Head of Resources Management Unit (P) Multiple Duty Stations - Call for Applications

• Organisation: International Organization for Migration
• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Contract: Professional
• Deadline: 8 November 2026

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, 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. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy.

For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), UN Volunteers with at least twelve (12) months of continuous service in IOM, staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.

Context

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM), and secondary reporting line of the Deputy Regional Director (Management) in the Regional Office, in close coordination with the relevant HQ Departments and the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), the Head of Resources Management Unit serves as a core member of the senior management team and the principal advisor to the Chief of Mission on strategic resource management, financial sustainability, operational governance, enterprise risk management, and operational risk.

The Head of Resources Management Unit provides vision, leadership, and direction across finance, human resources and all resources management areas, ensuring that Country Office resources are planned, allocated, and utilized in a manner that maximizes programmatic impact, ensures full compliance, and strengthens donor confidence. The role drives a strategic, forward-looking approach to financial management, integrating risk management, performance monitoring, and resource optimization into decision-making processes and organizational planning.

Strategic Leadership and Advisory Role

• Act as a key strategic partner to the Chief of Mission, contributing to overall leadership, direction-setting, and decision-making of the Country Office.

• Lead the development and implementation of integrated resource management strategies, aligning financial planning with programmatic priorities, growth objectives, and long-term sustainability.

• Provide high-level, risk-informed and evidence-based advice on financial sustainability, cost recovery, and resource mobilization strategies.

• Shape operational policies, practices, and systems to enhance efficiency, accountability, scalability, and overall performance through proactive guidance.

Financial Management and Oversight

• Lead and oversee all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, liquidity management, and financial reporting.

• Ensure robust financial planning frameworks that link project pipelines, donor funding, operational costs, and mission sustainability.

• Provide strategic financial analysis, including scenario planning, trend analysis, and risk-based forecasting to support senior management decision-making.

• Safeguard organizational assets through strong internal control systems, ensuring full compliance with IOM regulations and donor requirements, and strengthening segregation of duties and control culture.

• Oversee the preparation of high-quality financial reports for donors, HQ, and external stakeholders, reinforcing donor confidence and transparency.

• Drive audit readiness and ensure timely implementation of audit recommendations, reinforcing a culture of accountability and continuous assurance across the Country Office.

Human Resources

• Provide oversight to all aspects of human resources in line with the Department of Human Resources’ overall vision and guidance.

• Position the HR function as a strategic business partner supporting organizational effectiveness and workforce planning.

• Ensure quality assurance of all HR products.

• When dedicated HR role(s) are established, provide support, in line with the Department of Human Resources’ overall vision and guidance.

Resource Optimization and Performance Management

• Lead the development of cost-efficiency, value-for-money, and responsible resource management strategies across operations to support institutional sustainability and operational effectiveness.

• Support the Chief of Mission (CoM) and programmatic counterparts in managing risks across the portfolio, including for donor, delivery, compliance, financial and reputational risks.

• Strengthen results-based management by linking financial data to programmatic outputs and outcomes, ensuring a strategic and results-oriented approach.

• Ensure effective cost allocation mechanisms aligned with IOM's financial policies and guidelines and support sustainable, long-term growth of the Country Office portfolio.

Risk Management and Governance

• Support the COM on overseeing a comprehensive enterprise risk management framework, focusing on financial, operational, compliance, reputational and safeguarding risks in complex operational environments.

• Ensure effective implementation of internal control systems, anti-fraud measures, governance structures, and business continuity frameworks.

• Act as a first line of defence within IOM’s risk management framework, providing constructive challenge and ensuring risk trade-offs are explicit in decision-making processes.

• Advise senior management on risk exposure and mitigation strategies in complex and evolving operational contexts, including documented advisory input in high-risk scenarios and strategic operational decisions.

• Coordinate with relevant CO units to prepare and update the risk register.

Oversight of Resource Management Functions

• Provide strategic oversight of, supply chain, ICT, and administrative services, ensuring alignment with financial strategies.

• Ensure that operational systems are fit-for-purpose, scalable, digitally enabled, and compliant with IOM and donor requirements while supporting operational growth and institutional priorities.

• Ensure the mandatory inclusion of the Supply Chain Manager in key planning and decision-making forums, including annual planning, project start-up, procurement planning, pipeline reviews, and budget discussions, to align demand planning, sourcing strategies, and delivery timelines with operational objectives and risk appetite.

• Establish and monitor segregation of duties across the procurement-to-pay cycle, ensuring clear separation between (i) requestors/requisitioners, (ii) buyers/procurement staff, and (iii) payers/finance (payment processing), as well as between receiving/verification and invoice approval/reconciliation.

• Promote integrated service delivery models that enhance efficiency, support programme implementation, and leverage innovation and digital tools across resource management functions.

ICT Oversight and Operations

• Provide functional oversight of Country Office ICT services and assets, ensuring alignment with IOM corporate ICT standards, policies and procedures, and coordinating with the relevant ICT support units on compliance, upgrades and system performance.

• Contribute to the formulation of the annual administrative budget by preparing cost estimates for ICT infrastructure, equipment replacement and software licensing requirements, ensuring value for money and alignment with operational priorities.

• Promote and monitor adherence to IOM information security standards and data protection requirements, ensuring appropriate access controls, data handling practices and incident reporting procedures, and flag ICT-related risks for inclusion in the office risk register.

• Ensure ICT considerations are integrated into business continuity and emergency preparedness plans, including backup connectivity solutions and critical data recovery procedures, in coordination with the regional ICT team.

• Support the effective use of IOM corporate applications, including WAVE and PRIMA, by monitoring access privileges, system usage, escalating technical issues to the relevant ICT support units, and participating in the rollout of system upgrades and new modules.

• Identify opportunities to leverage digital tools - including artificial intelligence - and automated processes to strengthen efficiency, transparency and internal controls across resource management functions, liaising with the regional ICT team on innovation initiatives and ensuring locally procured solutions comply with IOM data governance and cybersecurity requirements and organizational standards.

• Maintain accurate records of ICT assets and non-expendable equipment in accordance with IOM property management rules; coordinate timely disposal, replacement and warranty/insurance follow-up, and ensure assets are properly accounted for in the office inventory.

Leadership and Organizational Development

• Lead, manage, and develop a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral operations team, fostering a high-performance, accountable, inclusive and respectful workplace culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.