Project Specialist - Prevention Child Safeguarding

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 and is a Related Organization of the United Nations. It is recognized as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM's mission is to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, saving lives and protecting people on the move. The organization drives solutions to displacement and facilitates pathways for regular migration while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. The organization operates in numerous countries worldwide, focusing on various aspects of migration and human rights, and aims to harness the full potential of migration to strengthen its support for people on the move. IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Internal and external candidates are considered for vacancies, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process.

Job Overview:
The Project Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, supporting the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of activities under the ISF/BBA Plusz project, which focuses on a comprehensive program for the return, reintegration, and prevention of human trafficking victims. The role emphasizes prevention activities involving children and adolescents, local coordination mechanisms, stakeholder training, and child safeguarding quality assurance. The incumbent will act as the project-level technical lead on prevention and child safeguarding for all activities involving direct or indirect interaction with minors, ensuring that all methodologies and activities are age-appropriate, trauma-informed, and aligned with child safeguarding principles. The position also involves contributing to awareness-raising campaigns, regional counter-trafficking coordination mechanisms, and documentation for donor reporting and project monitoring. The successful candidate will be expected to engage with various stakeholders, including governmental authorities, NGOs, and community members, to ensure effective implementation of project activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Specialist will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties, including:

• Supporting the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of project activities related to prevention, child safeguarding, awareness raising, and stakeholder training, ensuring alignment with project workplans and donor requirements.
• Acting as the technical lead on child safeguarding for all project activities involving minors, providing guidance and oversight to ensure compliance with safeguarding principles.
• Reviewing and providing technical input to prevention methodologies, session plans, and training materials to ensure they are appropriate and effective.
• Identifying and mitigating safeguarding risks associated with activities involving minors, ensuring safe facilitation and documentation practices.
• Directly contributing to prevention activities through presentations, group activities, and awareness-raising sessions with children and community stakeholders.
• Coordinating with partners and service providers to ensure safe planning and implementation of prevention activities.
• Supporting the development of media and awareness-raising campaigns from a child safeguarding perspective.
• Establishing and facilitating Regional Counter-Trafficking Coordination Mechanisms, including stakeholder mapping and outreach.
• Designing and delivering training for various stakeholders involved in child protection and safeguarding. 1
• Conducting research and needs assessments relevant to prevention and child safeguarding. 1
• Supporting monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and reporting processes by collecting and consolidating relevant data and documentation. 1
• Identifying operational challenges and proposing corrective measures to ensure effective project delivery. 1
• Drafting correspondence, meeting minutes, and other project documentation as required. 1
• Performing any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a high school diploma/certificate with four years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree in fields such as Social Work, Psychology, Education, Child Protection, Human Rights, Social Sciences, International Relations, Migration Studies, Law, Criminology, or Public Policy from an accredited institution. Candidates must demonstrate a strong understanding of child safeguarding and protection principles, as well as experience in relevant fields such as child protection, education, community outreach, and victim assistance. The ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders and facilitate training and awareness-raising sessions is essential. Strong organizational, analytical, and drafting skills are also required, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office and cloud solutions.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess either a high school diploma/certificate with four years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited academic institution. Accredited universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database, ensuring that candidates have received quality education that meets international standards.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience is required, specifically in areas such as child protection, child safeguarding, education, youth work, protection, counter-trafficking, and community outreach. Candidates should have experience in prevention programming, stakeholder coordination, and working directly or indirectly with children and vulnerable groups. Experience in facilitating workshops, presentations, and community-based activities is also necessary, along with a background in liaising with governmental authorities and civil society organizations. Familiarity with project documentation and reporting processes is advantageous, as is experience in multicultural environments and with intergovernmental organizations or NGOs.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Hungarian is required for this position, both oral and written. IOM's official languages include English, French, and Spanish, and proficiency in these languages may be evaluated during the selection process, which could include written and/or oral assessments.

Additional Notes:
This position is subject to local recruitment, and only candidates holding a valid residence and work permit for Hungary will be considered. The appointment will be contingent upon medical fitness certification and verification of residency and visa requirements. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct incompatible with its objectives, including discrimination and harassment. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and only accepts applications submitted through its online recruitment system. Candidates are encouraged to visit the IOM Careers and Job Vacancies website for further information and job postings.