inter-regional initiatives.
Work Experience
Requires demonstrated experience in humanitarian response and recovery, project development and management, thematic capacity building, and liaison. A minimum of five years of experience managing humanitarian response and recovery projects in non-OECD countries is necessary. Experience in liaison, resource mobilization, and advocacy with various stakeholders, including governments and international organizations, is essential. Experience within an international organization, UN, or government is also required, along with experience in designing and implementing capacity-building initiatives.
Skills
Ability to analyze complex migration and displacement dynamics and frame them within regional and global contexts. Proven track record in donor engagement, project development, and resource mobilization. Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams effectively. Strong analytical, summarization, presentation, and communication skills. Knowledge of international standards in humanitarian response and recovery. Proven ability to drive change and foster a culture of learning and knowledge management.