Service Delivery Deputy Director (readvertisement) At SEED Foundation

About SEED Foundation:

SEED Foundation is a locally-registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering quality and holistic approaches, combining international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan. SEED’s programming focuses on four key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive MHPSS services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-building programs; 3) ​promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals; and, 4) supporting the protection and recovery of survivors of trafficking in persons (TIP) including through SEED’s shelter for victims of trafficking and those at risk, after care services, and prevention work to reduce the risk of trafficking through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy for legal, regulatory, policy, process, and institutional changes.

Role of the SD Deputy Director (SD Deputy Director):

The SD Deputy Director will provide senior technical leadership across all of SEED’s service delivery programs and support the management of SEED’s Service Delivery Department. The Service Delivery Department is dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of quality across SEED’s service delivery programming, including case management services, mental health services, psychosocial support (PSS) interventions, legal and protection services, and cash assistance. The Service Delivery Department consists of MHPSS, protection, child protection, GBV, and legal advisors, and as such will draw upon local/national, regional and international expertise in improving SEED’s SD implementation. In addition, the Service Delivery Deputy Director will lead on policy and guidance development for service delivery, as well the design of new interventions, and contribute to program design, development and implementation. The Deputy will lead supervision mechanisms with technical staff and support service delivery staff capacity-building. The Deputy will lead on the development of service delivery specific strategies, policies and protocols, as well as assess gaps and challenges in SEED service approaches.

The Deputy will ensure accountability for all SEED services through the work of the technical advisors providing supervision, oversight, and technical support to service providers in line with SEED policies and standards. The deputy will also coordinate closely and prioritize MEAL for all services. The Deputy and technical advisors take a supporting role in advancing MHPSS and protection standards and services in KRI through SEED’s external training and development of quality standards and policy and advocacy initiatives, and represent SEED for external audiences, including humanitarian platforms, academic and governmental institutions, and media sectors.

The Deputy of the Service Delivery Department will manage the technical advisors in all SEED locations. The Deputy will report directly to the Service Delivery Director.

Specific Tasks:

Staff and Department Management (50%)

• Provide management and oversight to direct reports, in line with HR guidance and protocols, staff have accurate JDs, work plans in place and conduct probation reviews, semi-annual and annual reviews timely.
• Identify strengths and learning opportunities for each staff member and provide regular, constructive feedback to staff members that help them grow and achieve the departments’ and SEED’s goals.
• Assess service delivery staff technical capacities, ensure that they are supported with ongoing supervision, feedback, training, and capacity-building.
• Support with the recruitment, interviewing and onboarding of Service Delivery Department staff, through the development and review of vacancy announcements, job descriptions/TORs for technical/service delivery staff.
• Support with the recruitment, interviewing and onboarding of Service Delivery Department staff.

Ensure quality services through technical standards, supervision, and accountability mechanisms (35%)

• Ensure SEED services are delivered in line with international standards and SEED policies and guidance.
• Ensure SEED services and activities are evidence-based, survivor-centered and trauma-informed, meet national and international standards and best practices, adhere to the do no harm approach, and reflect the needs of clients, communities, and the local context.
• Support SEED in promoting the integration of AGD and non-discrimination throughout SEED’s operation through AGD-sensitive programming and implementation .
• Provide technical leadership of MHPSS and protection service provision at SEED, ensuring services are innovative, transformational, comprehensive and lead to sustainable results.
• Ensure technical guidance and oversight to service delivery staff is being provided to ensure key competencies and quality standards in line with SEED’s approach, best practices and international guidelines.
• Lead the development, review and evaluation of appropriate service delivery policies, procedures and guidance for staff on SEED’s MHPSS and protection services, and ensure that all staff is trained and guidelines and approaches are being implemented.
• Support the conduct of MHPSS and protection needs assessments among the affected populations, in line with guidance and best practice.
• Ensure the development of appropriate promotional materials on SEED’s MHPSS and protection approaches to build awareness of services and promote key messages and results.
• Provide input to SEED’s contributions to raise MHPSS and Protection standards across services providers in the KRI such as the Standard of Care and MHPSS strategies for the KRG.

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (10%)

• Ensure the ethical management of case data and systems, ensuring that data collection informs improved service delivery in coordination with the Technical Advisors and MEAL team.
• Coordinate closely with the MEAL Unit to ensure all MHPSS and protection service delivery activities are properly monitored, documented, evaluated, and reported on, and contribute to reporting.
• Support program M&E, including development of tools, to ensure that M&E systems provide adequate feedback on MHPSS and protection interventions.
• Ensure that all MEAL findings about service delivery are addressed, and that services and processes are adapted to address any gaps.
• Ensure all efforts are being made to be fully accountable to our clients and all safeguarding mechanisms are in place and followed up.

Coordination and Organizational Representation (5%)

• Ensure SEED is represented in external coordination meetings including the working groups and reports, gaps and opportunities are shared with relevant staff.
• Identify and manage strategic partnerships with local and international organizations, and key government interlocutors, including any sub-grantees delivering services.
• Maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other program partners.

Essential criteria:

• Master’s degree in psychology, clinical social work, or other mental health fields.
• 8-10 years of relevant experience, with at least 3 years in a supervisory role.
• MHPSS and Protection programming experience in international settings; Iraq experience preferred.
• Experience in providing technical supervision to psychologists in similar contexts.
• Experience in providing MHPSS and Protection services to clients with complex needs, including shelter/safe house residents and anti TIP programming.
• Strong belief in human rights and gender equality.
• Experience leading and designing staff wellbeing programs.
• Good interpersonal skills including the ability to gain trust and build relationships.
• Good diplomatic and persuasion skills.
• Strong ability to work independently.
• High standard of spoken and written English; Arabic and/or Kurdish desirable.
• Good computer skills, experience with Google Drive
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments.
• Salary, benefits, and allowances dependent on skills and qualifications.