Project Officer (Compliance, Communications and Cultural Orientation)

Position Title : Project Officer (Compliance, Communications and Cultural Orientation)

Duty Station : Islamabad, Pakistan

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment : Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 21 June 2022

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates

2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states:

Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba (Netherlands); Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Cuba; Curaçao; Fiji; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Libya; Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operates world-wide with a target of providing resettlement opportunities to many thousands of individuals each year. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provides a range of services and support to the USRAP including, but not limited to, case processing, migration health assessments, cultural orientation training, organized transportation and administration of a travel loan and collections program. The Department of Operations and Emergencies (DOE), specifically the Resettlement and Movement Division (RMM), has the organizational responsibility to provide direction, oversight and guidance to IOM’s global support to all resettlement programs.

Under the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) provides critical support and processing services for resettlement to the United States (US). As part of an MOU between IOM and the US State Department Bureau for Population Refugees and Migration (PRM), IOM manages the RSC for Asia and the Pacific Region (Pakistan). RSC Pakistan prepares applications for adjudication by and provides support to visiting US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers, facilitates security and medical screenings, provides information about arriving individuals to resettlement agencies in the US and offers Cultural Orientation training to individuals departing for the US.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) in Islamabad, Pakistan and the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Officer (Compliance, Communications and Cultural Orientation) is responsible for supervising daily Compliance, Communications and Cultural Orientation activities for RSC Pakistan.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Supervise daily RSC Pakistan Compliance, Communications and Cultural Orientation activities as assigned, including providing training, assigning duties and giving feedback to relevant staff members on their performance on a regular basis to ensure high quality work and the accurate completion of activities.

2. If supervising Compliance activities:

a. Support the USRAP Monitoring Officer in Washington, D.C. in carrying out monitoring and evaluation activities for RSC Pakistan, including planning activities, administering such mechanisms as surveys, interview protocols and focus groups, and reporting on data.

b. Support training activities within RSC Pakistan staff, including serving as the USRAP Training Focal Point, helping to identify and plan training needs, organizing and administering trainings, supporting the delivery of trainings, learning to deliver, and delivering, trainings, reporting to the HR-Business Partner and Staff Learning and Development (SDL) at IOM Headquarters on trainings, and contributing to the development of new training packages.

c. Support protection activities related to children, the elderly, persons affected by sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons and other marginalized individuals, including identifying and reporting cases, initiating and monitoring expedite cases through a database, drafting and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools, processing Central Oversees Processing Entity (COPE) cases, providing training on interviewing at-risk individuals, counselling minors, and analysing or completing documentation related to minors.

3. If supervising Communications activities, ensure communications with program beneficiaries are accurate, efficient, timely, sensitive, and compliant with program guidelines by monitoring incoming and outgoing communications, reviewing templates, helping create and implement information campaigns, troubleshooting backlogs or other communication issues. Liaise directly with program beneficiaries when needed, including answering routine queries from and following up with high-profile, sensitive, at-risk, and expedited cases.

4. If supervising Cultural Orientation activities.

a. in accordance with changes to Cultural Orientation activities and guidelines, regularly update RSC Pakistan Cultural Orientation guidance and ensure Cultural Orientation staff members are fully trained on all curriculum and country-of-resettlement updates. As needed, contribute to the development and update of Cultural Orientation curriculum and instructional materials for the US, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and others, including new resettlement countries.

b. In coordination with RSC Pakistan colleagues and other resettlement countries, organize the delivery of Cultural Orientation as needed. Regularly monitor the pipeline of cases requiring Cultural Orientation classes. Periodically review both Cultural Orientation curriculums and ad-hoc information delivery, and troubleshoot issues that arise during Cultural Orientation sessions.

c. Liaise directly with resettlement countries as needed, including on the submission of regular reports on Cultural Orientation activities and on the monitoring of programs in the post-arrival context. As requested, prepare cultural profiles of migrants for resettlement service providers in various countries.

5. Alert the Project Manager of any non-compliance to SOPs or codes of conduct by RSC staff members.

6. In coordination with the Project Manager, liaise with other units in RSC Pakistan and IOM, and with external partners as needed. Participate in meetings, including with high-level government and UN officials. Draft reports, briefings, background information, narratives, and statistics for internal and external dissemination.

7. Undertake duty travel as needed to conduct activities related to monitoring and evaluation, training, project support, project reporting, protection, communications, Cultural Orientation, for meetings, and to participate in training.

8. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Science, International Relations, Regional Studies or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience, or;

• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Supervisory or management experience within USRAP Cultural Orientation or Cultural

Orientation programmes for other resettlement countries;

• Minimum of two years’ working experience with a US Resettlement Agency national office or affiliate, or demonstrated exposure to resettlement agency activities through at least two official US Cultural Orientation exchanges;

• Strong experience and knowledge of services available to newly arrived refugees to the US, Australia, Germany, France, UK, Switzerland and other resettlement countries;

• Teaching, training and curriculum development experience;

• Experience handling logistics in refugee processing locations is an advantage.

Skills

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and writing skills;

• Excellent computer skills and proficiency in spreadsheet and database applications;

• Sound knowledge IOM’s administrative, budgetary, financial, and business rules and practices;

• Ready, willing and able to travel extensively to monitor Cultural Orientation programme activities throughout the region, and the ability to acquire the necessary security and medical clearances in order to do so.

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the USRAP, SOPs and START, as well as the ability to remain professional, impartial, and unbiased during all interactions with refugee applicants, colleagues, and partners.

• Maintain and ensure the confidentiality and integrity of all RSC-related information by implementing control procedures in line with USRAP standards of conduct and data protection rules.

• Knowledge of USRAP program implementation and familiarity with IOM’s administrative, financial, and business rules and practices is desirable;

• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to effectively communicate with and lead a team;

• Demonstrated proficiency with the START (USRAP Refugee Processing System);

• Takes responsibility and manages constructive criticism;

• Works effectively with all clients and stakeholders;

• Promotes continuous learning; communicates clearly;

• Takes initiative and drives high levels of performance management;

• Plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;

• Displays mastery of subject matter;

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