Chief of Mission (CoM)

Context:

IOM is the leading organization in the field of migration and has a staffing complement of 20,000+ staff in more than 580 locations worldwide.

Under the overall guidance of the Director General and direct supervision of the Regional Director (RD) as well as in close cooperation with relevant Units at Headquarters (HQ), the Chief of Mission (CoM) will be responsible and accountable for the activities of IOM, overseeing and providing policy, administrative, programme, and financial support to the Country Office (CO). In programme countries, the Chief of Mission also reports to the Resident Coordinator (RC) with respect to the IOM contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) objectives and the collective results of the UN development system towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda at the country level, in accordance with the Management and Accountability Framework.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Strategic country programme development and planning

1. Take the lead to develop, clarify and contribute to IOM’s overall mandate and strategy and spearhead strategic planning, results orientation and operational excellence, project development and implementation following appropriate consultation with the Regional Office (RO) within the overall regional framework, Headquarters, Member States and other relevant stakeholders.
2. Stimulate, catalyse and support project development through a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy which includes multilateral and bilateral donors, national and local government and public/private partnerships. In programme countries, work closely with the Resident Coordinator (RC) to contribute to joint resource mobilization efforts.
3. Ensure appropriateness and effectiveness of programmes in line with IOM’s Strategic Vision and Strategic results framework, as well as the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the UNSDCF. Ensure accuracy of results reporting, and recommend process improvements including the systematization and transfer of capacities and experiences in support of IOM’s global knowledge management. This includes incorporating lessons learned into the next planning cycle.
4. Advise RO and HQ, as well as the Office of the RC on national policy and migration trends in the country and in the region as well as governments’ migration policies affecting the activities of IOM and prepare proposals for appropriate action.
5. Advocate and support the authorities and key stakeholders on development of appropriate policies and strategies on migration management including mainstreaming into the national plan and budget, as well as into the joint UNSDCF. Support their proactive engagement in the global/regional processes such as, for example, the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), the implementation and follow-up of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) for Orderly, Safe and Regular Migration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the Secretary General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement.
6. Advocate for and promote risk management plans aligned with IOM’s framework and policy. Ensure that risks to the Country Office’s objectives are regularly assessed, with priority risks identified and risk treatment plans are in place and embedded in the Country Office’s activity plans.

Country programme oversight and accountability

1. Take full responsibility for the successful execution of on-going operational programmes and the development of new ones including a strategy for identifying new opportunities.
2. Supervise the implementation and assure high quality performance of a large variety of migration related projects, also as part of increasing their impact within the UNSDCF.

UN inter-agency engagement

1. Participate actively within the UNCT under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator (RC), with a view to ensuring full consideration of all relevant migration-related issues in the CCA and UNSDCF processes and the coordination of the UN Migration Network.
2. Play an integral role in policy discussions with internal and external stakeholders, participating in UN Country Team (UNCT) meetings, and ensure approved policies are appropriately integrated in and represented by IOM’s activities.
3. Actively pursue opportunities for joint programming, where relevant to IOM’s role within the UNSDCF and IOM’s country and regional strategy and the IOM Strategic Vision.
4. Report to the RC on issues linked to the implementation of programmes stemming from the UNSDCF and led by IOM, the individual IOM activities as relevant to CF results, and the collective UNCT results based on the UNSDCF (or the UN Development Assistance Framework, where relevant).
5. Where a Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) exists, participate in the HCT once established, contributing actively and providing support to inter-agency planning process and the overall humanitarian strategy. Ensure that IOM’s obligations within the humanitarian cluster system are carried out including on reporting and capacity and reported upon regularly if the cluster system is activated.
6. Proactively engage with the UN/HCT on issues related to the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (PSEA/SH), as well as xenophobia and discrimination, in order to strengthen the interagency collective response.

Resources Management

1. Direct the operational, human resources, administrative, budgetary and financial activities of the Country Office and oversee those of the Project offices in accordance with the Organization’s rules and procedures.
2. Report regularly to the Director General, Regional Director and other interested partners on progress achieved and developments. Prepare regular and special reports including narrative, impact, policy, financial, evaluation and statistics covering IOM activities, including as part of the interagency platform UNINFO. Prepare briefings and background information requested by the Regional Office, HQ, the Government and other entities.

Knowledge management

1. Facilitate knowledge generation and management through the identification of best practices and lessons learned to ensure more comprehensive and efficient delivery.
2. Coordinate the Country Office’s intra-programmatic knowledge products development and knowledge service delivery, and contribute to UN interagency knowledge management platforms as relevant.
3. Facilitate learning through organization of competency advancement training initiatives.

Representation and strategic partnerships

1. Develop partnerships within and beyond the UNCT, and promote liaison with governmental authorities and diplomatic missions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, the private sector, and public media in the country, particularly with a view to identify migration-related areas for developing common activities/ projects in a complementary manner.
2. Identify needs and priorities for cooperation and project development as well as for fundraising purposes.
3. Support the Regional Office and when relevant HQ in the preparation and implementation of high-level meetings, with a view to ensuing high level participation of the Government.
4. Represent the Organization at national and international conferences, events and meetings.
5. Develop public relations and media activities to promote IOM’s image and programmes.

Other

1. Ensure that safety and security management of IOM personnel, facilities and assets are addressed, in coordination with the Regional Field Security Officer and that safety/security oversight in COs is provided. Ensure establishment and regular maintenance of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and risk mitigation and management mechanisms are in place.
2. Lead the PSEA/SH Strategy for IOM at the country level, ensuring that PSEA/SH is mainstreamed in all operations and programming and is a part of the organizational culture, including but not limited to PSEA/SH awareness raising and training for staff and partners, safe and accessible complaints and referral mechanisms exist within programming and within the office environment, and policies on the reporting of sexual and other types of misconduct are followed.
3. Perform such other duties that may be assigned.

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in Political or Social Science, International Relations, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in general management as well as project and resources management;
• Experience in diplomacy, fundraising and public relations, as well as in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities and international institutions; and,
• Experience in managing a range of migration programming, both in the context of emergency and development programming.

SKILLS

• Excellent communications skills, both oral and written;
• Ability to prepare and deliver speeches on various activities of the Organization;
• Strong liaison and negotiation skills;
• In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration related subject areas dealt with by the Organization;
• Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming;
• Knowledge of Monitoring and Evaluation procedures and Frameworks;
• Effective resources management skills, sound knowledge of financial and business administration and of the principles and practices of management;
• Ability to deliver during crisis response; and,
• Good level of computer literacy.