Project Officer (Compliance, Communications & Cultural Orientation)

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

Duty Station: Kaiserslautern, Germany

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: 05 December 2023

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; Barbados; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Dominica; Fiji; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uzbekistan; 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 thousands of refugees each year. 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), Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) provide critical support and processing assistance for resettlement to the US. As part of an MOU between IOM and the US State Department Bureau for Population Refugees and Migration (PRM), IOM manages several RSCs which prepare applications for adjudication by and provide support to visiting US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers, facilitate security and medical screenings, provide information about arriving individuals to resettlement agencies in the US and offer Cultural Orientation (CO) training to individuals departing for the US. This position will support L3 Operations.

Under the general supervision of the Senior Site Lead and the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator (Germany), this position will be based in Kaiserslautern, Germany and will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Supervise daily RSC Eurasia Compliance, Communications and Cultural Orientation (CCO) activities, including providing training, assigning duties and giving feedback to 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:
3. Support the USRAP Monitoring Officer in Washington, DC in carrying out monitoring and evaluation activities for RSC, including planning activities, administering such mechanisms as surveys, interview protocols and focus groups, and reporting on data.
4. Support training activities within RSC staff, including serving as the USRAP Training Focal Point, helping to identify training needs, planning, 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.
5. 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 Overseas Processing Entity (COPE) cases, providing training on interviewing at-risk individuals, counselling minors, and analysing or completing documentation related to minors.
6. 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.
7. If supervising Cultural Orientation activities:
8. In accordance with changes to CO activities and guidelines, regularly update RSC CO guidance and ensure CO staff members are fully trained on all curriculum and country-of-resettlement updates. As needed, contribute to the development and update of CO curriculum and instructional materials for the US, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and others, including new resettlement countries.
9. In coordination with RSC colleagues and other resettlement countries, organize the delivery of CO as needed. Regularly monitor the pipeline of cases requiring CO classes. Periodically review both CO curriculums and ad-hoc information delivery and troubleshoot issues that arise during CO sessions.
10. Liaise directly with resettlement countries as needed, including on the submission of regular reports on CO 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.
11. Alert the Project Manager of any non-compliance to SOPs or codes of conduct by RSC staff members.
12. In coordination with the Project Manager, liaise with other units in RSC and IOM, and with external partners as needed. Represent RSC and CO programs at meetings, including with high-level government and UN officials. Prepare reports, briefings, background information, narratives, and statistics for internal and external dissemination.
13. Undertake duty travel as needed to conduct activities related to monitoring and evaluation, training, project support, project reporting, protection, communications, CO, for meetings, and to participate in training.
14. 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 institution1 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 (CO) or CO programmes for other resettlement countries;

• Minimum of two years’ experience working 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;
• 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.
• Proven knowledge of services available to newly arrived refugees to the US.
• Sound knowledge IOM’s administrative, budgetary, financial, and business rules and practices.
• Ready, willing and able to travel extensively to monitor CO 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.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Dari, Pashto or another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p df

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.