Protection Officer

Position Title: Protection Officer

Duty Station: Vienna, Austria

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P3

Type of Appointment: Special short-term graded, Six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 20 August 2024

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; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second-tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Director for Operations and direct supervision of the Senior Regional Thematic Specialist, based in the Regional Office (RO) in Vienna, the Protection Officer will be responsible and accountable for substantively supporting and advising Country Offices (COs) within the Region on the development, management and implementation of protection in humanitarian settings and protection mainstreaming activities.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Assess humanitarian programming and the extent to which protection is incorporated in COs within the Region and provide advice and recommendations for additional protection mainstreaming and protection focused programming in humanitarian contexts.
2. Assess capacities of staff to plan, design, implement, monitor and evaluate protection in humanitarian contexts activities, projects and programmes, and develop and roll-out capacity building initiatives that address identified gaps.
3. Develop and/or revise methodologies for protection assessments in humanitarian contexts, in coordination with data and research unit.
4. Upon request from COs within the Region, directly conduct and/or support protection assessments in country and regional humanitarian responses, in coordination with data and research unit.
5. Represent IOM and participate in inter-agency protection fora and meetings, including preparation of presentations and talking points, following up on action points, and directly participating in meetings together with or on behalf of the Senior Regional Thematic Specialist.
6. Manage and coordinate surge support for protection staff in arising emergencies, depending upon the thematic capacities in the COs within the Region.
7. Deploy to COs within the Region to support protection programming, as required.
8. Advise and support staff in developing protection activities, outcomes, projects and programmes in humanitarian settings, and review project proposals to ensure appropriate and adequate inclusion of protection activities and outcomes and adequate budgetary allocations for protection activities.
9. Develop quick guide on protection programming in humanitarian settings for IOM staff and partners.
10. Coordinate with the data and research unit to ensure appropriate data and research activities support evidence-based protection programming and protection-related aspects of displacement tracking exercises.
11. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Humanitarian Affairs, Political Science, Law, Human Rights, Development 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.

Experience

• Experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, protection and human rights;
• Experience in protection in humanitarian settings and familiarity with related coordination mechanisms;
• Experience with providing technical guidance and conducting capacity building on protection in humanitarian settings for various stakeholders;
• Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, other national/international institutions, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs); and,
• Working experience with an operational UN agency or a major international NGO in the field of protection and assistance of refugees, internally displaced people, and/or migrants, is an asset.

Skills

• Ability to work in dynamic, fast pace environment;
• Ability to formulate relevant programmatic inputs;
• Ability to work quickly and accurately and pay attention to detail;
• Good writing skills with the ability to analyse complex problems and identify and propose clear, rapid solutions;
• Good communication skills in multicultural environments;
• Knowledge of protection standards;
• Knowledge of case management principles is an asset; and,
• Good data and research skills and knowledge is an asset.

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 a language widely spoken in the Region and/or 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.

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.

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 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 and who do not have prior experience outside the duty station’s country as staff member in the Professional category 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.