AVRR Project Assistant - Case Worker

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) is one of the core areas of IOM expertise, and a field in which the organization has over 40 years of experience. IOM Finland cooperates with the Finnish Immigration Service Migri on providing assistance to eligible beneficiaries to voluntarily return from Finland to their countries of origin in a humane, safe, and dignified manner. In addition to travel arrangements, IOM’s assistance may include counselling of voluntary returnees, acquisition of travel documents, provision of medical or other escorts, departure, transit and arrival assistance, as well as payment of reintegration support.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Office of Mission of IOM Finland and under the direct supervision of the AVRR/CT Project Coordinator, the AVRR Case Worker will provide operational and administrative support to Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration case processing at the IOM Country Office in Finland.
 

1.    Assist in implementing Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration movements in Finland (AVRR-FI) in line with institutional policies and guidelines. 
2.    Process AVRR cases, including registration of incoming cases, systematic follow-up with colleagues and relevant stakeholders on cases with incomplete information,  preparing travel arrangements and reintegration support payments;
3.    Assist in the coordination and arrangement of international travel as well as domestic transportation in Finland and Countries of Origin;
4.    As needed, keep reception centres, other relevant stakeholders in Finland, and relevant IOM missions informed of movements;
5.    Respond to general written and oral enquiries from authorities and/or from AVRR clients and their representatives regarding voluntary return and reintegration from  Finland to the Country of Origin;
6.    Provide general counselling on IOM’s AVRR services to voluntary returnees by email, over the phone, and in person at the IOM office;
7.    Participate in outreach activities, including by providing briefings to reception centre staff and potential returnees on IOM Finland’s AVRR services;
8.    Provide departure assistance at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport according to established Standard Operating Procedures, including outside regular office hours (early mornings/late evenings);
9.    Assist returnees in obtaining required travel and other necessary documents, including but not limited to communicating with Country of Origin embassies/consular offices accredited to Finland on the issuance of travel documents, obtaining required documents and procuring official translations;
10.  Carry out any needed administrative tasks related to movement assistance, including but not limited to establishing and maintaining AVRR files and data, collecting and filing travel documents, receipts, and other supporting documentation; 
11.  Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Head of Office or Project Coordinator.
 

Education
•   High school diploma with for four years of relevant experience; or,
•    Bachelor’s Degree in fields relating to AVRR (e.g. social work, political/social science, migration issues) or related fields from an accredited academic institution with two           years of relevant professional experience.
 

Experience
• Experience in liaising with governmental authorities, national/international institutions, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations;
• Experience in working with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups; and,
• Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations, non-government or government institutions/organization in a multi-cultural setting is an advantage.
 

Skills
• Good knowledge of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint)
• Experience in working in an intercultural setting is considered an advantage
• Good teamwork skills

Languages
English (Fluent), good command of Finnish and either Russian or Arabic. Working knowledge of languages spoken by main returnee groups, Kurdish or Farsi, Dari/Pashto is an advantage
 

Values 
•     Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
•     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 – behavioral indicators level 1
•     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 action and delegated work.
•     Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.