Head of Operations East and Southern Africa at International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The areas under the management of the Head of Operations, East and Southern Africa are large in scope and are comprised of numerous types of working environments that may include urban, rural, and camp settings, and has a number of locations that are operationally complex and logistically challenging. This may include, but is not limited to, areas containing inter- and/or non-state conflict, areas of extreme political sensitivity and/or volatility, border regions, hardship locations and remote locations. Travel to all locations of operational importance in the region for the purposes of monitoring and oversight, including to remote and hardship areas and to areas with a wide variety of security advisories, is expected.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

• In coordination with the Regional Directors and Chiefs of Missions in the East and Horn of Africa Region and the Southern Africa Region, Operations Officers in the respective Country Offices, and the USRAP Global Coordinator and Senior Program Advisor in Washington, D.C., develop and/or strengthen refugee resettlement projects in East and Horn of Africa and Southern Africa to ensure all necessary refugee movements within and from East and Horn of Africa and Southern Africa are carried out effectively.
• Guide and/or supervise country Senior Operations Officers and Operations Officers to ensure existing operational resettlement procedures are streamlined and standardized, develop new operational procedures, share effective practices, provide solution where necessary, and maintain a high standard of quality in refugee movements across the region.
• Work with respective Operations Officers, IOM Country Administration, and IOM HQ to ensure the smooth workflow and implementation of resettlement programs in all relevant countries in the regions, including stimulating dialogue, acting as a liaison, spearheading mediation, and directing problem solving, where needed.
• Liaise and consult with host governments, resettlement countries, US Embassy Refugee Coordinators, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, the US Resettlement Support Center for Africa, and other partner organizations on the implementation of resettlement programs throughout the region. In this respect, help resettlement countries, host governments, and partners achieve their goals in managing resettlement challenges through meetings, information sharing, and joint program planning, in coordination with Regional Directors and Chiefs of Mission.
• Ensure that training of IOM Operations personnel in the region are included in program planning and ongoing activities and are in line with USRAP Global program developments and new technical requirements. Oversee staff development and succession planning, taking into
• consideration global USRAP needs.
• Serve as Project Manager for Regional USRAP Resettlement Programs. In this role, coordinate activities closely with the USRAP Global team in Washington, D.C., including the USRAP Global Coordinator, USRAP Senior Program Advisor and Medical Health Global USRAP Coordinator, with an overall objective of harmonized management of US resettlement processes in East and Southern Africa, and coordinate with relevant Country Offices. In relation to staff development and succession planning, work closely with the USRAP HR-Business Partner.
• In coordination with USRAP Global, Regional RMOs, Chiefs of Mission and the Manila 
• Financial Support Unit, plan, create, monitor, and report on budgets for resettlement programs in East and Southern Africa according to donor and resettlement country requirements.
• Following budget approval, implement activities in line with budget availability and operational efficiency and advise on potential administrative, budgetary, and financial consequences of developments in the missions’ operational activities.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Social Science, International Relations, Regional Studies, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with ten years of relevant professional experience; or
• University degree in the above fields with twelve years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in resettlement programs;
• Supervisory/management experience in USRAP, including significant exposure/experience with RSC or related activities such as case creation, pre-Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing, case work, and out processing;
• Experience supervising/managing USRAP activities in remote areas.

Skills

• Sound knowledge of program implementation and familiarity with IOM’s administrative, financial, and business rules and practices.
• Knowledge of Worldwide Refugee Admission Processing System (WRAPs)