Protection Officer (P)

Grade: P-3

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration.

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 IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories:

Bahamas, Barbados, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

Organizational Context and Scope

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Liberia is working in close collaboration with the Government of Liberia, United Nations agencies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and international partners to address the complex migration, humanitarian, and development challenges exacerbated by decades of conflict, displacement, and instability.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Mission and in close cooperation with relevant departments at Headquarters (HQs) and Regional Office (RO), the Protection Officer will be responsible and accountable for managing, coordinating and overseeing the Country Office’s (CO) Protection Programme activities and strategies, including child protection, counter-trafficking, violence against women and girls, men and boys, Disability Inclusion, assistance to vulnerable migrants, and overall specialized protection programming in the CO.

1. Provide technical advice to CO management and programme teams on the design and delivery of protection programming and support in leading the protection Mainstreaming across relevant programme activities to strengthen safe programming and the protection capacity of staff and partners.
2. Contribute to the design of, implement, and monitor migrant protection interventions in line with IOM protection standards, protection principles, and rights-based approaches, providing inputs on strategic options to the COM and positioning IOM's response to the evolving needs of migrants.
3. Provide technical guidance on protection case management, vulnerability screening, protection assessments, and assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations to raise the quality and consistency of case handling across the CO.
4. Develop and maintenance referral pathways and coordination mechanisms with governmental, UN, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society protection actors to widen vulnerable migrants’ access to specialised services.
5. Facilitate protection risk analysis and integrate mitigation measures throughout programme design and implementation to embed protection mainstreaming across operational activities and reduce risks to affected populations.
6. Review and monitor compliance with IOM protection standards, data protection principles, Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) commitments and other relevant institutional policies and frameworks to identify gaps and recommend corrective action.
7. Conduct CO protection assessments and analyses of protection risks, service gaps, and emerging trends affecting migrants and vulnerable populations to generate evidence that informs CO strategy and programme adjustments.
8. Manage the implementation of protection projects by monitoring activities, expenditures and deliverables, and bringing issues to the attention of the Resources Management Officer (RMO) and the COM with proposed solutions for timely corrective action.
9. Provide operational management, guidance, supervision , and mentorship to relevant programme staff, advising on programmatic strategy and implementation, resource allocation and operational challenges, and deliver trainings that builds team performance and capacity.
10. Participate in technical coordination meetings, protection working groups and inter-agency forums to promote IOM’s technical positions that strengthen partnerships and the coherence of the collective protection response.
11. Prepare technical inputs for donor reports, concept notes and project documentation and share programme information with relevant stakeholders for donor confidence and transparency.
12. Identify programme priorities in coordination with the relevant units at the CO, ROs and HQ, as well as with government counterparts and other relevant partner organisations, and develop project proposals and activities built on a solid results framework, responding to emerging trends and priorities, donor interests and requirements and IOM’s institutional strategies, policies and guidelines.
13. Prepare quality programme reports and submit in a timely manner, in coordination with relevant units in the CO and in line with IOM, donors’ and relevant stakeholders’ requirements.
14. Develop and maintain data collection and analysis mechanisms for IOM’s ongoing or new programmes and share relevant information with partners to strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
15. Assess programme progress against strategic objectives and programme benchmarks, and provide advice on improvements and corrections, and manage the development of a common Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework with regular reporting requirements and impact evaluation strategies in coordination with CO’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) team.
16. Conduct regular field visits to manage, coordinate, and support the implementation of protection programmes, identifying operational challenges and enabling timely adjustments in delivery quality.
17. Perform such other relevant duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Humanitarian Affairs, Economic Development, Business or Public Administration, International Studies , or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience in migrant protection, child protection, counter-trafficking, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), protection mainstreaming or related protection fields;
• Experience conducting protection assessments and vulnerability analyses;
• Experience working with migrants in vulnerable situations and managing complex protection cases;
• Experience coordinating with protection actors and referral systems;
• Experience developing and delivering protection-related capacity-building activities;
• Experience within IOM, UN, NGOs or humanitarian protection programming considered a strong asset;
• Experience in programme development;
• Experience in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities as well as with national and international institutions; and,

• Experience in organising consultations, workshops and seminars with high-level stakeholders.
  

Skills

• Strong knowledge of migrant protection principles, protection mainstreaming and specialised protection programming;
• Strong knowledge of IOM and inter-agency protection standards, operational procedures and guidelines;
• Knowledge of protection case management, referral systems and protection-sensitive approaches;
• Knowledge of IOM protection frameworks, data protection principles and PSEAH standards.
• Excellent management, coordination and supervisory skills;
• Strong communication, organisational and interpersonal skills;
• Strong conceptualisation, analytical and drafting skills;
• Ability to analyse protection risks and provide technical protection guidance in complex operational contexts;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government counterparts, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders;
• Knowledge of UN cooperation frameworks and donor-funded programming; and,
• High degree of judgment, initiative and ability to work independently.
  

Languages

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (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.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

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.

Notes

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. 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 will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security, as well as accreditation and any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland, on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system-wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.

IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates, link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies.