Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
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:
- Internal candidates
- External female candidates
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.
Organizational Context and Scope
IOM’s Department of Data, Insight and Policy spearheads institutional efforts on migration and displacement data analytics, strategic research and foresight, and shapes IOM’s work on evidence- and rights-based migration policy and law and knowledge management. The Department supports delivery of IOM’s strategic objectives and related enablers, ensuring that artificial intelligence, data, policy, migration law, knowledge management, research and analysis efforts and seed funding are directly aligned with operational needs.
The integration of key analytical and policy functions within the Department of Data, Insight and Policy is designed to better serve the field operations and ultimately deliver results for migrants and Member States by maximizing our data analytical capacity to inform IOM policy, operations and strategy. The DDIP provides integrated and consolidated functions, and ensures that AI, data, policy, migration law, knowledge management and research and analysis efforts are directly aligned with operational needs—focusing on IOM’s Strategic Priorities. The Department comprises two core Divisions (Migration & Displacement Data and Research Analytics Division; and Migration Policy Division) while also housing institutional flagship initiatives, such as the IOM Development Fund, the World Migration Report and the Solutions Report. The Global Data Institute is a cross‑functional entity within IOM. It is based in Berlin, and it includes the DTM. It is led by the Migration and Displacement Data and Research Analytics Division (MDDRAD) within DDIP.
The Chief Strategy Officer (DDIP) position plays a crucial role in advancing DDIP’s objectives in expanding further its resource mobilization efforts, strengthening key partnership building, and enhancing strategic coordination and system-wide flagship initiatives to deliver impact with greater synergy between data, AI and policy. This position will be under the overall supervision of Deputy Director General for Operations, the direct supervision of the Director, Department of Data, Insight, and Policy (DDIP).
- Strategic enhancement of coordination, support, and systems integrations for DDIP strategic advisory and support functions to IOM operations.
- Design and oversee the effective delivery of an integrated, operationally-relevant advisory support model that enables IOM CO’s, RO’s, and HQ Departments to better leverage the expertise and resources offered by DDIP’s divisions and units.
Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive continental initiatives to enable the upscaling and consolidating of existing datasets and information sources that inform operations, deepen insight, and inform anticipatory action for governments and other stakeholders.
- Lead the development of the next generation Migration Data Strategy and contribute to coherence across other key strategy frameworks, including IOM’s AI Strategy.
- Lead the design and the implementation of continental data platforms to inform operation, programming, and policy development.
- Lead the coordination of IOM Data for Solutions roadmap implementation in support the Secretary General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, including in the production of the PROGRESS report series on solutions and coordination of the Data for Solutions to Internal Displacement (DSID) Working Group.
- Explore, advice, and implement new data initiatives contributing to DDIP’s and IOM’s strategic objectives
- Represent the organization at international and regional meetings and inter-agency activities.
- Expansion of DDIP resource mobilization activities with existing and new potential partners.
- Develop, advice, and lead the comprehensive resource mobilization and engagement strategy for new partners to support IOM’s global data and policy activities.
- Lead and deliver regular briefings on DDIP initiatives and progress to Member States and other key partners.
- Establish and expand capacity of DDIPnetwork in Global Offices and Regional Offices to strengthen coordinated partner engagement and collaboration.
- Ensure maximum exposure and visibility of DDIPglobal outputs and impacts to partners.
- Provide strategic guidance on DDIP and the organization's effectiveness in resource mobilization efforts; identify potential new donors and develop relevant new projects in line with DDIP and IOM mandates and strategy.
- Lead on IOM’s inter-agency and system-wide engagements related to data and AI
- Serve as IOM’s senior technical representative in inter-agency (UN80) and system-wide reform efforts related to data and AI, including the UN80 Data Quint, the Humanitarian Data Collaborative, and other related groups and initiatives.
- Coordinate high-quality technical inputs and contributions from different teams to key system-wide efforts closely with HQ Departments, ROs and COs.
- Represent IOM as a technical expert in key global data and AI governance initiatives, including the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
- Strengthening strategic partnerships with private sector, academia, and other key partners relevant to DDIP.
- Broaden strategic engagement with data and AI teams from government counterparts to explore potential technical collaborations in line with IOM’s Migration Data Strategy and AI Strategy.
- Advise on and facilitate strategic engagement with key university partners and seek opportunity to continue expanding DDIP academic partnership, including in data science, data ethics and data responsibility, as well as data systems.
- In collaboration with ICT and PSP, advise, liaise, and engage with key technology partners from private sector to advance collaborative initiatives related to data, AI and policy in support of DDIP and organizational priorities.
- Performs any other duties required to meet the overall DDIP‘s as well as organization-wide mandates, goals, and objectives, including participating in the overall management of organization-wide and division-wide activities, such as serving as a member of groups as assigned.
Education
- Master’s degree in a field related to Information Technology, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or other relevant field from an accredited academic institution with ten years of relevant professional experience; or,
Experience
- Extensive experience coordinating global teams working with senior management, regional and country stakeholders, and data science, data analytics, information management, or related area to deliver actionable data required;
- Extensive experience in setting up, implementing, and managing data operations, including in large-scale emergency response and crisis context, at country, regional, and global levels required;
- Extensive experience in mobilizing large scale resources and funding for data activities at country, regional, and global levels required;
- Extensive experience in development of large-scale integrated data and information system required;
Skills
- In-depth knowledge on large scale data collection and management operations required;
- In-depth knowledge on leading inter-agency or multi-stakeholder coordination mechanism desirable;
- Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming required;
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.
Required Competencies
Core Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 3
Notes
Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security as well as accreditation, any residency or visa requirements. 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, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.
IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.
IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.