Senior Program Associate (Protection) - 2 positions

Position Title: Senior Program Associate (Protection) - 2 positions

Duty Station City: Caracas
Duty Station Country: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Grade: UG
Contract Type: Special Short-Term
Recruiting Type: General Service
Vacancy Type: Special Vacancy Notice
Initial duration: until 31 december 2026 (renewable)

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), staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), UN Volunteers with at least twelve (12) months of continuous service in IOM, 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.

Organizational Context and Scope

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission and the direct supervision of the Protection Officer, and in close coordination with relevant programme units, the Regional Office and Headquarters as appropriate, the Senior Programme Associate (Protection) will support the overall coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of IOM Venezuela’s protection and humanitarian programming. 

Following the devastating earthquakes of 24 June 2026 that affected Caracas (Capital District), La Guaira, Miranda and surrounding states, causing widespread infrastructure damage, population displacement and the declaration of a state of emergency, IOM Venezuela is implementing a multisectoral humanitarian response to ensure timely access to life-saving assistance. Within this framework, the Protection Unit delivers interventions aimed at preventing, mitigating and responding to protection risks affecting displaced and earthquake-affected populations, with particular attention to women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Activities include community-based protection, protection mainstreaming, information and awareness campaigns, accountability to affected populations, prevention of gender-based violence, child protection, family reunification support and access to specialized services through established referral pathways. 

The Senior Programme Associate will provide operational, programmatic and administrative oversight to the implementation of protection activities and related projects, ensuring compliance with IOM regulations, donor requirements and humanitarian standards. The incumbent will supervise programme support personnel and field teams, coordinate work planning and activity implementation, monitor budgets and workplans, support donor reporting processes, strengthen partnerships with implementing partners and authorities, and contribute to quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, information management and resource mobilization efforts. The incumbent will promote the integration of protection principles, AAP, PSEA, safeguarding, disability inclusion and data protection across programme activities and ensure timely delivery of project results.

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