Head of Goodwill Ambassador and Celebrity Engagement (P)

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

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. 

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates
2. Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: Bahamas, Barbados, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

Organizational Context and Scope

IOM is a UN related agency and is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments, businesses and migrants to protect the rights of people on the move and maximize the development gains of human mobility.

Under the overall oversight of the Director General, the Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSP) sits within the Office of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications Strategy and External Engagement Pillar. The PSP Division builds partnerships with the private sector that enable IOM's strategic priorities and engages the private sector as a key stakeholder in migration through impactful and innovative partnerships. The PSP Division leads strategic outreach and engagement with the private sector and provides Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices with assistance and expertise relating to initiating, establishing and maintaining partnerships with the private sector. The PSP Division is responsible for the development and implementation of IOM’s Private Sector Strategy which provides a framework for how IOM engages with the private sector to support safe, orderly and regular migration. The PSP Division oversees engagement with the private sector, establishes and coordinates IOM’s private sector partnerships due diligence process, builds staff capacity in private sector partnership-building and oversees the Islamic Philanthropy Fund and Goodwill Ambassador programme and celebrity partnerships.   

The Head of the Goodwill Ambassador Programme and Celebrity Engagement leads the strategic development and global implementation of IOM’s celebrity engagement portfolio as a core driver of advocacy, visibility and private sector fundraising. The successful candidate will oversee the recruitment, due diligence and management of Goodwill Ambassadors and high-profile supporters, ensuring coordinated delivery of high-impact campaigns, field missions, media and digital outputs in close collaboration with Country and Regional Offices.

Acting as a central interface across divisions, the incumbent ensures coherent messaging, strong governance and system-wide alignment, while developing and monetizing innovative partnerships that generate measurable income and donor engagement. The role also strengthens institutional capacity through guidance, tools and training, and supervises programme staff to deliver results against strategic and fundraising objectives.

1. Strategic Leadership & Programme Oversight
•    Lead the design and global roll-out of IOM’s Goodwill Ambassador and celebrity engagement strategy, ensuring a coherent, well-governed programme that advances organizational priorities in advocacy, brand positioning and private sector engagement.

2. Goodwill Ambassador Programme Management
Oversee the end-to-end management of the Goodwill Ambassador programme, including:
•    Governance, policies and compliance with institutional guidelines. 
•    Structured onboarding, briefing and induction of new Ambassadors to ensure alignment with IOM’s mandate, priorities and standards. 
•    Strategic deployment of Ambassadors across priority themes and regions. 
•    Ongoing performance management, engagement planning and relationship stewardship. 
•    Renewal, rotation and offboarding processes, ensuring continuity, reputational safeguarding and positive closure of engagements. 
•    Annual reporting on Ambassador contributions and impact.

3. Talent Identification, Recruitment & Pipeline Development
•    Define and drive a proactive, globally diversified talent pipeline, identifying, prospecting and recruiting high-value celebrity supporters and influencers aligned with organizational priorities, audience reach and market relevance.

4. Partnership Development & Strategic Engagement
•    Design and manage high-impact celebrity partnerships that deliver on advocacy, visibility and fundraising objectives, including campaigns, events, digital activations and brand collaborations.

5. Fundraising Integration & Value Maximization
•    Ensure celebrity engagement is effectively leveraged as a cross-cutting enabler of fundraising, supporting income-generating campaigns, donor engagement and partnerships, and contributing to divisional revenue objectives.  
•    Develop and operationalize celebrity and influencer engagement as a strategic fundraising channel, including supporting and driving campaigns that generate measurable income as well as contributing to income targets within the Private Sector Partnerships Division.

6. Due Diligence, Risk & Reputation Management
•    Lead comprehensive due diligence processes and continuous risk monitoring, ensuring all engagements uphold IOM’s ethical standards, reputational integrity and safeguarding requirements, and proactively mitigate potential risks.

7. Campaign Leadership & Content Strategy
•    Enable the strategic use of Goodwill Ambassadors and high-profile supporters across global campaigns, ensuring delivery of high-quality outputs that drive engagement and impact.

8. Field Missions & High-Level Engagements
•    Lead the planning and execution of high-profile field missions and engagements, ensuring clear advocacy, visibility and partnership outcomes, and effective coordination with Country and Regional Offices.

9. Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
•    Serve as a senior focal point for engagement with celebrities, agents, managers, partners and internal stakeholders, ensuring professional, consistent and strategic relationship management.

10. Performance Management & Impact Measurement
•    Establish and oversee frameworks to assess the impact and return on investment of celebrity engagement, including reach, engagement, advocacy outcomes and contributions to fundraising.

11. Internal Leadership & Capacity Building
Provide strategic guidance and build capacity across HQ and field offices by:
•    Managing global focal point networks 
•    Developing tools, guidance and training on celebrity engagement 
•    Promoting consistent standards and best practices system-wide

12. Cross-Functional Coordination
•    Act as a key interface across fundraising, communications, media and operations to ensure integrated, well-coordinated and strategically aligned engagement with high-profile supporters.

13. Team Management
•    Supervise and mentor staff and consultants, ensuring effective delivery of programme priorities and fostering a high-performing, collaborative team environment.

14. Other Duties
•    Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Affairs, Political Science, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• Progressively responsible professional experience in celebrity engagement, partnerships, communications, or private sector fundraising, preferably within international organizations, NGOs, or the media/entertainment sector; 
• Demonstrated experience in recruiting, negotiating and managing high-profile celebrity and influencer partnerships, including in support of advocacy and fundraising objectives; 
• Proven track record in designing and delivering integrated, multi-channel campaigns involving broadcast, print, digital, film, photography and social media, with measurable impact; 
• Experience in developing and executing celebrity-driven communications and/or fundraising strategies, including events, campaigns and donor-facing initiatives; 
• Strong experience working with talent agents, publicists, managers and production teams, including contract negotiation and relationship management; 
• Demonstrated experience in leveraging celebrity engagement to drive income generation, audience growth and donor conversion is highly desirable; and,
• Experience in international development or humanitarian contexts, including managing high-level visits and field missions involving high-profile celebrities.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively under pressure, manage risk and maintain professionalism in high-visibility and reputationally sensitive situations; 
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex situations and deliver clear, actionable solutions, including under time-sensitive and high-stakes conditions; 
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple high-profile stakeholders, competing priorities and tight deadlines in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment; 
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into compelling narratives for media, public audiences and fundraising purposes; 
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to build trust and influence across diverse stakeholders,
• Excellent drafting and reporting skills, with the ability to produce high-quality strategic documents, donor-facing materials and senior-level briefings with strong attention to detail and accuracy; 
• Strong analytical and performance measurement skills, including the ability to assess impact, track ROI and inform strategy using data-driven insights; 
• Proven diplomacy, tact and sound judgment, with the ability to manage sensitive relationships and represent the organization effectively with high-level stakeholders, including celebrities, agents, donors and partners; .and,
• Proven ability to operate in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and to coordinate across global, regional, and country-level teams.   

Languages

All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).

At least a working knowledge of another language (including one of the six official UN languages, and/or a language that may be widely spoken in the country context) is desirable.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, 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 Level 3

• 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 Level 3, if with direct reports

• 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. This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

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