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.
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 IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories:
Bahamas, Barbados, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.
Organizational Context and Scope
Under the overall supervision of the Regional Director and direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Health Assessment Programme Coordinator (DRHAPC), the Regional Migration Health Nurse Coordinator will be responsible for substantively supporting Migration Health Division’s (MHD) nursing leadership structure and for carrying out the following duties and responsibilities in relation to the Migration Health Assessment Programme across the region.
Responsibilities
1. Establish and maintain an optimal workflow, efficiency, and client satisfaction in all migration health assessment nursing and clerical activities in the region to fulfil the technical requirements of the resettlement countries, including but not limited to:
a) Medical examinations
b) Imaging
c) Laboratory testing
d) Vaccinations
e) TB management
f) Treatment and referrals
g) Pre-departure procedures and medical movements
h) Counselling
i) Infection prevention and control
j) Documentation, certification and information transmission
k) Other technical areas as may be required
2. Provide technical advice and coordination for vaccination programmes across regional HAP operations, including vaccine policy implementation, operational oversight, performance monitoring, and alignment with global MHD vaccination strategies.
3. Backstop and monitor resource management in Health Assessment Programmes (HAP) in the following areas:
a) In coordination with DRHAPC, recommend staffing levels for nurses and support staff, contribute to the harmonization of grades and post descriptions, and provide advice to senior regional MHD colleagues and the Chief Migration Health Officer (CHMO) on optimal staffing levels and organization of nursing and support staff.
b) Participate in recruitment of nurses, especially in leadership positions such as Migration Health Nurse Officer (MHNO) and/or Senior Nurses.
c) Promote and support the use of the Medical Inventory Management System for medications and medical supplies in collaboration with pharmacists, MHNO/senior nurses, and CMHO in the Region.
d) Provide regional oversight of cold chain systems, including equipment standards, temperature monitoring, contingency planning, and corrective actions.
e) Coordinate with pharmacists, supply chain colleagues, and country teams to ensure end-to-end vaccine availability and integrity, including during surge and mobile operations.
f) Design, apply, and oversee regional monitoring and evaluation tools for vaccination programmes, including analysis of vaccine coverage, consumption, wastage, refusal rates, and cold chain performance across countries.
g) Consolidate and analyse regional vaccination data and prepare regular regional reports for DRHAPC and MHD Headquarters (HQ), highlighting trends, risks, and corrective actions.
h) Facilitate the development of an Asset Management System related to medical equipment, in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
i) Assist DRHAPC in budget reviews towards the adequacy of human and material resources for programme implementation.
j) Maintain an optimal staff flow, including the allocation to routine duties, staff leave planning and work handover in regional mobile unit.
4. Promote the implementation of best practice standards as they relate to nursing activities within HAP operations by developing and instructing best practice guidelines, evidence-based clinical standards, and supporting the development and implementation of standard operating procedures as they relate to nursing practice.
5. Coordinate and facilitate nurse education programs, using a variety of learning techniques, including:
a) Develop entry-on-duty and refresher training programmes and guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for nurses in the region.
b) Oversee the development and delivery of vaccination-specific training, including safe administration practices, cold chain management, Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) recognition, documentation standards, and counselling.
c) Organize in-house and external training and keep track of nurses’ engagement in training and continuous medical education.
6. Coordinate clear communication strategies for the sharing of clinical practice resources and information to support HAP operations.
7. Monitor clinical practice across HAP operations using standardized auditing tools and provide feedback on clinical and workflow performance, in respect of principle nursing procedures. Suggest corrective actions while analyzing and disseminating best practices.
8. Serve as Regional Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Officer; support the implementation of IPC standards in IOM medical facilities; contribute to the development of such policies.
9. Coordinate and oversee AEFI surveillance at regional level, ensuring standardized reporting, investigation follow-up, and escalation pathways in coordination with CMHOs and MHD HQ.
