Director, Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery

Job Identification (Reference Number): 17417
Position Title: Director, Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery (D) (Internal applicants only)
Duty Station City: Geneva
Duty Station Country: Switzerland
Grade: D-2
Contract Type: Fixed-term (1 year with possibility of extension)
Recruiting Type: Professional
Vacancy Type: Vacancy Notice
Initial duration: 1 year with possibility of extension
Closing date: 20 November 2025

Introduction:

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 ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

This vacancy are open only to:

a) internal candidates and

b) former IOM staff members who were separated in the last 12 months due to the structural adjustment process.

This process is not open to external applicants; their applications will not be considered at this time. 

Context:

The Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery (DHRR) sits under the Operations Pillar and is responsible for coordinating IOM's humanitarian assistance and recovery programming. The Department's mission is to provide timely, people-centered protection and assistance to crisis-affected populations while empowering communities and local actors in driving solutions to displacement and assisting states in meeting their legal obligations.

DHRR leads on directing operational activities to advance Objective 1 — Saving lives and protecting people on the move — and Objective 2 — Driving solutions to displacement — of IOM's Strategic Plan (2024–2028). This is achieved through policy leadership on displacement, strengthening humanitarian coordination, promoting conflict-sensitive and climate-aware programming, and setting the strategic direction to mitigate the impacts of conflict, disasters, and climate change. The Department provides quality assurance, develops operational standards, and advances thought leadership linking preparedness, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian response, peace and security (including disarmament, demobilization and reintegration), recovery, and sustainable solutions.

The Department leads IOM's engagement in inter-agency humanitarian architecture and represents the Organization in institutional partnerships and fora such as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Grand Bargain, ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment, and the UN Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. It also supports principled humanitarian action, integration of the Humanitarian-Peace-Development Nexus (HDPN) into IOM's systems and processes, and coherence with global policy frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

DHRR is composed of the Director's Office, several units, and four divisions: the Preparedness and Humanitarian Operations Division, the Peace Recovery and Solutions Division, the Humanitarian Protection Division, and the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). These divisions work in synergy to provide comprehensive support to crisis-affected populations and advance IOM's humanitarian leadership.

Under the overall supervision of the Director General and the direct supervision of the Deputy Director General, the Director, Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery will provide strategic leadership and overall direction for IOM's humanitarian and recovery portfolio, ensuring that the Organization's policies, operations, and partnerships advance its global humanitarian mandate and align with intergovernmental priorities and system-wide reforms.