Senior Country Coordinator Verified listing

Within the Directorate for Migration Dialogues and Cooperation (MDC), the Pakistan Senior Country Coordinator, based in Islamabad, oversees ICMPD’s portfolio, office operations and institutional relations in Pakistan. The role supports the strategic development and alignment of thematically and institutionally diverse projects with national priorities, donor priorities and ICMPD’s cooperation framework with the Government of Pakistan.

Reporting to the Head of Region, Silk Routes (based in Vienna), and working closely with the Regional Portfolio Manager and relevant Project Managers, the incumbent leads ICMPD’s Pakistan office. This includes human resources planning, implementation oversight, stakeholder engagement and resource mobilisation, in line with ICMPD’s strategy, quality standards and business processes. The incumbent also oversees implementation in accordance with Government of Pakistan priorities and the existing Country Agreement with the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while maintaining relations with national stakeholders in migration and border governance, beneficiaries and international donors. They oversee major project partnerships, work plans and budgets, identify risks and operational bottlenecks, and support the consolidation and further development of strategic national partnerships.

Required Expertise
▪ Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and portfolios in migration or related fields.
▪ Proven ability to translate political, social, and migration-related developments into strategic priorities and operational plans.
▪ Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with national authorities and their high-level representatives, international donors and implementing partners, with a strong track record of trust-based relationship management and representation.
▪ Demonstrated success in identifying and shaping programmatic opportunities aligned with organisational strategy, national priorities and international donors’ strategic frameworks.
▪ Capacity to lead and coordinate project teams, oversee the quality and timely delivery of results, and support staff development and team cohesion across country initiatives.
▪ Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information and provide strategic and operational advice to senior management and partners.
▪ Knowledge of national migration dynamics, stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities in the areas of migration and border governance, funding instruments, and national coordination mechanisms and strategies.
▪ Excellent diplomatic, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to represent the organisation in high-level settings and maintain a visible, respected presence.
▪ Experience in working in multicultural environments and supporting internal collaboration across geographically dispersed teams.

▪ Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field. A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.
▪ A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in international project management, including team leadership and stakeholder engagement.
▪ Proven experience in working in cooperation with Pakistani national institutions is essential.
▪ Previous experience in an international organisation or international cooperation context is required.
▪ Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft and present effectively for external stakeholders.
▪ Proficiency in both English and Urdu is required.