Consultant - Housing, Land and Property Operations Officer

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.
 

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

Project Context and Scope

IOM in South Sudan implements a portfolio of programmes focused on recovery, stabilization, and sustainable development, with the overarching objective of advancing durable solutions to displacement and reducing long-term dependency on emergency assistance. IOM’s approach is grounded in area-based, community-driven interventions that strengthen local systems, promote social cohesion, and support inclusive development outcomes. Through its peacebuilding, transition, and development programming, IOM addresses the structural and institutional drivers of displacement and fragility. Core areas of intervention include Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights, transition and recovery, transhumance-related conflict prevention, community-based violence reduction, local development, and migration management. These interventions are designed to support sustainable reintegration, enhance community resilience, and foster conditions for long-term stability and development. As a key development and recovery actor in South Sudan, IOM works across the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) nexus, with a strong emphasis on the development and peacebuilding dimensions, ensuring that recovery programming is aligned with national priorities and contributes to longer-term institutional and community-level transformation. IOM has been actively supporting solutions-oriented approaches that enable voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return, relocation, and reintegration of displaced and returning populations. In South Sudan, Housing, Land and Property (HLP) challenges represent one of the most critical bottlenecks to achieving durable solutions and sustainable development. Unresolved HLP issues are closely linked to broader protection and governance risks, including family and marital disputes, forced evictions, gender-based discrimination in access to land and resources, lack of civil documentation, and heightened exposure to violence and social exclusion. These challenges disproportionately affect internally displaced persons and returnees, including those returning from neighboring countries and areas affected by the Sudan crisis.

Through this project, IOM’s HLP programming will provide targeted, rights-based support to displaced and returning populations, while strengthening community-level dispute resolution mechanisms and institutional engagement with local authorities. The project is designed to directly support and complement EU Delegation (EUD)–funded development and recovery programming, acting as a key enabler for EU investments in livelihoods, local governance, social cohesion, and area-based development approaches. By addressing HLP barriers, the project will contribute to creating the conditions necessary for sustainable recovery, inclusive development, and durable solutions in South Sudan.

At the same time, the protection environment in South Sudan remains precarious, with women and girls facing high risks of gender-based violence, while people with disabilities face discrimination and barriers, resulting in long-term physical and psychological harm and curtailing their ability to participate in recovery processes. Addressing these interconnected risks is essential to lay the foundations for an inclusive, sustainable recovery and resilience. In this context, HLP programming plays an enabling and amplifying role in advancing IOM’s strategic objectives on peacebuilding, durable solutions, and transition and recovery. By preventing and responding to harm, promoting human rights, fostering resilience, self-reliance, and empowering communities to spearhead their recovery, and resolving HLP-related issues through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and supporting the government with building their technical and operational capacity and establishing case management and referral pathways. HLP programming empowers communities with knowledge about their rights and obligations, provide guidance on resolving HLP related disputes in a peaceful manner, reduces vulnerabilities and strengthens the social cohesion necessary for inclusive, durable solutions.
 

Objective: Support in implementing HLP operations in South Sudan and ensuring to provide technical support when needed and ensure coordination continued engagement with key stakeholders relevant to HLP such as the government, traditional authorities, communities and humanitarian and development actors.

​​Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Mission and the Head of Transition and Recovery Unit and the direct supervision of the Housing, Land, and Property Project Officer, the Consultant - Housing, Land and Property Operations Officer will complete the tasks outlined below.

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in law, Political or Social Science, Urban planning, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or

• Bachelor’s University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.​

Experience

• Previous experience working in an international organization and knowledge of the UN is essential. 

• ​Previous experience in housing, land, and property programming, in complex humanitarian and development situations.

• ​Experience in developing and supporting programmes/projects in active and complex emergency settings is a distinct advantage.​

Skills

• Technical Expertise in HLP: Strong knowledge of Housing, Land and Property frameworks, legal principles, and field application within humanitarian and durable solutions contexts.
• Programme Implementation & Case Management: Proven ability to manage field-level interventions, oversee structured case management systems, and coordinate legal assistance services in line with operational and protection standards.
• Stakeholder Coordination & Representation: Demonstrated capacity to engage effectively with government counterparts, customary authorities, partners, and inter-agency forums.
• Leadership & Capacity Strengthening: Experience in supervising teams, mentoring staff, and supporting institutional capacity development through technical guidance and training.
• Monitoring, Reporting & Analytical Skills: Ability to produce timely, accurate, and results-oriented reports supported by strong analytical and information management skills.
• Protection & Conflict-Sensitive Programming: Solid understanding of protection mainstreaming, do-no-harm principles, and risk mitigation in displacement-affected environments.

Travel required

The person should be operating from South Sudan, based in Bentiu, with many travel to other field locations based on need and accessibility.

Languages

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