Senior Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) Specialist (P)

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.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. 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.

Organizational Context and Scope

Under the overall supervision of the Sub-Regional Director for Southern Africa and in close coordination with the Regional Thematic Specialist for Immigration and Border Governance (IBG), the Senior Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) Specialist will provide strategic leadership, technical expertise, programme development support and partnership engagement to advance IOM's Immigration and Border Governance portfolio across Southern Africa.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master's degree from an accredited academic institution in: International Relations; Law; Political Science; Security Studies; Public Administration; Migration Studies; Border Management; or.
• A related field with seven years of relevant professional experience; or, University degree in the above fields with at least nine years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Minimum nine years (or seven years with a Master's degree) of progressively responsible experience in Immigration and Border Governance, Migration Management, Border Security, Identity Management, or related fields;
• Experience working with governments, regional organizations and international partners;
• Demonstrated experience in programme development and resource mobilization;
• Experience providing policy and technical advice at senior government level;
• Experience managing multi-country or regional programmes is an advantage;
• Experience in Africa and familiarity with SADC migration and border governance issues is highly desirable; and,
• Experience with border management technologies and digital solutions is an advantage.

Skills

• Demonstrated strategic planning and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical programmes;
• Demonstrated drafting and proposal development skills;
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural environments;
• Sound knowledge of migration governance and border management trends; and,
• Demonstrated coordination and partnership-building skills.

Languages

Fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Portuguese and other official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Required Competencies

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

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity
• Integrity and transparency
• Professionalism
• Courage
• Empathy

Core Competencies

• Teamwork
• Delivering results
• Managing and sharing knowledge
• Accountability
• Communication

Notes

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. 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, 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and Technical Advice

• Provide senior-level technical leadership and strategic guidance on immigration and border governance programming across the Southern Africa sub-region.
• Advise governments and regional institutions on border governance policies, border management modernization, identity management, traveller processing, and migration management systems.
• Support the development of regional and national border governance strategies, frameworks, operational plans and roadmaps.
• Promote whole-of-government and regional approaches to border governance, facilitating coherence between migration, security, trade and development priorities.

2. Programme Development and Oversight

• Lead the identification, design and development of new IBG programmes and projects in Southern Africa.
• Coordinate the expansion and implementation of regional and country-level border governance initiatives.
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance of ongoing IBG projects and ensure consistency with IOM standards and methodologies.
• Develop concept notes, project proposals, donor reports, briefing papers and technical documentation.

3. Resource Mobilization and Partnerships

• Identify funding opportunities and lead resource mobilization efforts for IBG interventions across the sub-region.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with governments, regional economic communities, development banks, donors and implementing partners.
• Support engagement with the African Development Bank, bilateral donors and other funding partners interested in border governance and migration management initiatives.
• Contribute to the positioning of IOM as the leading technical agency on border governance in Southern Africa.

4. Government and Regional Engagement

• Serve as the principal technical focal point on IBG matters for governments and regional stakeholders.
• Support engagement with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and relevant regional mechanisms.
• Facilitate regional dialogue, technical exchanges and capacity-building initiatives among Member States.
• Provide substantive support during high-level missions, conferences, workshops and bilateral consultations.

5. Capacity Development and Technical Assistance

• Lead assessments of border governance systems, capacities and operational needs.
• Develop and deliver technical assistance and capacity-building activities for border management authorities and other relevant institutions.
• Promote the deployment and effective use of border governance technologies and solutions, including migration information and border management systems.
• Support Member States in enhancing operational border management capacities while upholding human rights and international standards.

6. Coordination and Knowledge Management

• Coordinate border governance activities across Country Offices in the Southern Africa sub-region.
• Foster collaboration among thematic areas including protection, labour mobility, migration data, counter-trafficking and emergency preparedness.
• Document good practices, lessons learned and emerging trends in border governance.
• Contribute to the development of IOM's global knowledge management strategy on border governance.