Senior Assistant for Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy. For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.
  Context

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental partners. With 175 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM, the UN Migration Agency, is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. Brazil is a Member State of IOM since 2004.

In Brazil, IOM works to promote the sustainable socioeconomic integration of migrants and refugees by strengthening institutional partnerships and fostering entrepreneurship initiatives that generate lasting opportunities. At the same time, it supports humanitarian responses, ensures access to rights and basic services, and encourages innovative solutions to address the challenges of human mobility.

In this context, IOM Brazil seeks to expand strategies focused on socioeconomic integration and the promotion of entrepreneurship, recognizing the transformative role of business ecosystems, innovation, and inclusive economic development. Partnerships with governments, the private sector, civil society, and institutions that support entrepreneurship are essential for developing sustainable initiatives that enhance resilience and expand economic opportunities for migrants, refugees, and local communities.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Programme and in close coordination with the national project officer, the selected professional will support the articulation of partnerships, development of capacity-building methodologies, and delivery of trainings, mentoring sessions, and workshops. The professional will also be responsible for connecting migrants, refugees, and local entrepreneurs to credit networks, business formalization programs, and innovation opportunities, ensuring alignment with IOM’s institutional goals and priorities.

1. Establish partnerships with public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and organizations that support entrepreneurship, fostering connections between migrants, refugees, and Brazilians with local ecosystems of business, innovation, and inclusive economic development.
2. Conduct assessments of needs, barriers, and opportunities for migrant entrepreneurs and local communities, developing action plans and capacity-building methodologies tailored to the sociocultural and economic profiles of the target audience.
3. Identify and support opportunities for access to public policies, credit programs, microfinance, business incubators, and other mechanisms that promote entrepreneurship and business formalization.
4. Design and deliver trainings, workshops, and mentoring sessions on business formalization, financial management, marketing and sales, access to credit and microfinance, management tools, innovation, and public policies that support entrepreneurship.
5. Support the development of educational materials, guides, and digital content on entrepreneurship, using clear, accessible, and inclusive language adapted to different levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and linguistic profiles.
6. Provide individual or group follow-up to participants of entrepreneurship courses, offering technical support for business development and monitoring their progress throughout the process.
7. Organize meetings, fairs, and integration events that promote networking, cooperation, and visibility for migrant and Brazilian entrepreneurs.
8. Prepare periodic reports documenting activities carried out, systematizing results, and providing recommendations for improving future actions.
9. Assist in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of pilot projects and innovation initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
10. Updating and managing IOM’s global software for the mission, designed to record partnerships, contacts, and other relevant information to support informed decision-making and strategic planning.
11. Perform other work-related tasks, as required. Education
    • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Economics, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related fields. Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.   Experience
      • Proven experience in securing partnerships and resources aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development initiatives.
      • Demonstrated experience in entrepreneurship promotion projects and programs, preferably in collaboration with SEBRAE or equivalent institutions.
      • Practical experience in conducting trainings, workshops, and capacity-building activities on entrepreneurship, business management, innovation, and related topics.
      • Ability to work with diverse and vulnerable populations, with a focus on migrants, refugees, and local communities.
      • In-depth knowledge of public policies and support mechanisms for entrepreneurship, including business formalization, access to credit, microfinance, incubators, and government programs.
      • Strong capacity for institutional coordination with public agencies, the private sector, and civil society organizations, aimed at building support networks and strategic partnerships.
      • Proficiency in developing accessible educational content and applying participatory methodologies, adapting language to different educational levels and sociocultural profiles. Skills
        • Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
        • Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities effectively.
        • Ability to produce compelling communication materials and presentations.
        • Ability to write, draft, and edit, reports, acknowledgements, briefings, and donor correspondence letters, proposals, grants and appeals.
        • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management software. Languages

          For this position, fluency in Portugues and advanced English is required (oral and written). 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.
12. Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.