Head of Goodwill Ambassador and Celebrity Engagement (P)

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.

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. External female candidates

3. Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: 

    

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
 

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

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. For more information about IOM, please visit www.iom.int.   

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 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 role oversees 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

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  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.

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 certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

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, 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.

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.

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. 

   

   

• 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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

• Establish and oversee frameworks to assess the impact and return on investment of celebrity engagement, including reach, engagement, advocacy outcomes and contributions to fundraising.

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. 

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

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

• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.   

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

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

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, French, 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.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.