Iraq: Country Director

Requisition ID: req3510

Job Title: Country Director

Sector: Program Administration

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Erbil, Iraq

Job Description

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

Iraq and northeast Syria are both emerging from over three years of fighting against the Islamic State and remain two of the most complex operating environments in the world. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades and the destruction of communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

Iraq has a new government in place since September, and while some parts of the country are beginning to stabilize, others remain precariously close to collapse. Over 4 million Iraqis have returned in the past year, but 1.9 million remain displaced. 230,000 Syrians continue to seek refuge in the Kurdish region. The new government will struggle to rebuild trust and restore basic services.

Northeast Syria remains under the control of the Kurdish Self-Administration. Talks between the KSA and the Government of Syria have stalled and Kurdish-led forces are still fighting the final battle against ISIS. Over one million people in the northeast are suffering from drought, years of civil war, and the fight against ISIS. Nearly 300,000 people have returned to parts of Deir ez-Zour and Raqqa City, but hundreds of thousands remain displaced, and needs are high across all populations.

A lead responder in Iraq since 2003 and in northeast Syria since 2013, the IRC delivers aid and services that help communities survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC is providing robust programming across 8 governorates in Iraq and three governorates in northeast Syria through women’s protection and empowerment, child protection and protection and rule of law programming; cash distributions and livelihoods programming in support of economic recovery and development; and integrated early childhood development programming. In northeast Syria, the IRC also implements large primary health care programs, while in Iraq, the IRC is implementing large education programs. Our work spans the spectrum from emergency response within 72 hours to long-term programming supporting our clients to rebuild their lives through starting small businesses. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

In the coming years, the IRC in Iraq and northeast Syria will expand its work with partners of all kinds, program across the humanitarian/development nexus, continue to be an evidence-generating implementer and thought leader in protection and cash programming, and launch extensive new programming in early childhood development, through its partnership with MacArthur Foundation and Sesame Street on the Sesame Seeds project. In Iraq, IRC will also launch an exciting new long-term education program. The IRC will use its vast experience to advocate to all stakeholders for improved outcomes for the people we serve.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Country Director is responsible for overall leadership and supervisory management of IRC staff, programming, and operations within Iraq and northeast Syria, including program quality and accountability, stewardship of resources, staff safety and security, performance management and external representation. The Country Director is IRC’s principal representative on behalf of the Iraq and northeast Syria country program to government officials, non-governmental actors, donors, international organizations, civil society, other NGOs and the media. The Country Director is expected to manage responsive and effective humanitarian programs implemented both directly and with partner organizations. The Country Director will lead country program staff in pursuing the outcomes identified in the strategy action plan for 2016-2020, bringing them together to deliver high-quality, cost-effective programming results with high levels of accountability.

Success in this position requires an individual with exemplary demonstrated leadership abilities who deploys strong communications and interpersonal skills effectively, both internally and externally. The successful candidate will enjoy developing networks to build partnerships and diversify program resources. S/he will be directly responsible for the overall coordination and strategic direction of the country program: providing oversight and coaching for directly supervised senior managers; leading country program teams to identify, design and deliver responsive, high-quality programs; ensuring efficient management of public grants and private funds for results, compliance, and focused, timely reporting; and oversight of financial management and support systems.

Major Responsibilities:

Leadership and Representation

• Lead the country program by maintaining open and professional relations with colleagues, promoting a strong team spirit and providing guidance, oversight and resources to enable staff to perform successfully.

• Work closely with the IRC Syria Country Director (covering northwest Syria), to ensure joined up programming and representation for the Syria crisis.

• Develop and carry out strategies that result in strong representation with: government ministries at various levels; UN OCHA; donors including OFDA, USAID, DFID, Germany, ECHO, UNHCR, UNICEF and other international organizations; international and local NGOs; and coordination fora.

• Ensure that IRC remains a partner of choice for major international donors.

• Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities and planned funding streams.

• Initiate and sustain strong, mutually beneficial and authentic partnerships with local organizations.

• Seek out and pursue opportunities to raise the profile of the work of IRC and its partners, as well as the lives and the needs of the people IRC seeks to serve.

• Play a leadership role in efforts to improve stakeholder coordination in Iraq and northeast Syria.

• Lead country program collaboration with colleagues in IRC’s Middle East Region to deliver regional programming and advocacy, contributing to Syria-focused advocacy as well as Iraq specific issues.

• Ensure leadership and management processes enable the IRC to effectively adapt to contextual changes and fully leverage opportunities to expand humanitarian access and assistance.

Strategic Direction, Program Quality and Growth

• Ensure the strategic vision and direction of the country program is aligned with IRC2020 to serve people with responsive, high-quality and accountable programming, and secure the resources necessary for realization.

• Ensure the strategy action plan is of quality, implemented and guides decision making.

• Ensure program quality through consistent use throughout the country program of: rigorous assessment, design, and proposal development and review processes; comprehensive monitoring & evaluation, accountability and learning systems; staff development investments; and partner organization capacity strengthening.

