Senior Project Associate – Shelter

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'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, employing a diverse workforce dedicated to addressing the challenges of migration.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Associate – Shelter will play a crucial role in supporting the administrative, technical, and operational functions of the shelter team under the supervision of the Head of Operations and the Technical Advisor Shelter/NFI. This position involves coordinating shelter activities, liaising with various units within the Gaza occupied Palestinian territory (OPT), and ensuring smooth project implementation. The Senior Project Associate will assist in planning, coordinating, and monitoring shelter activities in accordance with IOM guidelines, while also supervising and providing guidance to the national shelter team and field staff. The role requires a proactive approach to managing workloads, ensuring timely delivery of shelter activities, and maintaining high standards of quality and compliance throughout the project lifecycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Project Associate include:

• Supporting the administrative coordination of project implementation, including initiating requests, obtaining necessary clearances, and processing administrative actions.
• Assisting in the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of shelter activities per IOM guidelines.
• Supervising and providing functional guidance to the national shelter team and field staff, planning workloads, and coaching team members.
• Preparing technical drawings and Bill of Quantities (BOQs) for shelter activities, ensuring accurate cost estimates and compliance with technical standards.
• Monitoring Implementing Partners (IP) and contractors against technical specifications, identifying deviations, and recommending remedial actions.
• Tracking project budget implementation, analyzing expenditure rates, and proposing corrective measures to improve budget utilization.
• Analyzing field data and drafting regular status reports, briefing notes, and statistical tables for management decisions and donor reporting.
• Maintaining comprehensive project files and tracking matrices, addressing information requests from stakeholders.
• Coordinating with partner NGOs and local authorities, participating in the UN Shelter Cluster mechanism to resolve issues. 1
• Organizing meetings, workshops, and training sessions, preparing training materials, and delivering capacity-building workshops. 1
• Providing technical and operational inputs for the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and concept notes for new projects. 1
• Processing, reviewing, and tracking Purchase Requests (PRs) and procurement actions, coordinating with supply chain and finance units. 1
• Performing other relevant duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Senior Project Associate position include:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Development Studies, International Relations, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant professional experience; or a High School diploma with six years of relevant professional experience.
• Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.
• A minimum of four years of progressive operational experience in humanitarian shelter implementation, infrastructure rehabilitation, or emergency NFI distributions.
• Experience navigating complex UN/INGO administrative systems, including procurement workflows and partner contract management.
• Demonstrated field experience managing, supervising, and training national staff or field engineering teams.
• Direct experience liaising with external stakeholders and participating in the UN Shelter Cluster mechanism.
• Experience working with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups.
• Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations or government institutions in a multi-cultural setting is an advantage.
• Experience in construction works is also desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Civil Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Development Studies, or International Relations from an accredited institution. Alternatively, candidates with a High School diploma must have six years of relevant professional experience. The educational qualifications must be from accredited universities recognized by the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of progressive operational experience in humanitarian shelter implementation, infrastructure rehabilitation, or emergency NFI distributions. Candidates should have experience navigating complex UN/INGO administrative systems, including procurement workflows and partner contract management. Demonstrated field experience in managing, supervising, and training national staff or field engineering teams is essential, as is direct experience liaising with external stakeholders and participating in the UN Shelter Cluster mechanism. Experience working with vulnerable populations, including migrants and refugees, is also important, along with prior work experience in international humanitarian organizations or government institutions in a multi-cultural setting.

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 evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve a contract duration that is subject to funding confirmation. 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 be contingent upon certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security clearances. 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, sexual harassment, and discrimination. 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.