Senior Project Assistant, Cultural Orientation

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 assistance 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.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (COM) and direct supervision of the Project Officer, the successful candidate will be based in Islamabad, Pakistan and will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Oversee a team of Processing site Pakistan staff members undertaking cultural orientation activities in an assigned area or areas, such as training, scheduling or childcare assistance, including supporting staff development processes such as hiring, 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 cultural orientation activities.
• In relation to cultural orientation training, oversee training activities, prepare staff members to provide training for a range of resettlement countries and provide technical assistance and support as they undertake training activities. As needed, conduct training throughout the region, draft training lesson plans in accordance with Processing site Pakistan cultural orientation objectives, ensure that student-centered activities are featured in all cultural orientation classes throughout the region, assist in the development of teaching materials, visual aids and bulletin boards supporting the curriculum, maintain inventories of instructional supplies and order required materials on a regular basis.
• Oversee cultural orientation scheduling activities for Processing site Pakistan, including, if assigned, ensuring that all individuals requiring cultural orientation classes are provided with the opportunity to attend, that circuit rides are planned and carried out in an efficient and effective manner and that logistical circuit ride support is provided when necessary. Train staff members undertaking cultural orientation scheduling on using START and reports to monitor relevant pipelines and plan cultural orientation circuit rides and monitor their work on a regular basis.
• Oversee cultural orientation childcare activities for Processing site Pakistan, including, if assigned, overseeing staff members providing childcare assistance, ensuring childcare assistance is in line with the quality standards of Processing site Pakistan, ensuring childcare spaces are appropriate, adequate and well-maintained, training childcare staff members to conduct basic cultural orientation activities designed for children and monitoring the work of childcare staff members.
• Through oversight and quality check (QC) measures, ensure START is updated as needed with cultural orientation related information, including scheduling data and case updates. Assist supervisors with producing regular reports on cultural orientation activities, including program narratives and statistical reports.
• Utilizing reports, oversee and conduct regular QC of case files and data in START to ensure the accuracy of all case information, the RSC’s compliance with all USRAP and RSC SOPs and that processing pipelines are as short and efficient as possible, with expedited cases progressing as needed.
• In coordination with the Project Officer, liaise as needed with other teams and units in Processing site Pakistan and with external partners such as USCIS, the Refugee Processing Center (RPC), panel physicians, the US Embassy and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Prepare team statistics and report regularly to Processing site Pakistan management on relevant activities, problems and solutions related to the workflow and processing pipeline.
• Train other cultural orientation team members as needed to efficiently and effectively manage and undertake activities related to cultural orientation training, scheduling and childcare and to oversee cultural orientation teams and activities.
• In order to develop and maintain cultural orientation training-related skills, participate in and contribute to teacher trainings and staff development seminars and engage in self-directed study for professional development, including reading resettlement updates, language tutorials, attending cultural orientation-related workshops and seminars.
• Undertake duty travel as needed to conduct activities related to cultural orientation, for meetings and to participate in training.
• 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 applicants, colleagues and partners. Support the development and implementation of SOPs as needed.
• 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. Alert RSC management of any non-compliance to SOPs or codes of conduct by RSC staff members.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

EDUCATION

• Completed secondary education required

EXPERIENCE

• Six years of working experience with secondary education; four years of working experience with Bachelor’s degree
• Thorough knowledge of English
• Ability to use own initiative and work under pressure with minimum supervision

SKILLS

• Excellent computer skills – Word, Excel and Internet
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Attention to detail and ability to organize
• Self-motivated and objective driven
• Experience providing training, teaching and developing educational curriculums is an advantage

Languages

REQUIRED

• For all applicants, fluency in English and Urdu is required (oral and written).

DESIRABLE

• Working Knowledge of any local language/s.

Note: Only short-listed candidates who is matching required criteria for the position will be contacted by IOM.

IOM provides equal opportunity to all qualified female and male including the physically challenged candidates.