Organizational Context and Scope

Within the Department of Mobility Pathways and Inclusion (DPMI), the Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) Division’s Immigration and Visas (IV) Unit provides at the request of and in agreement with Member States, immigration and visa policy guidance and expertise as well as technical and operational solutions related to admission, immigration, consular and visa-related matters.

The Immigration and Visas (IV) Unit within the IBG Division oversees projects and programmes which facilitate safe, legal and orderly migration with a focus on visa policy support to States as well as technical assistance to help operationalize visa and entry schemes, as well as developing innovative solutions to facilitate regular pathways for vulnerable migrants. Such pathways include family reunification schemes and humanitarian visa schemes. In order to enhance awareness of these capacities, facilitate the development of concept notes and project proposal in support of HQ for global initiatives, the Strategy and Operations Officer is responsible for exploring opportunities for IV within the Regular Pathways institutional pillar, translating project opportunities into concepts notes and project proposals, and assisting the Global Operations Coordinator in developing strategies and workplans to enhance the programmatic work of the Unit.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the IV Unit and direct supervision of the Global Operations Coordinator for Admissions, the Strategy and Operations Officer (Admission Programmes) will be responsible for providing cross-cutting support to the IV Unit’s global programmes and recommendations to the Unit on strategy and operations.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. In close coordination with the Global Operations Coordinator for Admission, formulare, articulate and recommend strategic global initiatives in support of enhanced operational effectiveness, resource mobilization, and development of innovative solutions.
2. In coordination with the Global Operations Coordinator for Admissions, support the management and oversight of the daily activities of the IV Unit’s global programming, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, IOM’s standards, and with relevant regulations.
3. Manage, monitor, assess and guide the performance of VAC network staff members, ensuring timely and accurate information exchange and reporting, with a focus on meeting service levels and maintaining programme integrity and data security.
4. Provide strategic inputs on new global consular, visa-related, and admission programming; assist the Global Operations Coordinator with the scoping and design of new ideas and projects in support for global initiatives.
5. Analyse IOM internal awareness needs, and support the Unit developing, planning, and implementing visibility and training sessions, facilitating knowledge sharing, providing best practices and lessons learned, and tailoring approach, methodology, and contents to the relevant context and stakeholder.
6. Monitor global procurement processes related to visa, document verification, consular support, analyze tender requirements, and support the Unit drafting project proposal, relying on operational and technical knowledge.
7. Review and assess existing Unit’s global programme processes and recommend process enhancement, operational transformation, and innovation initiatives.
8. Support the IV Unit drafting technical training materials for operational staff, including on IV IMCT solutions, and develop higher-level manuals to facilitate initiation to global admission programming.
9. Undertake duty travel to perform field-based IV related project assessments and provide timely reports and enhancement plans to address any gaps and ensure compliance with contractual requirements and IOM policies and regulations.
10. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in Migration Studies, Political Science 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 overseeing projects is required;
• Minimum five (5) years experience in visa and/or admission programmes with the government, service providers and international organizations;
• Experience in coordinating across different teams including finance, ICT, resource management and procurements among others;
• Experience drafting awareness, visibility, and training materials;
• Experience in operating in multiple and diverse stakeholders contexts; and,
• Experience in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities and national and international institutions.

SKILLS

• In depth knowledge of admission thematic areas;
• Familiarity with IOM/UN administrative, financial and business rules and practices is is an advantage;
• High level of proficiency working with case management solutions and proficiency with biometric and registration solutions is desirable;
• Proven success working in complex multi-stakeholder environments, requiring decision-making skills under tight deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to present a significant amount of information from various sources in a concise way; and,
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.