Chief, 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, Regional Office, in close coordination with the relevant HQ Departments and the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), the Chief, Resources Management Unit (RMU) is a core member of the senior management team and the principal adviser to the CoM on resources management, financial sustainability, internal control, oversight and operational risk.
The position is established in Country Offices with a large, complex and/or geographically dispersed portfolio, typically comprising multiple Sub-Offices, significant emergency or high-risk operations, and a substantial volume of donor funding, procurement and implementing-partner activity.
The Chief, Resources Management Unit (RMU) sets the strategic direction for, and is accountable for, the finance, budget, treasury, human resources, supply chain, administration, premises and ICT functions of the Country Office and its Sub-Offices, leading, where applicable, through heads of functional units. They own the Country Office’s internal control and management assurance framework, provides independent and evidence-based challenge on the resource implications of major decisions, and ensures that resource management capacity, systems and services remain sustainable, compliant and proportionate to the scale, complexity and risk profile of operations.
Strategic Leadership and Advisory Role
• Serve as the principal adviser to the Chief of Mission on the Country Office’s financial position, resource management capacity, operational sustainability, and exposure to financial, compliance and delivery risks.
• As a core member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to the strategic direction and effective management of the Country Office, ensuring that resource considerations are integrated into programme strategy, emergency response, resource mobilization and operational decision-making.
• Provide independent, evidence-based and forward-looking advice on portfolio trends, funding scenarios and resource allocation, and recommend strategic interventions where financial sustainability or delivery is at risk.
• Provide constructive challenge on the affordability, feasibility, compliance and risk implications of major proposals and commitments, ensuring that key management decisions are supported by credible financial analysis, documented assumptions and clear accountability arrangements.
• Set the strategic direction for practices, operating models and systems across resource management functions, sponsor major transformation and service improvement initiatives and provide authoritative feedback to the Regional Office and relevant HQ Departments on the effectiveness, scalability and operational impact of corporate policies and systems in large and complex operations.
• Provide authoritative advice on financial and other resources management policy matters and actively support donor contract negotiations.
Human Resources
• Provide oversight of all aspects of human resources management in line with the Department of Human Resources’ overall vision and guidance.
• Position the human resources function as a strategic business partner supporting organizational effectiveness, workforce planning and people management priorities.
• Ensure quality assurance of human resources products, advice and processes within the Country Office.
• Where dedicated human resources role(s) are established, provide support in line with the Department of Human Resources’ overall vision and guidance and, in conjunction with the Chief of Mission, play an active role in identifying and addressing workplace issues that lend themselves to early managerial intervention.
• Ensure effective workforce planning, recruitment support, onboarding, offboarding, staff development and performance-management processes, in coordination with relevant human resources specialists, GSSC and in line with organizational framework and policies.
Financial Management, Treasury and Budget
• Provide strategic leadership for the Country Office’s financial management and long-term sustainability, including integrated budgeting, multi-year forecasting, treasury, accounting and financial reporting, and ensure that financial resources are aligned with programme strategy, operational priorities and risk appetite in accordance with IOM regulations and donor requirements.
• Establish appropriate oversight mechanisms for cash-flow forecasting, banking arrangements and cash controls.
• Exercise delegated financial and signatory authority and remain accountable for the integrity, timeliness and reliability of the Country Office accounts, including the effective management and escalation of material financial exposure.
• Proactively advise and support the Chief of Mission in exercising overall financial stewardship of the Country Office’s programme portfolio, including effective cost allocation and the prevention and resolution of project over expenditure.
• Ensure appropriate financial oversight and assurance arrangements for implementing partners, grants and other third-party delivery modalities, in line with IOM policies and donor requirements.
Risk Management, Internal Controls and Compliance
• Own the design, effectiveness and continuous improvement of the Country Office’s internal control and management assurance framework across resource management functions. Advise the Chief of Mission on the adequacy of controls, determine proportionate responses to material weaknesses and ensure that delegations of authority and segregation of duties remain aligned with the complexity, operational model and risk profile of operations.
• Lead, on behalf of the Chief of Mission, the Country Office’s integrated risk management processes, ensuring that strategic, financial, operational, compliance, safeguarding and reputational risks are considered collectively.
• Coordinate senior management including the regular review of the risk register and key risk indicators, and lead the process for risk escalation, where required. Coordinate the Compliance and Controls Self-Assessment process for the Country Office and ensure that identified weaknesses are addressed through time-bound corrective actions.
• Ensure that internal and external audit recommendations are actioned, and that resources management-related weaknesses are addressed in a timely and sustainable manner.
• Ensure effective fraud risk management mechanisms are in place for activities such as procurement, logistics, fleet management, asset management, warehousing, premises and common services, ensuring that sourcing, contracting and service-delivery models are proportionate to operational scale and risk, deliver value for money and support timely programme implementation.
• Provide oversight of Country Office ICT services, infrastructure and assets, ensuring alignment with IOM corporate ICT standards, information security and data protection requirements, and business continuity arrangements, in coordination with the relevant ICT support units.
• Ensure that business continuity, information-security and data-protection arrangements are integrated into Country Office resource management planning and operational decision-making.
Partnerships and Representation
• Represent IOM, as delegated by the Chief of Mission, in senior-level engagements with government authorities, donors, United Nations entities and other partners on contractual, financial, operational and resource management matters. Lead or support complex donor and partner negotiations, present authoritative analysis of resource implications and risk, and protect IOM’s institutional, financial and operational interests in external commitments.
• Represent IOM in the UN Operations Management Team and other inter-agency forums, contributing to common business operations, shared services and UN reform initiatives, and ensure that significant commitments arising from external engagements are appropriately assessed and authorized.
• Act as Officer-in-Charge of the Country Office, as delegated.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned, consistent with the seniority, accountability and organizational scope of the position.
Education