Senior Project Associate

The Senior Project Associate will provide technical inputs and guidance to assist in the development of concept notes, project proposals, strategies and contingency plans for IOM Bulgaria. The role includes supporting capacity building, project development, donor reporting, and coordinating training and events with various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, coordinate and implement IOM Bulgaria capacity building programme including trainings for representatives of national institutions and NGOs on various topics such as protection and human rights, gender-based violence, working with children, working with vulnerable groups, intercultural competence, psychosocial support, site management support, and others.
• Plan, coordinate and organize the agenda with relevant stakeholders, including speakers and lecturers, taking into account participants’ needs, and manage the logistics of capacity building events organized by IOM Bulgaria including trainings, workshops, meetings, field visits, and others.
• Prepare presentations, working materials, analyses and other documents to be used in working meetings, trainings and other capacity building events.
• Facilitate cooperation and organize working meetings with public authorities, academia, NGOs, migrant’s communities, and other stakeholders in the field of migration management in Bulgaria.
• Prepare regular reports on the implementation of IOM capacity building activities and development of partnerships with key actors in Bulgaria.
• Propose activities and prepare recommendations on developing further IOM Bulgaria capacity building portfolio.
• Provide technical inputs for the development of concept notes, strategies and contingency plans that respond to new and emerging operational challenges for the country, through a consultative process with senior and programme staff.
• Support the organization’s project development actions by maintaining regular contact with donor relations counterparts and by providing technical inputs and drafted sections of project funding submissions/proposals and appeals.
• Consolidate and analyse data on programme implementation and indicators to facilitate the preparation of interim and final donor reports as well as periodic and activity-specific reports, as may be required.
• Prepare talking points, presentations for media and public events, situation reports on emergency cases and for communication with external parties on these issues.
• Participate in trainings, seminars and meetings, and liaise with partner organizations, as required.
• Undertake any other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Studies, Migration Studies, Human Rights, Law or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or, High School diploma with seven years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in coordinating with various programme units and ability to establish and maintain working relations with government counterparts, UN agencies.
• Previous experience working in an international organization and knowledge of the UN is a distinct advantage.
• Knowledge of migration issues will be a distinct advantage.
• Previous experience with and knowledge of programmes funding mechanisms is an asset.
• Experience in programme development, project monitoring and evaluation required.
• Excellent project development and report writing skills.
• Previous experience in development and implementation of training and capacity building programmes.
• Computer skills and knowledge of relational databases, Microsoft applications, spreadsheets, word processing etc.
• Strong understanding of the UN and IOM Rules Regulations and practices are advantageous.
• In-depth knowledge of team collaboration principles and the ability to foster a culture of shared accountability, trust, and collective achievement.
• Strong understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, with proven ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate challenges, identify practical solutions, and manage competing priorities effectively.
• Strong planning, organizational, and project management skills, including the ability to monitor progress, manage resources, and ensure timely delivery of results.
• Knowledge of knowledge management methodologies and best practices, including experience in capturing, documenting, and disseminating institutional knowledge.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain professional networks and partnerships to facilitate the exchange of information, expertise, and good practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly, facilitate dialogue, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong accountability and results-management skills, with the ability to take ownership of responsibilities, monitor performance, and ensure delivery against organizational objectives.
• Ability to promote a learning and innovation-oriented work environment, encouraging continuous improvement, knowledge-sharing, and professional development.
• Fluency in Bulgarian (oral and written) is required.
• Fluency in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish) is required.

Skills

• Project Development
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Program Development
• Report Writing
• Training Development
• Capacity Building
• Relational Databases
• Microsoft Applications
• Spreadsheet Software Knowledge
• Word Processing
• UN Rules and Procedures
• IOM Administrative Rules
• Team Collaboration
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Analytical Skills
• Problem Solving
• Planning and Organization
• Project Management
• Knowledge Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Donor Reporting

Languages

Bulgarian, English