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
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:
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 South Sudan operates in protracted displacement sites, transit centres, informal settlements, and areas of return and relocation to provide specialized protection assistance. IOM’s overarching goal on protection is to place the rights and well-being of migrants, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees, regardless of their status, at the center of its operations. This means ensuring the protection of migrants across the full spectrum of migration management and governance. IOM uses a rights-based approach to identify and address needs in humanitarian and transition and development contexts, seeking to secure individual and group rights and to create a society in which these rights are recognized and upheld.
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission, and direct supervision of the Emergency Coordinator, the Programme Coordinator (Protection) will be responsible for the management, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of IOM Country Office’s (CO) protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and migrant protection and resettlement projects and activities, including but not limited to core protection and MHPSS activities and support in IDP camps, informal sites and areas of return, and resettlement.
Programme Coordinator (Protection) will ensure coordination and synergies with concurrent protection programming in the country and will contribute to protection mainstreaming across the mission. In doing so, they will work in close collaboration with the Protection Cluster, relevant protection-related working groups, the government counterparts and its provincial and district authorities. In addition, they will support the Country Office through the provision of protection mainstreaming expertise to other units, including a focus on Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
1. Contribute to the development of IOM South Sudan’s protection strategy, and lead the implementation of IOM protection activities, ensuring centrality of protection in line with IOM policies and procedures, applying and upholding standards in protection approaches and programming.
2. Contribute to resource mobilization efforts for protection, and to project development, monitoring and reporting of all projects and components under the protection portfolio.
3. Strengthen IOM South Sudan’s capacity to deliver protection support and protection activities, including, but not limited to: protection monitoring and advocacy, general protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Trafficking in Persons (TiP), case management, MHPSS, MMU/resettlement, and community-based protection initiatives.
4. Monitor, supervise, train, coach and oversee the work of the Protection Unit’s staff and closely coordinate with other relevant thematic divisions, to ensure consolidation and a harmonized response across thematic and geographical areas of intervention, as well as IOM procedural standards and policies.
5. Manage core protection-related projects, activities and budgets, maintain accurate information management and quality M&E, provide technical guidance and capacity building, and oversee accountable delivery of protection activities and services.
6. Lead IOM South Sudan’s protection mainstreaming efforts across the mission, with a strong focus on AAP, and strengthen protection integration into durable solutions with a focus on joint approaches with HLP, social cohesion and peacebuilding.
7. Analyze context and dynamics and maintain a detailed understanding of the evolving protection landscape, keeping senior management abreast of developments.
8. Champion localization, including assessing opportunities and capacity for cooperation with national authorities and partners, including local governments and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
9. Represent IOM in the Protection Cluster and all relevant coordination forums.
10. Develop key messages and advocacy briefs based on protection monitoring findings and contextual protection analysis as required.
11. Mentor and support staff in their professional development from recruitment, onboarding and support their capacity building efforts on internal guidelines, protection mainstreaming standards and practices.
12. Coordinate with and provide technical expertise and lessons learned to IOM’s Protection Regional Thematic Specialist and Headquarters.
13. Undertake duty travel, as required and in line with prevailing security restrictions, related to programme implementation and oversight, staff training, and programme partners, to coordinate, develop and support programme implementation.
14. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.
Experience
Skills
Languages
All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).
For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).
Working Knowledge of Arabic 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:
Core Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2
Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2
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 certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.
Vacancies close at 23:59 local time 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, 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.
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

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.
IOM works with its partners in the international community to assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration, advance understanding of migration issues, encourage social and economic development through migration and uphold the well-being and human rights of migrants.
More people are on the move today than at any other time in recorded history: 1 billion people – comprising a seventh of humanity. A variety of elements – not least the information and communications revolutions – contribute to the movement of people on such a large scale. The forces driving migration as a priority issue are: climate change, natural and manmade catastrophes, conflict, the demographic trends of an ageing industrialized population, an exponentially expanding jobless youth population in the developing world and widening North–South social and economic disparities.