• Actively seek out and pursue opportunities to expand humanitarian and resilience programming in northeast Syria and Iraq, in terms of populations and areas served.

• Remain current on national and regional issues impacting the country program and partners, and develop responsive strategies to changing contexts.

• Ensure the SMT delivers the leadership, management structures, staffing skills and approaches, and operational systems required to ensure a coherent ‘one IRC’ approach to achieve Iraq, northeast Syria and regional objectives.

• Identify opportunities for appropriate expansion and growth of programs, supported by the acquisition of and investment in human resources.

Safety and Security Management

• Take primary responsibility for overall management of safety and security for the country program.

• Oversee the management of all security issues, including appropriate response to emergency situations as they arise.

• Maintain a culture of safety and security throughout the country program, including trainings and briefings that prepare all country program staff for security incident prevention and response.

• Keep security, evacuation and contingency plans current and accessible to country program staff.

• Maintain close coordination and communication with the Regional Safety and Security Advisor on safety and security concerns and evolving issues that could adversely affect IRC staff or operations.

Staff Management, Learning and Development

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Oversee the management, coaching and development of national and international staff to build a team of skilled, committed and motivated staff. Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting quarterly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.

• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least bi-weekly.

• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests of direct reports to ensure adequate departmental coverage.

• As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of a national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by end of assignment.

• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.

• Offer leadership support for successful adherence by all staff to IRC’s country, regional and Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.

• Work with regional HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.

• Undertake regular reviews of labor and salary markets in Iraq and northeast Syria for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of the IRC’s overall compensation package for national staff.

Stewardship and Operational Management

• Drive operational excellence to achieve optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness in all functions and operations of the country program.

• Oversee the development, deployment and utilization of financial and operational policies, procedures, and systems to deliver compliance with IRC and donor requirements.

• Ensure responsiveness and appropriate levels of in-person and remote support to all offices, especially in the areas of HR, finance and supply chain.

• Provide timely and effective oversight of the Iraq and northeast Syria country program’s financial position.

• Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for grant funds and discretionary funds.

• Seek opportunities to introduce efficiencies and eliminate redundancies in existing business processes.

Communications

• Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the “IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct” throughout the Iraq and northeast Syria country program.

• Maintain a healthy and empowering office environment that encourages open, honest and productive communication among IRC staff and with partner organizations.

• Maintain open communications with regional management staff, regional technical advisors, and HQ departmental staff.

Key Working Relationships:

Position reports to: Regional Vice President

Position directly supervises: A senior management team responsible for programs, partnerships, field operations, finance, HR, compliance and business development.

Key Internal Contacts:

 Country Program: All staff

 Region: Syria Country Director (Northwest Syria), Middle East Regional Team

 HQ: Awards Management, Ethics & Compliance, Operations and Strategy, Finance, Global Philanthropy & Partnerships, Program Quality, Advocacy and Communications, and General Counsel

Key External Contacts:

 Partner organizations

 Host country government officials

 Public and private donor agencies

 International and national NGOs

 UN agencies

 Foreign governments

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Graduate degree in a relevant field

Work Experience:

• At least 12 years of progressively responsible international work experience, including leadership at the Country Director level of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a complex operating environment.

• Prior experience working within organizational structures in transition.

• Experience working in conflict/post-conflict or disaster response situations.

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Superior communications skills, verbal and written, in English.

• Experience of managing security in a complex and rapidly changing security context.

• Proven ability to negotiate and work with partner organizations. Experience with organizational capacity strengthening and partnership building helpful.

• Strong budget and fiscal oversight capacities.

• Extensive representation and fundraising success, including prior experience with European, US and international donors.

• Established capacity to handle stressful situations in a healthy, constructive manner.

• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.

• A keen understanding of political complexities in the Middle East region.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Experience building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organization.

• Demonstrated successful leadership and management experience with a multi-disciplinary teams in cross-cultural settings, including active mentoring and coaching.

• Effective in developing high-potential staff to achieve career growth and maximum contribution.

• Proven experience delivering appropriate levels of oversight of a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects.

• Opportunity-awareness. A successful innovative approach to unpredictable programming, operational, and funding contexts.

• Ability to dispassionately represent program context, constraints, and successes to media, government, and other senior audiences.

Languages Required/Preferred:

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.

• Arabic language skills a definite advantage.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

• Working knowledge of file sharing protocols such as Box an advantage.

Ability to Travel: Approximately 50% within Iraq, including Baghdad; to northeast Syria; to other countries in the Middle East region and IRC offices elsewhere for meetings, workshops, representation and conferences.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Attention Returning National Candidates: IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply.

Working Environment

The position will be based in Erbil with frequent travel to northeast Syria and South Central Iraq. The situation in Erbil is relatively calm, though the situation in Iraq is only recently beginning to stabilize and remains somewhat unpredictable. IRC has programming across the country and implements robust security management plans enabling movements and operations. The IRC country office is in Erbil located in a modern professional building. Accommodation is in individual housing, which includes basic modern amenities including internet, water and electricity. Access to health care is readily available.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Applications to be submitted on: https://rescue.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=rescue&id=3510