VN-US10-2026-090 Movement Operations Associate (Field Support, Airport)

IOM•Washington, DC

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Movement Operations Associate provides field support at Chicago-area airport Ports of Entry (POEs) for the United States Refugee Admissions Program. The role supports the safe, dignified and humane arrival and onward movement of refugees and migrants, including meeting arrivals, assisting with airport and immigration procedures, arranging onward transportation, and completing related administrative tasks. The position works under the general supervision of the National Operations Coordinator and the direct supervision of the National Operations Associate. The role also coordinates with airlines, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), hotels and other vendors; supports people with special needs and medical cases; provides interpretation when needed; validates domestic travel information; and may guide or train other staff. It requires adherence to operational procedures, protection standards, conduct requirements and data-protection rules. Duties include physical activity such as standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing and pulling, and may involve overnight periods, extended hotel assistance, occasional weekends and duty travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, International Relations, Regional Studies or a related field from an accredited institution and three years of relevant professional experience, or a high school diploma and five years of relevant professional experience.
Operational experience at a U.S. Port of Entry, with strong understanding of movement workflows and direct coordination with CBP.
Knowledge of airline processes and CBP procedures relevant to the arrival and onward movement of IOM-assisted beneficiaries.
Experience working in programs with a movement operations component, particularly resettlement programs.
Experience guiding and leading junior staff members.
Experience communicating with beneficiaries.
Computer and software literacy, including good knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Attention to detail and organizational ability.
Self-motivated, objective-driven, able to use initiative and work under pressure with minimal supervision.
Team-leading skills.
Fluency in English, oral and written.
Must meet POE badging and security-clearance requirements, including background checks and fingerprinting under airport authority regulations.
Must reside in the United States; preference may be given to candidates meeting local or state residency requirements applicable to POE badging.
Must be physically capable of standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing and pulling required for the role.

Nice To Haves

Prior Movement Operations, transportation-related and/or management experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct field support at assigned airport locations, meeting and assisting arriving beneficiaries, arranging transit and ground transportation, completing administrative work, and monitoring or guiding Movement Operations Assistants as needed.
Meet beneficiaries at arrival gates and assist them through arrival procedures, including travel-document custody and verification, airport formalities, check-in, baggage, immigration, security screening and customs; escort them to onward transportation or connecting gates, verify flight departures, and support individuals with special needs.
Communicate with airlines, CBP and other vendors, coordinating with the supervisor to resolve issues.
Prepare and complete paperwork for domestic transportation and POE post-arrival formalities, including flight packages, booking sheets, lanyards and promissory notes; mail travel packets after CBP processing; conduct data quality checks; and monitor or guide staff performing administrative duties.
Accompany medical cases requiring immediate assistance to a hospital, remain with them as requested, and ensure hospitalization documentation is completed and submitted to supervisors.
Provide assistance at hotels for people in transit, particularly vulnerable individuals, for periods that may extend up to 12 hours, overnight and exceptionally on weekends; address needs and promptly report issues to hotel representatives and POE supervisors.
Provide interpretation for arriving migrants during immigration and customs procedures and transfers to flights, ground transportation, hotels or final destinations, as needed.
Certify, update and validate domestic bookings and air-ticket information in IOM systems; conduct quality checks, report discrepancies for coordination with IOM Washington, and train staff on validation and quality assurance procedures as needed.
Support day-to-day operational training for new team members as needed.
Prepare and submit incident reports, including lost-luggage claims, through the relevant online system and follow up as required.
Provide supervisors with regular feedback and promptly report issues requiring their attention.
Maintain an in-depth understanding of applicable SOPs, systems, databases and IOM Standards of Conduct; protect confidential information and data integrity; and alert management to non-compliance by staff or partners.
Undertake duty travel for POE-related meetings or training, or to escort people transiting to their final destinations.
Uphold RMM Protection Mainstreaming Minimum Standards and act professionally, impartially and without bias; report non-compliance with SOPs, protection standards or IOM conduct standards.
Perform other duties as assigned.