10. Monitor epidemiological trends relevant to vaccine-preventable diseases in HAP populations and advise DRHAPC and CMHOs on operational implications for vaccination delivery, in alignment with global policies.
11. Coordinate and implement a sound monitoring system of medical document flow and data entry; perform routine spot checks and apply quality assessment/quality control mechanisms to ensure errors are minimal in the relevant databases.
12. Ensure that pharmacy, stock, medical kits, and emergency kits within the Region and for medical escorts, if applicable, are being monitored; perform spot checks to ensure that they are well maintained.
13. Assess and recommend purchase of medical supplies; monitor inventory of medical supplies and verify that all Migration Health Assessment Clinics have clear SOP’s regarding medical supply procurement.
14. In coordination with the Regional Medical Movement Coordinator, support regional pre-departure health activities, including oversight of treatment and pre-embarkation fitness-to-travel assessments as required; ensure appropriate documentation and reporting; support follow-up actions for cases placed on medical hold after health assessment; and provide regional technical guidance on the management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and tuberculosis treatment, including Directly Observed Therapy (DOT), in coordination with country-level teams.
15. Prepare and finalize medical and administrative reports and program updates as necessary; report any inconsistencies or issues on the regional level to relevant CMHOs and DRHAPC.
16. Plan and organize mobile or surge missions, if applicable, and supervise communication with the non-IOM panel physicians with regard to the follow-up on the cooperation with non-IOM Panel Physicians in PDMS procedures, surveillance, fitness for travel, the vaccination process, and the service provider agreements with non-IOM Panel Physicians and service providers.
17. Provide technical and administrative support to the DRHAPC and/or relevant CMHOs in the planning, coordination, and delivery of all regional migration health programmes. This includes the collation and consolidation of data, information, and operational plans related to programme implementation across the region, and the translation of these inputs into coordinated regional action plans.
18. Contribute to technical medical oversight, planning, monitoring, and follow-up of IOM migration health assessment programmes in the region, including surge missions, temporary deployments, and activities conducted in remote or non-routine locations. Ensure that these programmes meet the technical requirements of resettlement countries, including standardization and the application of Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) across all aspects of the medical examination and documentation process:
- In particular, support the planning and coordination of regional health assessment activities for surge or remote operations, in collaboration with Heads of Migration Health Assessment Centres and relevant country teams, ensuring appropriate coverage in locations without permanent IOM MHD presence, as well as cost-effectiveness, monitoring, and performance oversight in coordination with the DRHAPC.
19. Coordinate, and perform if needed, the medical escort duties when required to ensure migrants receive continued care throughout all phases of migration (before departure, during the journey and at the final destination).
20. Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with various partners to facilitate the follow-up and relevant information sharing. Partners include internal IOM departments, other health providers, panel physicians, embassies, other UN agencies or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and others as applicable.
21. Prepare, compile, and finalize relevant survey and statistical information and share with the DRHAPC as per pre-set and agreed-upon format.
22. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
- Master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience with at least two years in a management role; or,
- University degree in the above field with seven years of relevant clinical experience with three years in a management role.
Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.
Experience
- Working experience in the areas of Tuberculosis management, mass immunizations, communicable diseases, laboratory testing, or public health is an advantage;
- Demonstrated experience in implementation of QC/QA principles is mandatory;
- Experience in developing guidelines and instructions for nursing services is desirable;
- Knowledge and experience of using IOM Databases and Application is an advantage; and,
- Previous international experience in HAP is a distinctive advantage.
Skills
- Nursing experience in international and national settings;
- Involvement in review and accreditation of nursing degrees and diplomas;
- Demonstrated senior-level managerial skills are mandatory; and,
- Computer literacy required: MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Access).
Languages
For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).
Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, 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.
Required Competencies
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.
Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
- 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.
- Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
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 actions 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 leadership and professional potential.
- Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
- Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
- Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
- Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.
Notes
Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. 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.
Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security, as well as accreditation, and any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.
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, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.
IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system-wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.
IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates, link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies.