Job Description

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.

Nature of the consultancy: Advisory and technical services (Type A), subject to confirmation of funding and formal agreement with the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) of the Department of Treasury, providing strategic, analytical, and technical support to inform the design and potential operationalization of labour mobility reintegration systems, policies, and pilot programming in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Project Context and Scope: PNG has identified overseas labour mobility as a strategic pathway to expand employment opportunities, strengthen skills development, increase foreign exchange earnings, and improve household income and wellbeing. Labour mobility is coordinated by the LMU within the Department of Treasury, which oversees recruitment, deployment, worker welfare, return, and reintegration of PNG citizens under schemes such as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) and Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) programmes.

As PNG’s participation in regional labour mobility schemes expands, the scale and complexity of return and reintegration have increased. Returned workers and their families experience interconnected economic, social, and psychosocial reintegration challenges, particularly in contexts of circular migration, family separation, limited job matching, financial pressures, and community expectations. Strengthening reintegration systems is therefore critical to ensuring that skills, savings, and overseas experience translate into sustained household resilience and national development gains.

Subject to confirmation of funding and a formal agreement with the LMU, this consultancy will support the proposed project “Supporting the Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Papua New Guinea,” to be implemented by IOM in alignment with, and complementary to, the Government-led Enhancing Labor Mobility from Papua New Guinea Project (ELMP) supported by the World Bank. The Consultant will provide technical and operational leadership for the design and implementation of reintegration components under this framework.

Organizational Department / Unit and Reporting

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing: IOM Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion Unit, working in close coordination with the LMU, Department of Treasury, and the World Bank.

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission, IOM Papua New Guinea, with technical guidance from IOM Labour Mobility (Canberra) and the Regional Labour Mobility Specialist, IOM Regional Office in Bangkok. The Consultant will maintain close technical coordination with the LMU, Department of Treasury, and engage with the World Bank and other relevant partners, while collaborating with Regional Recruitment Hubs (RRHs), field teams, and subnational government counterparts to support coherent, government‑led implementation of labour mobility reintegration activities.

Responsibilities

Category A Consultants: Tasks to be Performed under this Contract

This is a Category A (Type A) consultancy providing senior technical and operational leadership to support implementation of labour mobility reintegration activities, in alignment with ELMP reintegration outputs and agreed delivery arrangements.

1. Reintegration Systems Design and Implementation Leadership

• Lead the design, operationalisation, and technical oversight of labour mobility reintegration systems and programme components, aligned with ELMP reintegration objectives and national policy frameworks.

• Provide technical and operational leadership to guide implementation of evidence‑based, family‑centred reintegration approaches through LMU and RRHs.

• Support integration of reintegration considerations across the labour mobility cycle, including pre‑departure, overseas employment (including circular migration), and return.

• Ensure safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, and psychosocial wellbeing considerations are embedded across reintegration systems and delivery modalities.

1. Evidence Generation, Monitoring and Learning

• Lead reintegration evidence generation activities, including contextual analysis and validation exercises to inform implementation.

• Support development and application of monitoring and learning frameworks for reintegration interventions, aligned with ELMP requirements.

• Document implementation experiences, lessons learned, and good practices to inform adaptive management and future scale‑up.

1. Strategy, Programme and Systems Development

• Provide technical leadership for the development and operationalisation of a nationally aligned Reintegration Strategy and Implementation Action Plan.

• Translate strategic priorities into pilot‑ready programme designs suitable for decentralised delivery through RRHs.

• Provide technical input into reintegration data management, referral, coordination, and tracking approaches between LMU and RRHs.

1. Capacity Strengthening and Technical Support

• Design and deliver capacity‑building support for LMU and RRHs on reintegration case management, coordination, referrals, safeguarding, and engagement with returned workers and families.

• Develop and contextualise a PNG‑specific reintegration training package drawing on regional and global good practices.

• Provide on‑the‑job mentoring and technical backstopping to support consistent, government‑led reintegration implementation.

1. Coordination, Partnerships and Representation

• Support coordination with government counterparts, development partners, and relevant stakeholders involved in labour mobility and reintegration.

• Contribute technical inputs to inter‑agency discussions, workshops, and coordination fora related to labour mobility reintegration.

• Support alignment between reintegration activities and broader ELMP implementation processes.

1. Reporting and Compliance

• Provide technical inputs to inception, progress, and final reports related to reintegration implementation.

• Ensure activities comply with IOM policies, safeguarding and data protection standards, and applicable environmental and social requirements.

4. Performance Indicators for the Evaluation of Results

• Reintegration systems, tools, and programme components designed and operationalised in line with ELMP reintegration outputs.

• Quality and timeliness of evidence products, strategy documents, and programme designs.

• Strengthened institutional capacity of LMU and RRHs to lead reintegration implementation.

• Documented lessons learned informing programme adaptation and scale‑up.

• Timely and compliant technical contributions to project reporting.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Migration Studies, Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field; or

• Bachelor’s degree with additional relevant professional experience.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum five (5) years of progressive professional experience in labour mobility, migration governance, reintegration, or related programming.

• Demonstrated experience providing technical and operational leadership for programme implementation.

• Experience in evidence generation, strategy development, programme design, and capacity strengthening.

• Experience working with government counterparts, UN agencies, and development partners.

• Strong analytical, coordination, facilitation, and communication skills.

• Experience in Papua New Guinea or comparable Pacific contexts is an asset.

Travel Required - Travel within Papua New Guinea and, where required, within the Asia–Pacific region, including to remote and hardship locations.

Languages

For this consultancy, TO COPY-PASTE FROM POSTING DESCRIPTION

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

• 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.

Notes

IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work. 

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

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, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. 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

Required Skills

Job info