Position Title: Chief, Climate Mobility Innovation Lab Unit

Job Code: VN 2024 341

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P5

Type of Appointment: Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 03 November 2024

Context:

IOM has been engaged in migration, environment, climate change, and disaster risk reduction efforts since the early 1990s. IOM’s vision is to support States in their efforts to achieve safe, orderly, and regular international migration and to ensure that all people on the move and those internally displaced by the adverse impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and disasters, are assisted and protected. In this regard, IOM`s activities reinforce local and national initiatives to prevent and prepare for disasters and related population movements, provide emergency assistance and protection where displacement cannot be avoided, and foster post-disaster recovery solutions and resilience-building.

In line with IOM’s Strategic Plan 2024-2028, the Climate Road Map, and the Institutional Strategy on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change 2021-2030, IOM’s Climate Change programming is informed by the following three broad objectives in managing environmental migration, intervening at each stage of the migration cycle:

1. “Solutions for people to move” – Managing migration in the context of climate change, environmental degradation, and disasters due to natural hazards.
2. “Solutions for people on the move” – Assisting and protecting migrants and displaced persons in the context of climate change, environmental degradation, and disasters due to natural hazards.
3. “Solutions for people to stay” – Making migration a choice by building resilience and addressing the adverse climatic and environmental drivers that compel people to move.

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director General for Operations and direct supervision of the Director of Climate Action, the Chief, Climate Mobility Innovation Lab Unit, in collaboration with other Climate Action Division (CAD) colleagues, (Regional Thematic Specialists) RTSs and relevant Climate Mobility Innovation Labs (CMIL), will develop, clarify and articulate IOM’s strategy and operational plans for leveraging transformative change and designing innovative and customized quality solutions using a laboratory approach for climate adaptation and just transition to reduce pressure on ecosystems, drive resilience and sustainability for people and biodiversity, and generate financial return for sustainable development for communities and investors. Under the lab, IOM will lead with diverse partnerships private sector, academia, financial institutions, diaspora alliance, and local stakeholders and will develop models and initiatives that allow for new financing with a high return on investment with a focus on depth of transformation, scale and reach a strategic response to the pressing challenges faced by communities affected by climate-induced migration.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Stimulate, catalyze, and lead the establishment of the CMIL in Geneva and supervise the regional labs for the development of bankable climate solutions on climate adaptation and green transition.
2. Develop and promote high-level relationships and liaison with key UN agencies, Academia, private sector, expert organizations, strategic stakeholders, and the media to, inter alia, promote consensus and commitment, and generate and secure new funding. As IOM’s primary Climate Mobility Innovation Lab lead under the CAD Director, oversee alignment with global initiatives.
3. Represent IOM Headquarters (HQ) in regional Climate Mobility Innovation Lab “Innovation Committees”, make speeches, promote the CMIL’s work and objectives, ensure alignment, and present results to the steering committee at global levels.
4. Advise on the development of the CMIL’s coordination role at global levels, prepare proposals for action, and establish links with Global Compact for Migration (GCM).
5. Lead, convene, and connect climate mobility and innovation programmes and resources, and bring together key stakeholders including academia, governments, private sector, Artificial Intelligence (AI), UN agencies, civil societies, and youth groups.
6. Direct and supervise the CMIL leads in the regions and ensure the acceleration of existing ideas within IOM for their scale-up and replication.
7. Drive, advise on and ensure enhanced capacity, strategic thinking, and continuous adaptive learning on Climate Action and human mobility across regions and countries, and link with global levels.
8. Develop and/or advise on regional and country policies and approaches, and take part in policy discussions, influencing policy engagement on Climate Mobility at global levels based on scientific evidence.
9. Through evidence-based science and joint messaging across regional levels, support global level policies and their development.
10. Drive and oversee collaboration across IOM divisions/units for the integration of innovative and tested climate solutions into IOM’s sectoral interventions and programmes at emergency, development, and peace nexus levels.
11. Develop and establish strategic partnerships with and between core Climate Action practitioners in innovation, develop fundraising strategies, and scale up resources from donors and private sector entities in coordination with the Resource Mobilization Divisions.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, Engineering, Emergency Management, Social Sciences, Environment, International Relations, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with ten years of relevant professional experience; or,

• University degree in the above fields with twelve years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• At least ten years (twelve years for bachelor’s degree holders) of senior management and leadership roles in both the humanitarian and development field with international organisations, including substantial experience working in developing countries;
• Demonstrated leadership experience in Climate Change, Migration, and displacement;
• Demonstrated experience in climate change, Knowledge management, Innovation, policy development, and planned relocation; and,
• Work experience within the UN system, particularly in leading and/or coordinating, would be a strong advantage.

Skills

• Proven track record in fundraising for complex programs, coordinating inter-sectoral initiatives, and delivering capacity-building programs;
• Ability to conceptualize and strategically analyse complex issues related to climate Change and human mobility;
• Excellent technical writing skills, including the ability to draft policy papers, advocacy messages, thematic reports, and funding proposals;
• Proven ability to create networks and build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including governments, UN agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector;
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively in English; tailors communication style to different audiences; and,
• Proven high-level representation skills – ability to speak at conferences and provide insightful analysis.

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 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

Previous applicants do not need to re-apply.