Regional Migration Data Coordinator

Position Title : Regional Migration Data Coordinator

Duty Station : San Jose, Costa Rica

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P3

Type of Appointment : Special short-term graded, six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 29 April 2021

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates

2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states:

Antigua and Barbuda; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Fiji; Gabon; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People's Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Luxembourg; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

Central America, North America and the Caribbean is a highly diverse region with a total population of 587.3 million inhabitants in 2019. It consists of small Caribbean island states with less than 100,000 inhabitants, as well as countries with populations of more than 100 million people. Large income disparities exist not only between countries in the region but also within them. Citizens residing in Central America and the Caribbean in particular face elevated risks resulting from exposure to natural hazards and/or violence, specific vulnerabilities such as poverty, inequality as well as an overall lack of coping capacities to manage adverse conditions. Many of these dynamics serve as principle push factors behind migration and displacement in the region.

In response to these complex dynamics, and in recognition of the gaps and challenges in effective collection, analysis and dissemination of migration data within the Central America, North America and Caribbean region, IOM´s Regional Office (RO) in San José, Costa Rica seeks to provide enhanced, coordinated and sustained support to both IOM Country Offices (COs) and Member States and other key stakeholders in the region in order to advance migration-related data and information activities, in line with the GCM, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and IOM’s Migration Data Strategy released in June 2020.

The IOM RO for Central America, North America, and the Caribbean in San José covers a total of 19 member countries and numerous territories. IOM’s presence includes several national offices and sub-offices with a total of over 800 staff members.

The Regional Migration Data Coordinator will join and manage a growing team of data and information management staff, consultants and interns under the newly formed Regional Migration Data Unit, dedicated to consolidating and expanding existing migration data management efforts in the region that focus on enhancing the quality, comparability, reliability and ethical use of migration data both internally in IOM, and externally with other UN agencies, governments and additional key stakeholders, in order to inform evidence-based programming and policymaking.

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Director for Central America, North America and the Caribbean, the direct guidance and supervision of the Senior Regional Liaison and Policy Officer, and in close coordination with Regional Thematic Specialists (RTSs), the Regional Migration Data Coordinator’s duties and responsibilities will include the following:

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Manage and design the activities of the Regional Migration Data Unit (RMDU) in line with strategic regional objectives of contributing to: (a) strengthening of the regional evidence base on migration; (b) developing the data and information management capacities of states and other key partners; and (c) ensuring more evidence-based IOM and UN-wide engagement in the region.
2. Design and supervise ongoing internal and external data initiatives and activities including, but not limited to: measuring migration in population censuses; improving administrative records on migration; Sustainable Development Goal indicators and Migration Governance Indicators (MGIs); follow-up to data-related objectives of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM); the Knowledge Management (KM) Hub Data Centre; and counter-trafficking data; Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) data.
3. Along with other RMDU staff, support the ethical and effective collection, management, dissemination and use of IOM’s own programmatic data (related to DTM, MiMOSA, AVRR, migration and health, etc.), including offering technical support and validation to various needs assessments and DTM activities, in coordination with the DTM Regional Officer.
4. Coordinate internally between RMDU and other Units on these initiatives, with COs in the region, and with Departments in Headquarters (HQ) and Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC), including Policy Hub, Department of Operations and Emergencies, Migration Protection and Assistance Unit, Research Unit, KM Hub (in RO San Jose), Media and Communications Division, Regional Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V), and more.
5. Coordinate the completion of RMDU inputs to GMDAC global activities whenever necessary.
6. Coordinate and liaise between RMDU and external stakeholders (including government counterparts, NGOs / CSOs, and other UN agencies) on data-related initiatives by participating in external meetings, in national, sub-regional, regional and global-level working groups and within other important coordination structures related to migration information management and data. Coordinate with other UN agencies when necessary to enhance joint data collection and analysis activities.
7. Monitor activities being carried out by RMDU staff and consultants and ensure quality and timely completion of reports, factsheets, dashboards and other outputs, in line with project ToRs and within overall IOM guidelines and quality standards, offering technical guidance whenever necessary.
8. Advise on and ensure that the implementation of information management and data activities in the region adhere to Information Technology and Communication and other IOM policies and standards, and that data are collected, stored, analyzed and disseminated in line with IOM´s Data Protection Manual.
9. In efforts to support national and regional stakeholders in generating, analyzing and disseminating data and information on key migration dynamics in the region, substantively assist in designing and delivering external trainings and capacity-building exercises for key stakeholders in the region and internal trainings to IOM RO and CO staff on themes related to migration data. Liaise with necessary regional focal points, IOM GMDAC and HQ throughout the process.
10. Support IOM RO San José in disseminating migration data products (including factsheets, reports, briefs, videos, blogs, dashboards, infographics) to key internal and external stakeholders, to support evidence-based programming and policies.
11. Support RTSs on implementing their own data-related initiatives and on using data to inform their programming.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Data Science, Library Science, Statistics, Information Management, Computer Science, Media or Social Sciences or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or

• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Significant experience in designing and managing quantitative and qualitative research projects and cycles and operationalizing statistical methods; in particular, designing and conducting population or socio-economic surveys and /or needs assessments in humanitarian, emergency and / or development contexts, DTM or otherwise;

• Knowledge and experience in working with administrative data records, population censuses and thematic population surveys, preferably related to migration, as well as knowledge of international standards and classifications, desired;

• Experience in coordinating and working on capacity-building programs, preferably related to data;

• Experience in generating a variety of information products / report writing;

• Experience in managing teams;

• Experience in statistical analysis software, e.g. Excel, STATA, SPSS, or R;

• Practical experience in multi-tasking, prioritizing and working independently;

• Work experience in the region is an asset.

Skills

• Ability to manage a wide and complex variety of tasks and coordinate with a diverse array of internal and external actors to assess their data needs and assist them in closing data gaps;

• Ability to explain and make complex information on data accessible and understandable to a wide variety of stakeholders;

• Ability to manage and work with a variety of datasets and within databases.

• Demonstrated understanding of statistical sampling methods, including of hard-to-reach populations and in different operating environments;

• Knowledge of data protection and ethical data gathering and use principals.

• Demonstrated quantitative and qualitative research skills;

• Proven ability to produce quality work accurately and concisely according to set deadlines;

• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team of colleagues of varied cultural and professional backgrounds;

• Proven track record of success in effectively designing and managing comprehensive data projects, programmes and activities related to migration, displacement, demographic and / or socio-economic factors, developments and trends.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

For this position, fluency in English and Spanish is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of French is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

1

Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• 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.

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 action 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 potential.

• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

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.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country and who do not have prior experience outside the duty station’s country as staff member in the Professional category cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by 29 April 2021 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information please refer to: www.iom.int/recruitment

Posting period:

From 16.04.2021 to 29.04.2021

No Fees:

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

Requisition: SVN 2021 92 Regional Migration Data Coordinator (P3) San Jose, Costa Rica (56945981) Released

Posting: Posting NC56945982 (56945982) Released