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
- Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: Bahamas, Barbados, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.
Organizational Context and Scope
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) and the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCoM), the Head of Partnership and Programme Support Unit (PPSU) will be responsible and accountable for technical and managerial authority over the PPSU, directing policy analysis, programme support and development, donor reporting, project cycle assurance, partnership support, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning functions. The incumbent will determine the technical approach to these functions, integrating them into a coherent system that drives evidence-based programme design, effective implementation, results-based management, donor accountability, institutional learning and continuous improvement within the assigned portfolio, and is accountable to the DCoM for the strategic quality and outcomes of this system.
The Head of PPSU will serve as the Country Office’s (CO) principal focal point on partnership and programme-support matters, engaging Heads of Units, Programme and Project Managers (PMs), the Resource Management Unit (RMU), the Executive Office (EO), field and sub-office structures, Media and Communications, Information Management (IM), Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) and Research, Compliance and Risk functions, and relevant Regional Office (RO) and Headquarters (HQ) units to promote coherent and high-quality programme development and delivery, reporting, monitoring, evaluation, learning and resource-mobilization support while preserving the technical ownership of programme units and the respective accountabilities of PMs and resource-management functions.
The Head of Partnership and Programme Support Unit (PPSU) will also support the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Iraq and EO through operational-level liaison with donors, government counterparts, United Nations (UN) entities, Implementing Partners (IPs) and other stakeholders. The Head of Partnership and Programme Support Unit (PPSU) will exercise sound judgment in translating programme evidence, results, operational learning and donor intelligence into high-quality proposals, reports, briefs and inputs for the DCoM and EO in line with the CO’s strategic priorities and IOM’s global mandate.
1. Direct and integrate the operations of the Partnership and Programme Support Unit (PPSU), establishing a unified system of programme development, partnerships, policy analysis, donor reporting, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning services to strengthen portfolio performance across assigned programme units.
2. Provide the DCoM with analysis and technical advice on programme quality, portfolio performance, funding opportunities, donor requirements, government-led priorities and implementation risks to shape the strategic priorities and decisions affecting the CO's programme direction.
3. Roll out, apply and quality-assure agreed project-cycle and programme-quality tools and procedures within assigned programme units, securing full compliance with IOM policies, donor requirements and results-based management principles.
4. Drive coherence, synergies and integrated programming across programme units by embedding cross-cutting priorities – protection, accountability, gender equality, disability inclusion, localization and environmental sustainability – into integrated programme design.
5. Lead programme-development efforts, identifying funding opportunities and directing the preparation of and review of concept notes, project proposals, and results frameworks to expand the CO’s funded portfolio.
6. Design and drive resource mobilization efforts in close collaboration with senior management, programme units and relevant stakeholders, positioning the CO competitively with donors in line with strategic priorities.
7. Represent CO in operational-level liaison and negotiation with donors, government counterparts, UN agencies, IPs and other stakeholders to build and sustain partnerships that secure resources and enable programme delivery.
8. Coordinate the operational preparation of donor visits, programme briefings and external presentations, ensuring accurate and compelling representation of CO’s programme achievements, challenges and priorities.
9. Analyze relevant government policy developments and provide inputs to the DCoM on their operational implications and possible linkages with the assigned programme portfolio.
10. Identify and pursue opportunities for joint programming or fundraising with other UN agencies in Iraq to expand the CO’s collaborative funding base.
11. Coordinate the application of established project-cycle management, donor reporting, grants management and documentation standards, ensuring timely, accurate and compliant submission of programme and donor deliverables.
12. Oversee project revisions, extensions, reporting obligations and project registration requirements in collaboration with programme units, the EO and the RMU to safeguard portfolio integrity.
13. Maintain consolidated visibility of the project pipeline and active portfolio and provide regular analysis and recommendations to senior management on programme performance and funding trends.
14. Develop the CO’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework to standardize approaches across programmes and alignment with organizational policies and donor requirements.
15. Quality assure the application of approved monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems, including data quality assurance, evaluations, accountability mechanisms, and lessons learned to generate evidence that promotes adaptive management and programme improvement.
16. Champion results-based management, knowledge sharing and continuous learning, translating monitoring findings, evaluations and community feedback into programme design decisions and advice to the DCoM.
17. Manage, supervise and develop PPSU personnel, directing effective workforce planning, performance management and capacity development to build a high-performing unit.
18. Perform such other relevant duties as may be assigned.
Education
- Master’s degree in Law, Political or Social Sciences, Humanities, International Relations, Development Studies or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
Experience
- Extensive experience in policy analysis, programme or portfolio strategy, project development, implementation support, donor reporting, monitoring and evaluation, results-based management or resource mobilization;
- Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating across programme, technical, operational and resource-management functions;
- Experience establishing quality-assurance, monitoring, reporting, learning or project-cycle management systems across multiple projects or programmes;
- Experience in donor relations, proposal development, grant management and compliance with institutional-donor requirements;
- Experience with quantitative and qualitative monitoring, evaluations, accountability mechanisms, data-quality assurance and the use of evidence for adaptive management;
- Experience of liaising with government authorities, diplomatic missions, UN entities, civil society, implementing partners and other stakeholders;
- Experience in humanitarian, recovery, stabilization, peacebuilding or development settings; experience in transition or post-conflict environments is an advantage; and,
Skills
- Excellent strategic planning, programme development and analytical skills;
- Demonstrated knowledge of project-cycle management, Results-Based Management, MEAL and donor-reporting principles;
- Ability to interpret programme, results, financial and risk information and convert it into clear management advice;
- Excellent drafting, editing, presentation and negotiation skills;
- Proven leadership and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines;
- Ability to build collaboration across units without displacing programme ownership or formal accountabilities;
Proficiency in project management, information-management, spreadsheet and database applications.
- Ability to plan, prioritize and manage competing demands in high-pressure environments, ensuring continuity of programme delivery;
- Demonstrated leadership, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster collaboration, accountability and performance across teams; and,
stakeholders.
Languages
For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).
Working knowledge of Arabic or Kurdish.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Required Competencies
Notes
Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security as well as accreditation, and any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in 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 promoting 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 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.