Head of Office

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and direct supervision of the Chief of Mission, Country Office with Coordination Functions (COCF) and in close coordination with the Programme Managers, Program Support Unit and Resources Management Unit, the Head of Office (HoO) will be responsible and accountable for managing  the IOM Uruguay Country Office , as well as for coordinating the implementation of the broad programming in line with IOM Strategic Plan, policies, standards and commitments.

Applications are welcome from internal and external candidates. 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, internal candidates are considered first-tier candidates.  

1. Manage the Operational, Human Resources, Administrative, Financial and Supply Chain functions of the Country Office in accordance with the IOM’s rules and regulations, and streamline the implementation of institutional procedures across the Country Office.
2. Lead the management, recruitment, training and capacity building of the Country Office staff and third-party contractors, if applicable, based on programme assessment, available budget and performance indicators.
3. Participate in meetings with Government Authorities, International Organizations, non-governmental organizations, voluntary agencies, as well as public media and Private Sector. 
4. Maintain, promote and strengthen working relationships with national, regional and local governmental authorities, international organizations and NGOs, and other stakeholders in the field of migration management.
5. Contribute to the design and development of new projects in close coordination with  Programme Management counterparts. 
6. Ensure adherence to the safety and security procedures for IOM staff, premises and assets in the Country Office, in coordination with the local Office of the United National Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and other relevant stakeholders, through regular participation in Area Security Management meetings.
7. Monitor and support the implementation and reporting of all programme activities in the area in line with IOM standards and in accordance with the donor/grant agreements. 
8. Provide regular updates to the CoM COCF on the progress on programme implementation, achievements, challenges, cluster/sector discussions, donor liaison issues, as well as on possible opportunities for geographical, operational and thematic expansion of IOM portfolio and other opportunities that might benefit the Country Office, IOM in the Region or globally. 
9. Assess and identify key gaps and operational challenges, provide technical support/ guidance for programme implementation in coordination with the Senior Management Team to ensure the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of staff performance. 
10. Ensure the visibility of IOM and the donors as established in donor agreement and as relevant to the context. 
11. Perform such other duties as may be assigned. Education
    • Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, Humanitarian Affairs, Law, International Relations, Disaster Risk Reduction/Disaster Risk Management, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
    • University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database. Experience
      • Experience in liaison with the government authorities, donors, national/international institutions and multi-stakeholders;
      • Experience in project development and reporting;
      • Experience in programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation; and, 
      • Experience working in the Region.Skills
        • Sound knowledge of migration management principles, concepts and techniques;
        • Ability to lead and coordinate multiple activities and work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from varied cultures and professional background;
        • Proven ability to manage a larger operation in the developing world; 
        • Ability to work well under pressure and in difficult conditions;
        • Excellent communication and negotiation skills, project development skills and ability to draft clearly and concisely; and, 
        • A high degree of computer literacy.Languages
          • For this position, fluency in Spanish and English is required (oral and written).
          • Working knowledge of Portuguese.IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish.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 three 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.
12. Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.Core Competencies – behavioural indicators (Level 3)
13. Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.