Position Title: Director, Partnerships Division

Job Code: VN 2024 543

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade D1

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

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 22 September 2024

Context:

IOM recognizes the importance of forging strategic partnerships with external stakeholders to address the multi-faceted opportunities and challenges of migration. The Partnerships Division leads a whole-of organisation approach towards leveraging partnerships to support IOM’s Strategic Plan and operational requirements. The Division works to establish, expand, and diversify partnerships with international organizations, international financial institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders, by developing a more strategic approach to partnerships.

The Division is responsible for the following:

• Developing and implementing an overall IOM partnership strategy to create a coherent approach and a shared understanding of added value of establishing partnerships outside of the project implementation process.
• Advocating for partnerships for influence, advocacy, sharing expertise, and promoting IOM’s priorities.
• Identifying key partner categories, setting out principles and objectives of partnerships, defining frameworks/modalities of engagement as well as creating criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of partnerships.
• Promoting “Partnerships for migration” in coordination with Operations Pillar and other relevant teams in the Organization to ensure added value.
• Advising on the need for partnerships not only to be conducted at the HQ global level, but also advocating for partnerships to be included in Regional Offices (ROs) and Country Offices (COs) strategies.
• Building and maintaining relations and partnerships with external entities including on jointadvocacy, to support IOM’s strategic priorities and operational requirements.
• Ensuring appropriate IOM participation in external events, and strategic connections with and advocacy for, IOM priorities.
• Providing guidance to HQ, ROs, and COs colleagues on partnership opportunities and ensuring best practices are shared across the whole organisation.

The Division has two units, International Partnerships and Multilateral Development Bank Partnerships, and is also responsible for the Secretariat of the Migrant Advisory Board.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Director, Office of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications, the incumbent is responsible for:

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Lead and coordinate IOM’s work with external partners as ‘enablers’ in support of achieving IOM’s strategic priorities.
2. Conceptualise, develop, and lead the implementation of a coherent and strategic Organization-wide vision and approach for partnerships and engagement with a broad range of external stakeholders.
3. Establish, lead, and coordinate IOM’s institutional relationships with stakeholders, including but not limited to: civil society, local authorities, intergovernmental organizations, international finance institutions, migration dialogues, parliamentarians, diaspora organizations and all other relevant migration actors while providing a first port of call to these external partners, and supporting the engagement of other parts of the Organization with them.
4. Foster institutional partnerships with civil society, including diaspora organizations and other representative groups, and conduct regular strategic consultations and engagements with a focus on participation and representation.
5. Lead and develop IOM’s institutional relationship with international financial institutions, inclusive of multilateral development banks and conduct regular strategic consultations and briefings.
6. Lead and develop IOM’s institutional stance vis á vis local and regional governments.
7. Lead and coordinate the fulfillment of IOM’s role in migration dialogues, ensuring the provision of fora for states and other actors to promote understanding, cooperation, and coordination on migration issues.
8. Support the establishment and operation of a participatory and consultative platform for migrant voices.
9. Lead and develop IOM’s institutional stance vis á vis youth including supporting the implementation of the Youth Strategy and the Youth Changemakers Initiative.
10. Liaise with relevant divisions and units leading on partnerships with UN entities, and the private sector.
11. Support the OPAC Senior Director, ensuring IOM remains up to date on strategically important development trends and issues as they relate to external partners.
12. Support the work of the Regional Liaison and Policy Officers (RLPOs) through training, guidance, and information.
13. Represent the Organization at meetings, conferences seminars, including chairing and moderating meetings and panels.
14. Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, Business Administration, Migration Studies, International Relations, Law, or a related field from an accredited institution with fifteen years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Fifteen years of experience in the field of migration issues including operational and field experience;
• Experience in formulation and implementation of migration policy and programmes at the national and internation level;
• Experience in liaising with high-level authorities, national and international institutions,intergovernmental organisations, and civil society organisations;
• Proven diplomatic and management skills, with the ability to lead and direct successfully a team and to collaborate successfully with peers;
• Proven experience in public speaking and representing an organization at a senior level; and,• Proven analytical abilities and commitment to continuous learning.

Skills

• In-depth knowledge of the broad range of migration-related subject areas dealt with by the Organization;
• Knowledge of stakeholders within the Partnership Division remit; and,
• Knowledge of the UN system.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, 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.