Senior Project Associate - Legal Identity

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 to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. IOM's mission includes saving lives and protecting people on the move, driving solutions to displacement, and facilitating pathways for regular migration. The organization is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. IOM operates in numerous countries around the world, providing services and advice to governments and migrants, and aims to better harness the full potential of migration to strengthen its support to people on the move.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Associate - Legal Identity position is crucial for supporting the implementation and oversight of activities that facilitate migrants' access to legal identity and civil documentation. This role is under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator and the direct supervision of the National Project Officer (Regular Pathways & Socioeconomic Integration). The position involves coordinating with various stakeholders, including civil registry offices, immigration authorities, and consular services, to address documentation barriers and ensure that migrants receive timely, accessible, and rights-based legal identity support. The role also includes monitoring case progress and strengthening identity management processes, which are essential for the protection and regularization of migrants' rights and access to services. The successful candidate will be expected to support individualized case management, assist migrants in obtaining legal identity documents, compile and analyze data on legal identity needs, and serve as a focal point for administrative coordination of legal identity interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support individualized case management and referral follow-up for migrants, ensuring timely needs assessment, documentation, coordination with relevant service providers, tracking of assistance provided, and regular follow-up to support access to services and progress toward integration outcomes.
• Assist and support migrants in obtaining or regularizing legal identity documents, including birth certificates, national identity cards, passports, and civil registration records.
• Compile, analyze, and present data on legal identity needs, documentation gaps, case trends, and barriers faced by migrants in accessing civil registration and identity documentation services, highlighting key issues for management attention.
• Serve as the focal point for administrative coordination of legal identity interventions, liaising with relevant authorities, civil registry offices, consular representatives, and project partners to facilitate documentation processes and resolve administrative challenges.
• Draft status reports; identify shortfalls in delivery, bring them to the attention of the supervisor and suggest corrective measures.
• Prepare and maintain project documentation, including case tracking tools, beneficiary records, briefing notes, statistical reports, correspondence, and other materials related to legal identity and civil documentation support.
• Organize meetings, workshops, and training sessions for government counterparts, partners, and project staff on legal identity, civil registration, documentation processes, and related protection considerations.
• Participate in meetings and conferences; maintain effective liaison and coordination with local authorities, partners, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, donors, and other stakeholders relevant to the project.
• Monitor work of implementing partners and report any non-compliance to the supervisor. 1
• Provide inputs for the development of Standard Operations Procedures (SOP) and concept papers and provide general support for the development of new projects. 1
• Provide guidance/training and assist in coordinating and monitoring work of other staff in the unit; may supervise other staff as assigned. 1
• Participate in meetings and conferences; maintain effective liaison and coordination with local authorities, partners, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, donors, and other stakeholders relevant to the project. 1
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess either a school diploma with six years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law, or related fields from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant professional experience. Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database. Additionally, candidates should have experience working in or liaising with national governmental authorities, national/international institutions, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Experience in working with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking, and other vulnerable groups is also required. Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations, non-government or government institutions/organizations in a multi-cultural setting is considered an advantage.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a school diploma with six years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law, or related fields from an accredited academic institution. The degree must be from an institution recognized by the UNESCO World Higher Education Database, ensuring that candidates have a solid academic foundation to support their professional experience in the field of migration and legal identity.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience if they hold a Bachelor’s degree, or six years of relevant experience if they possess only a school diploma. Candidates should have experience working with national governmental authorities, international institutions, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Experience in direct engagement with migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations is essential, as is familiarity with the challenges they face in accessing legal identity and documentation services. Prior experience in a multicultural setting, particularly with international humanitarian organizations, is highly valued and may provide candidates with a competitive edge in the selection process.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, both oral and written. All IOM staff members are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages, which include English, French, and Spanish. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial and will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments to ensure candidates meet the language requirements necessary for effective communication in this role.

Additional Notes:
The position is subject to funding confirmation, and any offer made to the candidate will depend on this condition. The selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations, and recommended candidates will remain eligible for appointment in a similar position for a period of 24 months. Appointment will also be contingent upon certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, as well as meeting any residency or visa requirements and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security clearances. IOM maintains 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, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background, or disabilities. IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process and only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system.