Return Counsellor

The Return Counsellor is responsible for providing return counselling services and extensive information on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) to asylum seekers residing in the Federal Asylum Centres in Altstatten and other centers in East Switzerland. The role involves organizing safe journeys home, coordinating travel documents, liaising with partners and authorities, maintaining case documentation, and supporting overall implementation and coordination of return counselling activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide specific return counselling services and extensive information on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) to all asylum seekers residing in the FAC in the duty station or centers in East Switzerland under IOM’s return counselling mandate.
• Organize and facilitate a well prepared and safe journey home in cooperation with relevant Swiss governmental authorities (SEM, SwissREPAT) while screening and giving special support to vulnerable cases.
• Organize travel documents in coordination with SEM for migrants who do not possess them.
• Regularly liaise with IOM Bern when using its various AVRR support services such as the “Return Information Fund” (RIF) and when booking flights via SIM “Swiss-REPAT-IOM Movement”, as well as “Reintegration Assistance for Switzerland” (RAS).
• Input all activities in the eRetour and IOM database (Mimosa), and maintain complete documentation on individual cases.
• Participate in drafting and updating project reports, statistical and narrative reports, handbooks dedicated to return counselling and the internal newsletter Going Home.
• Liaise with all relevant partners in the respective reception centres and ensure efficient information flows with all involved partners, especially with the designated focal points of SEM on Return and Dublin; participate in regular meetings and ensure efficient cooperation on cases and information flows with return counsellors in the East Switzerland region.
• Liaise with consulates, consular sections of embassies for the issuance of travel documents, where applicable.
• Provide information to IOM missions and other counterparts on Swiss AVRR case processing and counselling experience.
• Cooperate on capacity-building and skills exchange projects aiming at strengthening AVRR activities in Switzerland and abroad.
• Ensure the visibility of the presence of IOM in the center and its role as Return Counsellor.
• Travel to Bern regularly for team meetings or other gatherings (5-6 times per year) as required and to FACs within the region and other regions of Switzerland for relevant meetings.
• Do temporary replacements in case needed for staff working in the same region (covering Kreuzlingen center and/or Zurich airport).
• Perform other duties as may be assigned, as agreed with the IOM Switzerland Chief of Mission or the Senior Project Associate.

Requirements

• University degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in Social work, Political Science, International Politics, Social Sciences or a related field from an accredited academic institution with 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in project management, operations and coordination.
• Experience in working with the UN, Government agency, or NGO.
• Experience in working with migrant population and vulnerable individuals in particular.
• Experience in effective working with governmental and non-governmental counterparts.
• Experience living, studying, or working in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, and a thorough understanding of the local context, would be a strong asset.
• In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration issues in Switzerland.
• Knowledge of the Swiss asylum system and work in FACs.
• Very good knowledge of the AVRR process.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
• Excellent team work and inter-personal skills.
• Very good knowledge of Microsoft programs (particularly Word and Excel).
• Knowledge of eRetour and Mimosa case management systems is an asset.
• German must be the candidate's native language or at an equivalent native proficiency level.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Proficiency in French is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of any other language is an advantage.

Skills

• Project Management
• Operational Coordination
• Migrant population support
• Government Relations
• Non-Governmental Organization Collaboration
• Migration Issues Understanding
• Swiss asylum system knowledge
• Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration
• Return Counselling
• Case Management
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• eRetour Case Management
• Mimosa Case Management
• Travel Coordination
• Documentation Management
• Verbal Communication
• Written Communication
• Federal Asylum Centers Experience

Languages

German, English, French