Senior Project Associate

job Description

Applications are welcome from internal and external candidates. 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, internal candidates are considered first-tier candidates.

Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1951 and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As the leading international organization for migration, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, be they refugees, displaced persons or other uprooted people. The IOM Constitution gives explicit recognition to the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement of persons. IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management: migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, and addressing forced migration. Cross-cutting activities include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants’ rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration. IOM works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision from the Chief of Mission, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing support and contributing to the different projects and their implementation in the Harare Migration Governance & Regular Pathways Unit on Migration Governance, Policy Liaison, Migration Diaspora and Labour Migration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Technical Assistance and Project Management
-Provide technical assistance and backstopping in the management, and implementation of projects under the Migration Governance and Regular Pathways Unit.
-Facilitate in-house coordination among different sections of the project, including Finance, Procurement, and the Unit, maintaining proper documentation and filing of project documents.

2. Partnerships and Collaboration
-Assist to maintain partnerships with relevant government focal points concerning the unit's project implementation.
-Support strengthening collaborative cooperation between IOM and the Government of Zimbabwe by assisting with the planning and coordination of workshops, exchange visits, meetings, and other initiatives with government and donor officials.
-Liaise with relevant governmental and non-governmental entities, international organizations, and other stakeholders to facilitate the effective implementation of project activities.

3. Supervision and Team Management
-Provide day-to-day guidance and task supervision to project staff working under the Migration Governance and Regular Pathways Unit (GRPU).
-Facilitate onboarding, technical support, and capacity development of new team members in coordination with HR and relevant departments.
-Coordinate work planning, task allocation, and internal knowledge-sharing processes to enhance team cohesion and efficiency.
-Contribute to periodic staff performance assessments and provide feedback to ensure accountability and professional growth within the unit
-Support the organization and preparation of quality thematic capacity building for government officials as required by the project.

4. Capacity Building and Training
-Assist in the preparation and implementation of trainings, seminars, conferences, workshops, meetings, presentations, and missions related to the project, and undertake duty travel when necessary.

5. Financial Management
-Track project expenditures, liaise with the Admin and Finance Unit for monitoring, prepare monthly funding requests for project activities, and raise online purchase requisition forms for all related program activities.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation
-Support the implementation of monitoring and evaluation by tracking project indicators.

7. Information Dissemination and Reporting
-Disseminate project information to other UN implementing partners, including preparing the project newsletter.

8. Special Initiatives
-Assist to establish and coordinate the UN Network on Migration in Zimbabwe.
-Contribute to the effective implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration in Zimbabwe.
-Support the coordination of IOM’s effective participation and visibility in the UNSDCF and Joint Implementation Matrix Process.

9. Other Duties
Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications and Experience

Education
-High School diploma with six years of relevant professional experience, or
-University degree in the Social Sciences, or a closely related field with four years of relevant professional experience
-Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience
-Minimum 2 years of professional experience in development work carrying out or assisting in participatory formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects in Zimbabwe.
-Knowledge of recent developments in sub-Saharan Africa and recent global migration trends and the migration and development debate desirable.
-Confirmed interest in migration and development issues;
-Experience in the usage of office information analysis and report writing
-Training in project implementation
-Ability to work with basic presentation software packages (MS Word, e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel, etc).

Skills
-Delivers on set objectives in hardship situations.
-Effectively applies knowledge of migration issues within organizational context
-Supports coordinating actions with other implementing partners.
-Correctly frames migration issues within their regional, global, and political context
-Works effectively with local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the broader community to advance country office or regional objectives.
-Works effectively in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments.
-Supports coordinating actions with emergency response actors and making use of coordination structures.
-Supports adequate levels of information sharing between internal units, cluster partners, IOM and other emergency response actors.
-Establishes and maintains effective relationships with implementing partners.
-Makes correct decisions rapidly based on available information.
-Establishes realistic resource requirements to meet IOM needs
-Good writing/ communication, presentation and networking skills are essential

Languages
-Fluency in English is required (oral and written)
-IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish.
-Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.