CFA: Head of External Relations (Canadian Nationals Only) (P)

Country: Canada Organization: International Organization for Migration Closing date: 26 Oct 2026 Job Identification: 23452 Posting Date: 06/10/2026 11:03 AM Apply Before: 26/10/2026 11:59 PM Contract Type: Short Term (Nine months with possibility of extension) Initial Contract Duration: Nine months Org Type: Country Office Vacancy Type: CFA Recruiting Type: Professional Grade: UG Is this S/VN based in an L3 office or in support to an L3 emergency response?: No Short Description IOM, UN Migration Agency in Ottawa, Canada is looking for a Head of External Relations who will lead strategic external engagement, partnerships and resource mobilization efforts in Canada Description 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), UN Volunteers with at least twelve (12) months of continuous service in IOM, staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), 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 administrative supervision of the Head of Office, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Canada and the technical supervision of the Senior Director, Strategy and External Engagement in HQ, the Head of External Relations will lead strategic external engagement, partnerships and resource mobilization efforts in Canada. Responsibilities • Design and implement a country-level resource mobilization strategy aligned with IOM priorities. • Represent IOM in political engagement with high-level government officials and policy dialogue. • Develop approaches to maximize IOM visibility and influence. • Lead resource mobilization initiatives and donor engagement. • Identify and prioritize strategic donors and funding opportunities. • Lead strategic integration of external relations and resource mobilization. • Maintain understanding of donor priorities, funding cycles and emerging trends. • Perform such other duties as may be assigned. Qualifications Required Qualifications and Experience Education • Master's degree in Political, Social Sciences, International Relations or related field with ten years of relevant experience; or, • University degree in the above fields with twelve years of relevant experience. Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database. Experience • Senior-level donor relations experience; • Experience in policy dialogue related to international migration; • Resource mobilization experience across donor types; • Experience developing institutional resource mobilization strategies; • Experience managing internal networks and knowledge sharing; • Experience leading capacity-building initiatives; • Experience advising senior leadership; • Experience managing project budgets and staff. Skills • Engagement with Canada's political and governmental system; • Knowledge of IOM systems and processes; • Excellent public speaking and communication skills; • Excellent capacity-building and management skills; • Excellent writing skills; • Familiarity with the global aid system; • Ability to work in multicultural environments; • Ability to prioritize and deliver under pressure. Languages IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages. For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, 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 • 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 • 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. Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security as well as accreditation, any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time 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 How to apply To apply, interested applicants are invited to submit their applications HERE via the IOM Career Gateways by 26 October 2026