National Project Officer

Applications are welcome from internal 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.

Context

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (COM) or the Head of Office in IOM Türkiye and direct supervision of Senior National Liaison & Policy Officer, and in close coordination with the Regional Thematic Specialist  (RTS) at the Regional Office and relevant Divisions/Departments /Units at Headquarters (HQ), the Project Officer will be responsible and accountable for supporting and coordinating the development,  implementation, monitoring and reporting activities of the  Supporting Turkish Government’s Capacity for Establishment of specialized Migration Courts in Türkiye Project.

Türkiye plays a crucial role as both a transit and destination country for migration, facing challenges related to large-scale movements, irregular migration, and displacement. The increasing number of migration-related court cases has placed a significant burden on Türkiye’s judicial and administrative systems, highlighting the need for specialized migration courts to ensure timely and consistent adjudication. The project, implemented in close coordination with the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) under the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (CJP), and other relevant institutions, aims to strengthen Türkiye’s capacity to manage migration cases effectively.

Within this framework, the staff recruited under the project will play a key role in supporting activities related to legal and institutional framework development, capacity building, and inter-agency coordination. The recruited personnel will work under the Policy and Liaison Unit, ensuring alignment with project objectives and effective implementation of activities in collaboration with national and international stakeholders.

The responsibilities of the recruited personnel will include facilitating stakeholder engagements, coordinating scoping and implementation  of project activities. The staff will also contribute to reporting on project progress, ensuring that implementation aligns with international standards and Türkiye’s national migration governance priorities. 

By enhancing technical and human capacity within the relevant institutions, the project will contribute to reducing case backlogs, improving access to justice for migrants, and ensuring effective migration case management in line with Türkiye’s strategic legal and policy commitments

1.    Coordinate the overall implementation of the project, including the oversight of the financial, administrative and technical aspects, in line with IOM’s policies and procedures, as well as donor requirements.

2.    Provide operational guidance and technical supervision to the project staff, assisting on programmatic strategy and implementation. Oversee the project progress specifically aimed at increasing effectiveness and recommending appropriate action.
3.    Support the monitor and progress against Project’s strategic objectives, benchmarks, and provide advice with respect to improvements and corrections; coordinate the establishment of a common Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework that incorporate regular reporting requirements and impact evaluation strategies, in close coordination with M&E Officer in the Country Office.
4.    Identify priority areas for project development and contribute to the development of new projects by selecting and summarizing background information, assessing the local context and segments for new project proposals.

5.    Supervise the staff assigned to the project, as well as Consultants/Implementing Partners (IPs) recruited to support and/or undertake specific activities. Plan, develop, organize and deliver capacity building activities to build capacity of staff, partners, government officials, and other humanitarian actors.

6.    Support monitoring and compliance with project partners, project staff and implementing entities. Liaise with Government entities, IPs, United Nations (UN) agencies and other stakeholders in the project.

7.    Coordinate with other units in the Country Office for a smooth implementation of all project activities.

8.    Coordinate the adequate information management on project related activities including visibility by providing regular updates, summaries, press releases and other relevant materials, in coordination with the donor and relevant Units at HQ.

9.    Draft quality progress Financial, Narrative, and other reports related to the project activities. Coordinate the elaboration and dissemination of reports for donors, government and other relevant stakeholders by ensuring timely submission and compliance with donor and IOM requirements.

10.    Participate in relevant conferences, workshops, steering committees, and technical working groups, as well as other forums; contribute in coordination and presentation of IOM activities.

11.    Participate in relevant UN working groups and activities to contribute to the mainstreaming of migration related issues into United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF).
12.    Undertake duty travel as required to support coordination and monitoring activities for project implementation. 
13.    Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
 

Education

• Master’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Humanitarian Affairs, Economic Development, Business or Public Administration, International Studies,Human Rights, Law or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience, or,
• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience. Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.   Experience
  • Experience in programme conceptualisation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation; 
  • Experience in project development and capacity-building activities;
  • Experience in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities as well as with national and international institutions;
  • Familiarity with financial and business administration;
  • Proven understanding of internal and international migration issues in the country and in the Region; 
  • Experience in organizing consultations, workshops and seminars with stakeholders;
  • In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration related subject areas dealt with by the Organization; and, 
  • Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor programming.
  • A strong background in law, preferably in migration law, administrative law, or human rights law. Experience working with judicial institutions, legal frameworks, and court procedures in Türkiye is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with national and international migration laws, asylum procedures, and the role of specialized courts in handling migration-related cases.
  • Experience in coordinating with government institutions, judicial bodies, international organizations, and civil society actors involved in migration governance and legal reforms.
  • Knowledge of legal and policy analysis related to migration law, administrative law, human rights, or judicial procedures, draft legal opinions, and contribute to policy discussions on migration-related legal matters.
  • Experience in organizing and facilitating training sessions, workshops, or capacity-building initiatives for legal professionals, judges, or court staff. Skills
    • Proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relations with relevant Government counterparts, international organizations and private sector entities; 
    • Good supervision, coordination, and information management skills;
    • Good knowledge of the UN System, NGOs and other international organizations/institutions;
    • Knowledge of migration data, labour migration patterns in Türkiye and ability to negotiate with government authorities; 
    • Good knowledge of human and financial resources management; 
    • Good conceptualization, analytical and writing skills; 
    • Good communication, organizational and interpersonal relationship skills; 
    • Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure with minimum supervision; and, 
    • Ability to maintain partnerships with development partners, government counterparts, UN agencies, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

       

      Languages
      • Fluency in English and Turkish is required.
      • Working knowledge of Arabic is an advantage. 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.