Job Summary

IOM, UN Migration Agency in Conakry, Guinea is looking for a Protection Officer who will have mission-wide responsibility for the implementation of the Protection programming, ensuring high-quality implementation, donor compliance, and alignment with IOM policies and international standards.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

A- Strategic Leadership & Programme Management

Coordinate the implementation of IOM Guinea’s Protection portfolios, ensuring coordination between different protection projects and thematic areas.

Manage the full implementation of protection programmes, including planning, budgeting, donor compliance, reporting, monitoring of results and coordination with consortium partners and national counterparts.

Provide technical support and guidance to all protection teams, including cross-cutting thematic areas and multi-sectoral projects.

Contribute to the development of new protection and/or MHPSS project proposals, building on lessons learned, identified gaps and emerging needs.

B- Team Management & Supervision

Provide direct supervision and technical guidance to the mission’s protection and MHPSS teams.

Ensure effective workload planning, performance management, mentoring and capacity development of protection teams.

Promote the consistent application of harmonized tools, methodologies and approaches across teams to ensure quality, consistency and accountability of services.

C- Protection, MHPSS & Case Management Systems

Coordinate and monitor quality implementation of protection case management, MHPSS support, and referrals for beneficiaries assisted by IOM.

Ensure that protection and MHPSS interventions adopt a rights‑based, Age Gender and Diversity (AGD)‑sensitive and survivor‑centred approach, including for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) survivors, children, persons with disabilities and persons with severe mental health needs.

Contribute to the development, revision and coordination of the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to:

Protection case management

MHPSS

Referrals (health, legal, social, child protection, GBV, livelihoods)

Information sharing and data protection

D- Partnerships, Referrals & Coordination

Establish, maintain and strengthen working relationships with relevant government institutions, UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations and community‑based structures involved in protection and/or MHPSS.

Coordinate the development and operationalization of referral pathways linking IOM interventions with national and local services, including health, social services, child protection and community‑based mechanisms.

Represent IOM in relevant national and sub‑national coordination mechanisms, technical working groups and inter‑agency fora.

Plan and coordinate capacity building of staff and partners on protection, including case management, protection mainstreaming, diversity and inclusion, child protection, Counter-trafficking and related topics. Coordinate closely with Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Officer regarding relevant capacity development for protection staff and partners, as well as with MHPSS.

Support the reinforcement of government and partner technical capacities through training, joint implementation and system‑strengthening approaches.

E- Reporting, Knowledge Management & Donor Visibility

Ensure high‑quality donor and institutional reporting of protection activities.

Coordinate knowledge management, learning and documentation of good practices, incorporating lessons learned as a basis for programme adaptation and future design.

Ensure donor visibility and compliance with IOM and donor communication requirements.

Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

Master’s degree (or higher) in Political or Human Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration Management, or a related field from an accredited academic institution, with at least 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 designing protection, counter- trafficking and related support programmes in various contexts;
• Experience in coordination, community-based approaches that are customized to address a range of vulnerabilities across diverse groups to prevent main risk factors such as human trafficking, re-migration;
• Professional experience in direct implementation of protection programming in contexts of migration or displacement; and,
• Experience of working in the field and familiarity with the region will be an advantage. Proven experience in managing multi‑project protection and/or MHPSS portfolios, including supervision.

Skills

Good project management, communication, writing, and organizational skills; with the ability to prepare clear, accurate, and concise donor and institutional reports;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, governmental authorities, national and international institutions, and Non-Governmental Organizations;

Knowledge of Protection principles and IOM policies and procedures;

Knowledge of data-driven approaches that guide collective action across local agencies and institutions and the priorities of the response in the programme;

Commitment to help persons of concern and willingness to cooperate with counterparts;

Knowledge and experience in facilitating training and developing curricula;

Capacity to support knowledge management, documentation, and information management processes; and,

Good level of computer literacy, including experience with databases, reporting tools, and standard office applications.

Languages

For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

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 five 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.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2

• 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 actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

Notes

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation. This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security as well as accreditation, and any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system-wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.

IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates, link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies.