Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) for Operations, the overall supervision of the Regional Director (RD), the Regional Policy and Liaison Officer connects the different policy positions and workflows from the Department of Data, Insight and Policy Coordination (DIPC) and the Office of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications (OPAC) in Headquarters (HQ) to both strategic engagement at the regional level and implementation support at the country level. The Regional Policy and Liaison Officer provides advice and support the implementation of institutional policy from HQ in Country Offices (COs) across the Region.
Specifically, Regional Policy and Liaison Officer provides oversight, quality control, and support to promote consistent, cohesive, and quality evidence-based programming, particularly as it relates to policy development. The Regional Policy and Liaison Officer leads the Regional Policy and Liaison Unit (RPLU), which along with Regional Thematic Units (RTU) collectively provides policy support and evidence-based thought leadership to both internal and external stakeholders on regional and national and local efforts to save lives and protect people on the move, drive solutions to displacement, and facilitate regular pathways for migration and supporting and advising thematic areas to identify policy processes.

Responsibilities
Liaison and Partnership
1. UN Network on Migration: Manage and support the regional UN Network on Migration (UNNM) and provide technical support and oversight to country-level UNNM in close collaboration with the Network Secretariat.
2. Member State Implementation: Provide advice and technical assistance to COs on the implementation, follow-up, and review of the GCM at CO level, and to engage in quadrennial alternating regional GCM reviews and global GCM reviews.
3. Partnerships with Regional Economic Communities: Under the leadership of the RD and in coordination with the Chiefs of Mission (CoMs), provide advice and technical support to advance regional cooperation on migration and the mobility dimensions of regional integration for Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
4. UN Partnerships: Strengthen and enhance IOM’s interactions with UN agencies at the regional level and support the DRD for Operations in the Regional Collaborative Platform and Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, as well as to regional fora, dialogues, and groups related to UN Reform.
5. Liaison and Partnership Development: Develop strategies and liaise with Member States, regional organizations, NGOs, academia, civil society, parliamentarians, the private sector, international financial institutions the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, and other stakeholders to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration and to promote IOM’s priorities.
6. Resource Mobilization: Develop fundraising strategies, strengthen donor relations and private sector engagement in close coordination with COs and the Regional Project Development Officer (RPDO).


Insights and Policy

7. Strategy Development: In close coordination with the DRD for Operations, RPDO, Regional Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Officer (RPMEO), and CoMs, the RPLO guides and supports the development of regional, subregional, and country strategies.
8. Partnerships and Advocacy: Collaborate with the DRD for Operations, RTUs, COMs, Country Offices for Partnerships and Advocacy, and other ROs to mainstream migration into policy and to develop CO capacities to contribute to UN processes.
9. Policy Support to Governments: Guide COs in the development of comprehensive local and national migration policies.
10. Sectoral Policy Development: Advise RTUs on mainstreaming migration in sectoral policies.
11. Training and Capacity Development: Coordinate the development and rollout of trainings on migration policies and frameworks.
12. Secretariat Role: Provide policy guidance and technical expertise to Regional Consultative Processes.
13. Research and Data Initiatives: In close coordination with relevant RTUs and the Regional Data Hub (RDH), promote evidence-based policymaking and support greater coherence between the data, data projects, and policy in coordination with the DRD for Operations and other relevant offices.
14. Project Development: Provide advice and support to COs to develop projects with a focus on policy, research, international migration law, and UNNM-related issues as requested.


Cross-Cutting Priorities
15. Mainstream: In line with the IOM Strategic Plan and corresponding custodianship outlined in the Regional Office Terms of Reference, promote, integrate, and mainstream cross-cutting priorities in all areas of the RPLU’s work in the region.
Regional Policy and Liaison Unit Management
16. Manage the RPLU, including overseeing and managing the delivery of the Unit’s specific responsibilities in their entirety as outlined in the RPLU Terms of Reference.
17. Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Job requirements
Education
• Master’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Social Science, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with at least seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with at least nine years of relevant professional experience.


Experience
• Demonstrated experience in policy development and liaison, and related areas relevant to project development and management, and capacity building;
• Minimum five 5 years’ experience working in non-OECD countries managing projects with policy development components;
• Experience in liaison, resource mobilization, and advocacy with governmental and diplomatic officials, national and international institutions and organizations, civil society, and private sector actors;
• Experience working in an international, inter-governmental, or non-governmental organization, United Nations, or government; and,
• Experience in the design and implementation of capacity building on policy development.

Skills
• Ability to understand complex contexts and fast-changing migration and displacement dynamics and ability to frame them in their regional, global, and political contexts;
• Proven track record of successful engagement with donors, developing projects, and mobilizing resources for IOM priority areas;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate with a diverse team of specialists;
• Strong analytical skills combined with the ability to effectively summarize, present, and communicate findings;
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in IOM’s policies, practices and norms relevant to policy development and liaison; and,
• Proven agent of change or willingness to foster a culture of learning and knowledge management.

Languages
• IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.
• For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).
• Working knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish is an advantage.
• Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.