Senior Programme Officer Iraq At Impunity Watch

• Contracting Organisation: Impunity Watch
• Duty Station: The Netherlands or Home-Based
• Number of hours: Full Time (36 hours per week) or 32 hours

Impunity Watch is an international non-profit organisation working with victims of violence to deliver redress for grave human rights violations, uproot deeply ingrained structures of impunity, and promote justice and peace.

IW advocates for the voices of affected individuals and communities to be meaningfully included in the design and implementation of policies that advance victims’ rights to truth, justice, reparations, as well as guarantees of non-recurrence. We promote local actors’ active involvement in transformation after violence and abuses, and we also support informal initiatives that complement formal transitional justice mechanisms.

The Senior Programme Officer – Iraq is responsible for the day-to-day management of Impunity Watch’s work in Iraq, develops the strategy and political agenda, and builds and maintains a network of relevant local and international actors. The Senior Programme Officer – Iraq line manages a team of two consultants in Iraq and reports to the Head of MENA Programme. We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible and we offer a contract till 31 December 2025, extendable subject to performance and funding availability.

Download the details here.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Programme management
● Responsible for managing, developing and implementing Impunity Watch’s Iraq programme, including partnerships with and sub-grants to Iraqi victims groups and civil society organisations
● Line management of the 2 national consultants based in Iraq, including ensuring security analysis and contingency plans are up to date
● Ensure the quality of programmatic work, its alignment with the mission and vision of Impunity Watch as well as compliance with donor requirements
● Responsible for the annual planning and reporting and the monitoring, evaluation and learning of programme activities
● Writing reports to donors and activity reports, including the formulation of lessons learned and recommendations for follow-up
● Oversee Iraq programme budget and monitor spending, management of sub-grants, and financial reporting
● Coordinate with other country and thematic programmes and operational teams in Impunity Watch
● Ensure complementarity and coordination with other relevant actors active in similar fields of work

Programme development
● Identify opportunities for programme development, (strategic) partnerships and fundraising
● Responsible for the review and development of Impunity Watch’s Iraq programme strategy
● Take the lead on Iraq specific fundraising efforts and liaise with donors
Partner relations and networking
● Maintain and develop a network of civil society, grassroots activist, and victim association partners in Iraq, and identify new initiatives and partners to expand this network
● Coordinate with and provide technical assistance and advice to partner organisations and institutions
● Maintain a network of relevant other organisations, experts, diplomats and donors

Research and analysis
● Ensure Impunity Watch has access to up to date information about and a strong analysis of relevant developments and actors in Iraq
● Contribute to Impunity Watch’s research work through occasional field research, interviews, and the drafting of papers or commissioning research by external consultants
● Write and review substantive materials and public documents related to the programme, including documents produced by partner organisations

Advocacy and communication
● Facilitation of the design and implementation, together with Iraqi partners, of an advocacy strategy
● Represent Impunity Watch towards Iraqi and international policy makers, participation in policy events and fora, drafting policy papers, and conducting media engagement
● In close collaboration with IW’s communication team, conduct communication and outreach related work and provide input for media materials on the programme including for the organisation’s website and its social media accounts

Skills and experience
The desired candidate should demonstrate the following key skills, qualifications, and experience.
● Affinity with the mission and vision of Impunity Watch
● Minimum of eight years of experience in similar work field in the Middle East
● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in political or social sciences, international law and/or experience with transitional justice field
● Demonstrated experience, knowledge and understanding of human rights, politics, and civil society issues as well as transitional justice developments in Iraq
● Experience developing and managing working relationships with victims and survivors of violence and human rights abuses
● Experience in designing, implementing, and managing programme and grants, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation
● Knowledge of and demonstrated experience with advocacy in the field of human rights, transitional justice, peacebuilding and/or other related field
● Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English
● Knowledge of Arabic: Understanding conversations, reading, writing emails
● Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a diverse global team, interact with local grassroots partners and show cultural sensitivity
● Proactive, able to work on own initiative, and manage multiple tasks in a fast-changing environment
● Ability and willingness to travel as needed, including frequent travel to Iraq

What we offer
● An opportunity to work in a highly dynamic and multicultural environment
● A contract until 31 December 2025 with intention to extend, subject to performance and availability of funding
● Gross monthly salary based on BBRA scale 11 (if based in the Netherlands)
● 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
● 25 days paid holiday based on a 36-hour full-time contract.
● Employer pension contribution
● Flexible working hours and possibility for partial work from home
● Full reimbursement of commuting expenses by public transport 2nd class