Job Description

Introduction

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 ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Project Context and Scope

This consultancy provides senior advisory and programme management support to the Deputy Director Digital and Business Enablement, with a focus on organizational intelligence, strategic analysis, and workstream coordination. The assignment operates in a non‑representational capacity, ensuring the Director has timely insight into governance, stakeholder dynamics, and emerging priorities to support effective decision‑making and anticipatory action.

IOM’s AI programme is at a critical stage of implementation, with a growing portfolio of initiatives, expanding institutional commitments, and increasing demand from Member States and partners. To ensure the programme delivers its objectives effectively and within agreed timelines, the Deputy Director Digital and Business Enablement, requires dedicated senior capacity to strengthen programme management, strategic judgment, and organizational intelligence.

The purpose of this assignment is to embed a senior adviser with strong IOM institutional knowledge to extend the Deputy Director’s reach and effectiveness. The Program Officer operates primarily in a non‑representational capacity, providing analysis, intelligence, and strategic context to support informed leadership decision‑making.

A core element of the assignment is anticipatory support: ensuring that emerging issues, strategic choices, and engagement opportunities are identified early and that the Deputy Director is equipped with timely, well‑grounded context and intelligence to remain ahead of evolving priorities.

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director Digital and Business Enablement, the program officer will provide senior‑level programme management and strategic advisory services. This includes tracking and coordinating multiple workstreams, researching internal governance processes and inter‑agency dynamics, and proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and visibility considerations relevant to the AI programme.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
Information Communications and Technology Department Digital and Business Enablement Division Tasks to be performed under this contract

1. Institutional processes and governance
   To apply and advise on IOM governance structures, decision‑making authorities, and approval pathways, ensuring that actions and submissions are correctly sequenced and strategically positioned to enable timely decisions and avoid administrative or procedural blockages.
2. Strategic framework alignment
   To ensure that the design, narrative, and implementation of the AI programme are fully aligned with IOM strategic commitments, including the Global Compact, IMRF outcomes, and relevant migration policy frameworks.
3. Inter‑agency and UN system engagement
   To maintain a continuous overview of inter‑agency processes, working groups, thematic initiatives, events, and conferences across the UN system relevant to AI, technology, and migration, and to determine where IOM leadership engagement is required or strategically advantageous.
4. Stakeholder management and coordination
   To manage key institutional relationships across IOM Headquarters, Regional Offices, and external partners, proactively identifying risks to delivery, addressing coordination gaps, and ensuring follow‑through on strategic commitments.
5. Priority management and judgment
   To exercise independent judgment in managing competing priorities, filtering and escalating matters that require the Deputy Director’s attention, and actively advising on issues of strategic consequence, including when priorities risk being misaligned or deprioritized.
6. Strategic advisory role
   To serve as a senior advisory resource to the Deputy Director by providing timely, well‑researched analysis and recommendations on strategic decisions, stakeholder dynamics, institutional risks, and policy positioning.
7. Leadership engagement and representation support
   To manage the preparation, coordination, and follow‑up of the Director’s external engagements, including high‑level meetings, conferences, and forums, ensuring substantive readiness and systematic follow‑through on commitments and outcomes.
8. Drafting and authoritative written output
   To draft and clear high‑level briefing notes, correspondence, talking points, and internal papers on behalf of the Director, ensuring they reflect institutional priorities, sound judgment, and IOM’s organizational register.
9. Cross‑divisional intelligence and situational awareness
   To maintain an active understanding of initiatives, developments, and sensitivities across IOM Geneva that intersect with the AI programme, identifying opportunities, emerging risks, and points requiring leadership attention.
10. Workstream leadership and coherence
    To hold oversight of multiple parallel workstreams, track interdependencies, identify blockages, and ensure coherence between discussions, decisions, and implementation so that no critical issues fall between institutional interfaces.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

• Institutional processes and governance
  At least 95% of submissions and requests are cleared without delay or rework due to procedural, governance, or sequencing errors.
• Strategic framework alignment
  100% of programme outputs and briefing materials demonstrate clear alignment with relevant IOM strategic frameworks, with no corrective feedback from senior management.
• Inter‑agency and UN system engagement
  ≥90% of relevant UN‑system engagement opportunities affecting the programme are identified, tracked, and flagged to management in advance.
• Stakeholder management and coordination
  ≥90% of high‑priority stakeholder commitments are delivered within agreed timelines without escalation due to coordination failures.
• Priority management and judgment
  ≥90% of items escalated or deprioritized are confirmed by the Deputy Director as appropriately assessed and actioned.
• Strategic advisory role
  Advisory inputs are delivered on time in ≥95% of cases and are confirmed by management to have informed decision‑making.
• Leadership engagement and representation support
  100% of external engagements are supported by timely briefings and tracked follow‑up actions, with ≥90% closure of commitments.
• Drafting and authoritative written output
  ≥90% of written outputs (briefings, correspondence, talking points) are cleared with minor or no revisions.
• Cross‑divisional intelligence and situational awareness
  At least one material cross‑divisional risk or opportunity affecting the programme is proactively identified and communicated per quarter.
• Workstream leadership and coherence
  No critical deliverables are delayed due to unmanaged dependencies or coordination gaps between workstreams.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Science, AI , 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

Candidates are expected to have a minimum of seven years of experience in the following areas:

• A minimum of seven years of progressive experience within IOM or a comparable UN system organization, including exposure to both Headquarters (Geneva) and field or regional operations;

• Demonstrated professional experience operating at the intersection of policy, governance, and programme delivery within complex, multilateral environments;
• Proven practical knowledge of IOM’s governance architecture, including its structures, processes, and decision-making mechanisms;
• Established experience engaging with Council processes, inter-agency coordination bodies, and cross-divisional stakeholders, with a solid understanding of key global frameworks (e.g. IMRF, the Global Compact) and their operational implications for IOM;
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly grasp strategic priorities and organizational dynamics, applying strong analytical, organizational, and relational intelligence to navigate complex institutional environments effectively; and,
• Demonstrated experience in providing high-level, behind-the-scenes support, enabling senior stakeholders to operate more effectively through well-researched insights, structured briefings, and timely information. Proven ability to enhance decision-making and performance by ensuring the individuals supported are consistently well-prepared, informed, and positioned for success.

Skills

1. Institutional and governance acumen
   Ability to navigate IOM governance structures, decision‑making processes, and approval pathways to enable timely and well‑positioned actions;
2. Strategic judgment and policy understanding
   Strong capacity to interpret and apply organizational strategies and policy frameworks to ensure coherent programme alignment;
3. UN system and inter‑agency awareness
   Proven understanding of UN and inter‑agency processes, with the ability to identify relevant forums and engagement opportunities;
4. Stakeholder management and coordination
   Ability to manage complex institutional stakeholder relationships, anticipate risks, and ensure effective follow‑through on commitments;
5. Analytical and advisory capability
   Strong analytical skills with the ability to provide timely, well‑reasoned advice to senior leadership on strategic and operational matters; and,
6. Advanced drafting and briefing skills
   Ability to produce high‑quality briefings, correspondence, and analytical outputs reflecting institutional priorities and leadership intent.

Languages

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

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.

Travel Required

Travel may be required for the delivery of activities defined in the TOR.

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

• 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.

Notes

IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

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, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. 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