International Organization for Migration is looking for a Chief, Preparedness and Humanitarian Response Division (P)

Apply Before: 07/20/2026, 11:59 PM

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Contract Type: Fixed-term (1 year with possibility of extension)

Initial Contract Duration: 1 year with possibility of extension

Org Type: HQ

Vacancy Type: Vacancy Notice

Recruiting Type: Professional

Grade: P-5

Is this S/VN based in an L3 office or in support to an L3 emergency response?: No

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.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

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
• Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: Bahamas, Barbados, 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

Second tier candidates include:

• All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

Organizational Context and Scope

Under the overall supervision of the Director of the Department for Humanitarian Response and Recovery (DHRR) and direct supervision of the Deputy Director, Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery, the Chief, Preparedness and Humanitarian Response Division (PHRD) will be responsible and accountable for managing and leading the effective and timely implementation of IOM’s Preparedness and Humanitarian Response portfolio globally in line with the new IOM Strategic Plan.

The PHR Division leads IOM’s institutional efforts to advance a coherent, systemic and whole-of-organization approach to crisis preparedness and humanitarian response, in line with the IOM Strategic Plan 2024–2028. It consolidates and enhances IOM’s capacities to anticipate, prepare for and respond to crises in a principled, timely and effective manner. The Division works across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to both reduce the impacts of crises before they occur and ensure that when crises strike, affected populations receive coordinated, high-quality and accountable support. It spearheads the institutionalization of preparedness and anticipatory action as enablers of transformational change, equipping IOM, Member States and partners with tools to understand, identify and address risks related to human mobility. At the same time, it ensures robust operational leadership and support for the delivery of humanitarian assistance that meets the needs of crisis-affected populations, in line with IOM’s humanitarian policy, the Principles for Humanitarian Action, and with the normative and policy work of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

The Division provides strategic and technical support to IOM’s Regional and Country Offices on preparedness planning, anticipatory action, crisis response design and implementation, and monitoring. It leads the coordination of emergency resources mobilization and surge capacity efforts, ensuring the rapid scale-up of operations during crisis and supports alignments with the Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC) at the global and country levels. It serves as the institutional home of IOM’s global thematic units in Preparedness, Surge Capacity, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Shelter and Settlements, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), as well as Cash-Based Interventions. Furthermore, it also hosts the Global Shelter, Land and Site Coordination (SLSC) Cluster in support of IOM’s commitments to Inter-Agency Standing Committee coordination structures and to collective, coordinated humanitarian action.

Responsibilities

1. Lead and manage IOM’s emergency preparedness and humanitarian response, including ensuring IOM’s emergency preparedness and response meet international standards and coordination requirements by addressing problems, when needed, and mobilizing IOM-wide resources to support emergency preparedness capacity development, managing development of contingency planning, and leading IOM’s active participation in national emergency plans and inter-agency exercise on emergency preparedness and simulation exercise.
2. Lead the harmonization of emergency preparedness and response standards and on minimum preparedness and response actions and IOM’s global policies and systems for emergency preparedness, capacity development, partnership, external relations and accountability and ensuring linkages with the Scale-Up team, Peace, Recovery and Solutions Division (PRSD) and across other divisions within the Department of Humanitarian Response & Recovery.
3. In coordination with Department of Data, Insight and Policy (DDIP) scan horizon and early warning systems and lead the readiness planning to trigger greater preparedness and anticipatory actions by strengthening alerts and risk monitoring systems, including supporting state capacity to collect, report and analyse disaster displacement impact.
4. Manage the strategic Preparedness Learning Pathway focusing on states’ emergency preparedness capacities, risk reduction and adaptation capacities, including localized preparedness, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC)) approaches by investing in technical and organizational capacities of local partners and advocate for local leadership and partnerships, government engagement and community engagement.
5. Expand standby partnerships (SBP) and management of the Deployment Roster by supporting the coordination of surge deployments before, during and after crisis.
6. Manage and coordinate IOM’s responses to humanitarian emergencies including ensuring IOM’s responses meet standards and coordination requirements by addressing problems when needed and mobilizing IOM-wide resources, including the management of the Global Rapid Response Mechanism (GRRM), to support responses in addition to managing IOM’s Migration Emergency Response Fund (MEFM), and promoting learning and accountability.
7. Provide expert strategic advice to set forth technical and operational excellence including guidance and standards to ensure quality programming and consistency across IOM, including in WASH, Shelter, and Settlements, Crisis Coordination and CCCM.
8. Promote local ownership and empowerment, including integrated programming, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), protection risk prevention and mitigation, Humanitarian Development Peace Nexus (HDPN), humanitarian access by coordinating the development and harmonization of the deployment of Humanitarian Hubs.
9. Manage and lead IOM’s supply and logistics operations to deliver lifesaving supplies on a global scale by coordinating the prioritization of Global Stocks deployment and set technical specifications for core relief items.
10. Represent IOM’s humanitarian and advocacy work externally including through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) forum and provide strategic guidance to IOM’s humanitarian appeals and positions, and mobilization of resources and reporting to donors.
11. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Political Science, Social Science, International Studies, Public Administration, Economics, Engineering, Earth Sciences 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.
• Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• At least ten years of senior management and leadership experience in both the humanitarian and development field with international organisations, including substantial experience working in developing countries;
• Demonstrated experience leading emergency preparedness programs and climate actions;
• Work experience within the UN system, particularly in leading and/or coordinating institutional reform initiatives, would be a strong advantage; and,
• Work experience managing a team and applying various leadership skills.

Skills

• Demonstrated networking with major humanitarian actors and the humanitarian and development architecture, including the UN, governments, and institutional donors;
• Proven effectiveness in mobilizing and leveraging capacity from others, influencing and networking; and,
• Strong knowledge of the humanitarian sector, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate community including principles, trends, standards and laws, and understanding of how humanitarian work relates to longer-term development.

Languages

• All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).
• For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).
• Working knowledge of French and/or 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.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 3

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 3

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

Notes

Previous candidates do not need to re-apply.

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation. This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

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.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

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