Settlement Planning and Development Officer (P)

Job Identification (Reference Number): 16925
Position Title: Settlement Planning and Development Officer
Duty Station City: Geneva
Duty Station Country: Switzerland
Grade: UG
Contract Type: Special short-term ungraded
Recruiting Type: Professional
Initial duration: Five months with possibility of extension
Closing date: 25 September 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

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), 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.

Context:

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Preparedness and Response Division (PRD) and the direct supervision of the Shelter and Settlement Specialist, the Settlement Planning and Development Officer provides specialised support to emergency and protracted operations in designing and developing sustainable settlements to host displaced populations. The officer will analyse settlement options and proposed sites and ensure that settlement location and spatial layout decisions follows rights-based and protection centred approaches, that promote access to services, livelihoods, recreation, and support socio-cultural life of displaced and host communities. The officer must work closely with other sectors to build synergies and ensure settlements are design with long-term perspectives. 

The officer will be expected to deploy as needed for short term missions, provide remote assistance, and support the ongoing work on the global shelter and Settlements unit in HQ to improve global capacity for quality programming.

1. Act as a technical lead and focal point for all IOM humanitarian settlement planning and development interventions. 
2. Continuously assess IOMs capacity needs and existing resources and develop training resources and guidance documents as required. Support in the harmonization of tools and approaches to settlement planning and development, from site assessment to development, integrating risk identification and mitigation strategies. 
3. Manage  the Site Planning Community of Practice, to ensure continued engagement of site planners at the inter-agency level. Ensure cross-cutting issues are integrated in shelter and settlement programming such as GBV, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), Environment and other cross cutting issues as relevant.
4. Develop and maintain an overview of IOM humanitarian settlement interventions including a database of settlements according to stages of development and assess technical quality of settlement planning activities to ensure learning and future quality programming.
5. Ensure IOM's capacity to engage in settlement development activities, including developing a database of deployable settlement planners, and as necessary compile tools and relevant guidance to facilitate site development (e.g., tendering and contractor management for specialized works).
6. Provide remote assistance and deploy to IOM missions as required to support operations when the need for site/settlement planning arises. This would include conducting comprehensive site assessments, developing sustainable settlement layouts which meet population needs, respond to the natural topography of the site, ensure safe and equitable access to basic services, and where relevant oversee site development works. 
7. Conduct analysis and adaptation plans of settlements in support of durable solutions, including the integration of settlements into local development plans with particular emphasis on meaningful inclusion of persons with specific needs.    
8. Provide preparedness support (contingency planning) as well as work with others to ensure exit/transition and closure strategies include environmental considerations. 
9. Actively liaise internally with relevant units (e.g., protection Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Transition, and recovery, etc.) and externally (Global Shelter Cluster, other agencies, government authorities, etc.) and any other relevant stakeholder to ensure that IOM interventions are coordinated, coherent, and complementary.
10. Represent IOM as required in negotiations with local governments regarding land allocation, assessment, and site development. 
11. Participate in and represent IOM at technical working groups, disability inclusion, urban settlements, etc., networks and relevant meetings. Lead IOM’s engagement with the Geneva Technical Hub. 
12. Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Education

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian settlement planning or infrastructure development in emergency contexts is essential. 
• Experience in WASH, flood modelling, drainage and road design, shelter, or camp management operations is advantageous. 
• Experience with international organizations, in development, implementation and evaluation, in conflict or post-conflict settings; experience in the UN system in displacement contexts is an asset. 
• Experience managing construction works, directly or through contractors.

Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of sustainable urban planning policy and design, and ability to analyse and provide guidance in complex urban environments;
• A portfolio of settlement designs is highly desirable;
• Ability to travel to the field is mandatory;
• Strong organization and communication skills; and,
• Strong computer literacy, including knowledge of CAD (Infraworks and AutoCAD 2D required, Civil3D or other relevant infrastructure software an advantage) and GIS software, in addition to Microsoft Office suite.

Languages

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of French and Spanish is an advantage.

IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the the three 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 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.

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

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations.  Recommended candidates endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

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.

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