Country Director

IRC operates in 13 governorates in Iraq with main offices in Baghdad and Erbil, with field offices in Babylon, Salah-Al Din, Anbar, Najaf, Wassit, Kerbala, Dohuk, and Sulaymaniyah, and cross-border operations in northeastern Syria. IRC’s programs assist Iraqi IDPs, Syrian refugees, and host communities across multiple sectors: education, food security, health, women's protection and empowerment, child protection, livelihoods, WASH, and relief items. IRC Iraq’s current portfolio amounts to $17M, with an additional $15M anticipated by mid-2014.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Country Director will provide strategic vision, staff leadership and operational management supervision for the IRC country program in Iraq. S/he is responsible for: the identification, design and delivery of responsive, high-quality programs; donor and government relations; fundraising; budget management; security; operational management; and recruiting, developing and maintaining a motivated and professional team. Based in Erbil, the Country Director will oversee all IRC operations in Iraq as well as an expanding base in northeast Syria. Reporting to the Regional Director, the Country Director will work closely with and receive support from regional staff and headquarters-based technical units, safety and security services, finance and operations staff. This position oversees five senior positions in a country program of approximately 230 staff. This position is limited accompanied, and requires extensive in-country and cross-border travel.

The overall security situation in Iraq remains dynamic, and varies from one IRC operating area to another. Security in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is relatively stable with few immediate security threats. In central Iraq, the security environment remains unpredictable due to ongoing sectarian violence, weak governance, political polarization and the impact of the conflict in Syria. Since April 2013, areas of Anbar province and Baghdad have seen a significant deterioration in security, with many Iraqis forcibly displaced as a result. In September 2013, IRC initiated cross-border operations from the KRI into the Hassakeh region of northeast Syria. While the area where the IRC is operating is generally secure, the dynamic nature of the Syrian conflict requires close monitoring and active security management.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Planning and Management
- Working closely with the Regional Director and other members of the regional team, lead implementation of a country program strategy that responds to IRC’s regional priorities, the needs of the people IRC seeks to serve, and a dynamic funding environment;
- Deliver sound operational management of rapid program growth in Iraq and cross-border;
- Ensure that systems, procedures and reporting are functioning efficiently and in compliance with IRC standards and donor requirements, and that they support program delivery and promote management coordination, communication, and efficiency throughout the country program.

Program Quality & Development
- Develop program strategies that reflect and contribute to IRC’s mission and sectoral expertise;
- Lead the identification, design, resource acquisition and management of programs that are appropriate to varying contextual challenges, often requiring effective use of remote management strategies;
- Ensure the consistent use of rigorous assessment, design and proposal development processes;
- Provide leadership for the deployment of robust monitoring and evaluation tools;
- Promote a team approach and positive learning environment to enhance the quality of program design and delivery.

Partner, Donor and Government Relations

- Maintain IRC as a partner of choice for major international donors;
- Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities, country plans and planned funding initiatives;
- Maintain and expand active representation with key donors, host government officials, local stakeholders, and relevant policy and coordinating bodies.

Fundraising and Budget Management
- Ensure timely submission of competitive, high-quality proposals and support colleagues in negotiations with donors;
- Monitor and identify appropriate sources for matching fund requirements and coverage of funding gaps;
- Provide timely and effective oversight of the country program’s financial position;
- Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for grant funds and discretionary funds.

Security & Operations Management
- Oversee the development, deployment, utilization and monitoring of financial and operational policies and procedures that ensure compliance with IRC and donor requirements;
- Ensure appropriate levels of in-person and remote support is provided to all operational bases, especially in the areas of HR, finance and supply chain;
- Take primary responsibility for overall management of safety and security for the country program in an increasingly complex environment;
- Maintain close coordination and communication with the regional team, including the Regional Safety and Security Advisor, on safety and security concerns and evolving issues.

Human Resources Management and Development
- Supervise the country program’s senior management team, set clear performance expectations and objectives, provide regular and timely performance feedback, and lead annual performance management reviews;
- Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs for both national and international staff;
- Work with the region to identify and implement staff recruitment and retention strategies;
- Undertake regular reviews of the salary market, IRC’s salary scale, and benefits packages throughout the country;
- Create development plans with direct reports and support their access to appropriate training and professional development resources;
- Maintain open and professional relations with colleagues, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight, guidance and resources to enable staff to perform successfully;
- Provide leadership support for successful adherence by all staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures;
- Lead with commitment, integrity and accountability to the “IRC Way” – Global Standards for Professional Conduct.

Other
- Participate actively in regional and IRC-wide discussions and initiatives.

Professional Standards
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional 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, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Requirements:
- Graduate degree in a relevant field;
- At least ten years of increasingly responsible international work experience, including leadership of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a complex operating environment;
- Demonstrated successful staff leadership experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, including active mentoring and coaching;
- Extensive representation, program development and fundraising experience, with prior experience with European, US and international donors preferred;
- Demonstrated strong project management skills;
- Extensive budget and fiscal oversight responsibilities;
- A keen understanding of political complexities in the Middle East region;
- Prior experience in Iraq and/or the region preferred;
- Arabic language skills a definite advantage;
- Ability to work and live in a sometimes-insecure environment while maintaining a sense of humor.

This position is limited accompanied, and travel to some sites involves overnight accommodations in shared housing. Movements in central Iraq and some areas of Syria are limited. This position will be based in Erbil, with an estimated 50% of the Country Director’s time spent in sites including Baghdad, Dohuk, Sulaymania and Syria.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=c3RldmVueS4zODg4OC40ODEwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20