Country Director for Iraq

Country Programme: Iraq
Location: Erbil Iraq, Regional Hub office of PIN
Start date: based on agreement as soon as possible
Duration of contract: 1 year with possible extension
Type of work: Paid full time job

PIN in Iraq

People in Need (PIN) has been providing emergency relief and early recovery support to conflict-affected communities in Iraq since 2003 and has been registered in Baghdad since 2012. It currently works in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as well as in the Ninewa and Salahaldin governorates of Federal Iraq. The Country Office is in Erbil, allowing integration and synergies with the Syria Country Office, Whole of Syria programme and support functions. PIN employs around 50 full time staff in Iraq, and is funded by the World Food Programme, UN Humanitarian Pooled Fund, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNICEF.

PIN’s main sectors of intervention are Education, Child protection, Livelihoods and Climate Smart Agriculture, Food Security and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance.

Position Summary

We’re looking for a dynamic Country Director to drive forward the programme in Iraq, establish new funding and implementation partnerships and help steer PIN through an important transition as emergency donors scale down assistance, and new and different funding opportunities emerge through tenders, collaboration with government departments and Ministries, in line with the ‘Durable Solutions’ and ‘Area Based Coordination’ framework and in line with the Ministry of Planning strategy.

The successful candidate will be directly representing PIN at meetings with authorities, financial institutions, ensuring smooth relations and compliance with legislation, registration, and financial requirements with both Kurdish and Federal Iraqi governments. The role will also cover oversight of operational functions of HR, procurement and logistics, and work closely in partnerships with the Iraq Programmes Director. As such we’re looking for a candidate with experience of HR, finance, logistics and procurement technical ability.

The CD line manages the Programme Director, Comms Officer, HR focal point, Logistics & Procurement Manager and Liaison in Baghdad. Finance department is lined managed by Head of Finance. If the programme expanded sufficiently PIN could recruit an Operational Director.

Duties and responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and coordination

• Represents PIN in Iraq regional and federal authorities, donors, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, UN agencies, Alliance 2015 members and other INGOs
• Monitors and analyses the political, humanitarian and socio-economic context. Based on the analysis and in collaboration with the Field team and HQ, review the missions’ strategies, the identification of funding opportunities, and contribute to the design of initiatives and new projects;
• Ensures alignment of the Country Programme (CP) with PIN HQ requirements, initiative, and strategies.
• Works with the Programme Director to identify and actively pursue new funding opportunities and explore different funding approaches and strategies (bilateral funding, consortiums, private funding, etc).
• Engages in humanitarian advocacy initiatives and policy dialogues and oversees internal and external communications
• Ensures efficient internal coordination at mission level and with HQ, reporting to the Regional Director, and working closely with the Institutional Finance Unit, Knowledge and Learning Department, Compliance, and the Regional Head of Systems and Operations.
• Coordinates with the Syria CD on matters affecting work in Northern Syria or Erbil based staff working on the Syria CP.

Operations Oversight

• Ensures that systems and operations support the implementation of the country programme strategy and that procedures and regulations are implemented in full transparency and in accordance with donor and PIN rules;
• Ensures adequate staffing of all supervised departments in order to achieve efficient delivery of People in Need’s (PIN) country programme;
• In coordination and with the support of the Head of Finance, oversees the mission economy;
• Supports coopeeration of the CP departments during strategy, audit and CP reviews;
• Actively represents the CP at the meetings with the governmental authorities, financial institutions and others;
• Promotes team spirit, a culture of respect, personal responsibility, transparency, and openness.
• Ensures the full respect of PIN’s administrative, HR, financial and logistics procedures
• Supervises the implementation and periodic review of PIN’s international and national HR policies in collaboration CP and HQ-based staff.
• Reviews and suggests changes in the HR structure according to the strategy, Country Programme/context needs, budget and potential funding.
• Identify, support and coordinate with the hubs and HQ capacity building activities to strengthen and develop the capacity of the team.
• Oversee investigations related to the reporting of breach of PIN Code of Conduct or other disciplinary issues.
• Supports communication between Finance and other departments with special focus on budget management;
• Ensures financial and administrative systems (ELO, Navision) are properly administrated and used by the whole country programme;
• Supervises and advises to country programme Procurement Manager and makes sure country programme procurement plan is developed;
• On a regular basis, audits the procurement process in order to highlight flaws and pressures associated with operating in the country programme context;
• Ensures that all obligations towards local authorities (annual audit, annual reports, fiscal financial reports etc.) are respected and met in a timely manner;
• Ensures that all taxes are paid in line with national regulatory framework;
• Ensures that tax exemption (when possible) will be applied by NGO;
• Ensures that all agenda related to permits, licences, and registrations are dealt with as and when required.
• Ensures the current contract templates on the country programme are up to date and properly used;
• Ensures quality and completeness of all documentation of country programme and sets up archiving rules;
• Is familiar with donors’ conditions and requirements and makes sure they are respected.

Security Managment

• Oversees the mission’s Safety and Security Management Plan (SSMP), evacuation and medical plans and ensures that the documents are kept up-to-date and well disseminated.
• Ensures that PIN is fully included in the existing security information and coordination mechanisms, such as the UN (UNDSS) or INSO.
• Manages security incidents and crises, in coordination with the mission hubs and HQ

Quality and Risk Managment

• Ensures PIN policies guidelines (expect specific programme guidelines) are known and respected;
• supervises all support departments and functions, and sets up effective internal coordination and communication;
• promotes participation and accountability towards local authorities, local partners, and donors;
• Manages risks and coordinates risk mitigation measures.

Main Requirements:

• At least 5 years of experience with a humanitarian and/or development organization in senior management positions.
• Strong leadership and staff management skills, with experience in managing (directly and remotely) large, diverse and multidisciplinary teams.
• Good understanding of the humanitarian environment (NGOs, NGO Forums, UN, main donors)
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English
• Proven experience in fundraising
• Strong security management skills and experience in challenging and volatile security environments
• Good organizational, planning, diplomatic and problem-solving skills
• Work experience, knowledge and understanding of the regional context is a distinct advantage.

PIN Offers:

• Salary as per PIN salary scale (subsistence allowance of 1 200 EUR is already included): 3 800 EUR.
• Accommodation in PIN’s guesthouse on PIN’s expenses or private accommodation with housing allowance
• 25 days of paid leave annually;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work;
• Regional flights twice per year. The international staff has PIN’s support in leaving the base after every 3 months.
• Reimbursement of the costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure;
• Free 24/7 medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;
• Reimbursement of the medical check-up before and after the deployment;
• Travel health insurance;
• Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)
• E-learning platform, frequent webinars and other opportunities for your capacity building
• In addition, team of dedicated colleagues who foster friendly and fair work atmosphere.

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Send us your CV and short cover letter (no longer than 4 pages altogether) via this application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of Conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.cz/policies).