Settlement Planning and Development Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 and is a Related Organization of the United Nations. It is the leading UN agency in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, providing services and advice to governments and migrants. The organization is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. IOM operates in numerous countries worldwide, focusing on various aspects of migration management and humanitarian assistance.

Job Overview:
The Settlement Planning and Development Officer plays a crucial role in supporting emergency and protracted operations by designing and developing sustainable settlements for displaced populations. This position requires the officer to analyze settlement options and proposed sites, ensuring that decisions regarding settlement locations and spatial layouts adhere to rights-based and protection-centered approaches. The officer is expected to promote access to essential services, livelihoods, recreation, and support the socio-cultural life of both displaced and host communities. Collaboration with other sectors is essential to build synergies and ensure that settlements are designed with a long-term perspective. The officer will also be responsible for deploying as needed for short-term missions, providing remote assistance, and supporting the global shelter and settlements unit at headquarters to enhance global capacity for quality programming. Additionally, the officer will act as a technical lead and focal point for all IOM humanitarian settlement planning and development interventions, continuously assessing IOM's capacity needs and developing training resources and guidance documents as necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Settlement Planning and Development Officer include: providing specialized support to emergency and protracted operations in designing and developing sustainable settlements; analyzing settlement options and proposed sites; ensuring that settlement location and spatial layout decisions follow rights-based and protection-centered approaches; promoting access to services, livelihoods, and recreation; working closely with other sectors to build synergies; deploying for short-term missions and providing remote assistance; managing the Site Planning Community of Practice; developing and maintaining an overview of IOM humanitarian settlement interventions; conducting comprehensive site assessments; developing sustainable settlement layouts; ensuring safe and equitable access to basic services; conducting analysis and adaptation plans of settlements; providing preparedness support; liaising internally and externally with relevant stakeholders; representing IOM in negotiations with local governments; participating in technical working groups and networks; and performing other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master's degree in Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience, or a University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience. Candidates must demonstrate experience in humanitarian settlement planning or infrastructure development in emergency contexts, with additional experience in WASH, flood modeling, drainage and road design, shelter, or camp management operations being advantageous. Experience with international organizations in conflict or post-conflict settings, as well as managing construction works, is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, or a related field from an accredited academic institution. Alternatively, a University degree in the aforementioned fields with seven years of relevant professional experience is acceptable. The educational background should provide a strong foundation in the principles of urban planning and development, particularly in the context of humanitarian assistance and emergency response.

Experience:
The position requires demonstrated experience in humanitarian settlement planning or infrastructure development in emergency contexts. Candidates should have experience working with international organizations, particularly in development, implementation, and evaluation in conflict or post-conflict settings. Experience in managing construction works, either directly or through contractors, is essential. Familiarity with the UN system in displacement contexts is considered an asset, as is experience in WASH, flood modeling, drainage and road design, shelter, or camp management operations.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, both oral and written. Working knowledge of French and Spanish is considered an advantage, as IOM's official languages are English, French, and Spanish. Proficiency in the required languages will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Additional Notes:
The position is a special short-term ungraded contract with an initial duration of five months, with the possibility of extension. Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile, and any offer made to the candidate is subject to funding confirmation. The selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations, and recommended candidates endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible for appointment in a similar position for a period of 24 months. Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, as well as any residency or visa requirements and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security clearances. Vaccination against COVID-19 will be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021, and this will be verified as part of the medical clearance process. Applications must be submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.