Chief of Staff At SEED Foundation

About SEED Foundation: SEED Foundation is a 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 high quality, holistic approaches, which combine international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan Region. SEED’s programming focuses on three key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive 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-development programs; and 3) ​promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy.

SEED staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities professionally, respecting SEED’s Code of Conduct and Policies. SEED is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members as part of our commitment to a safe and harmonious work environment.

Role of the Chief of Staff:

The role of the Chief of Staff (CoS) is to oversee strategic initiatives, from development through successful execution, under the guidance of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and department heads. The CoS will assist and communicate with the Senior Management in decision-making, program development , and initiative implementation review, design, and execute improvements to organizational structure; find knowledge and skills gaps and help address them, improve current processes and optimize organizational procedures for efficiency and productivity.

The CoS will provide leadership and oversight for specific functions , as well as strategic support to the Senior Management Team (SMT) to drive forward the mission and strategy of the organization.

The CoS will help develop and execute change strategies to meet innovative organizational goals and strengthen SEED’s presence. The CoS executes strategic priorities with a focus on making communication and decision processes more effective.

Specific Tasks

Strategy and Operations

• Assist the SMT to conduct strategic, organizational, and resource planning
• Develop and implement initiatives to support organizational effectiveness, systems improvement, and collaboration and partnership management systems for SEED.
• Serve as implementer and coordinator for initiatives or commitments involving multiple departments or units, ensuring alignment, clear communications, and appropriate leveraging of resources.
• Support the SMT’s decision-making, which includes setting and managing the agenda for meetings, and ensure strong feedback loops and multidirectional communication streams for all SMT decisions.
• Ensure that all staff are appropriately informed about strategic and operational priorities.
• Develop and monitor cross-organizational performance indicators for internal learning and external audiences.
• Conduct research and analysis to weigh in on decisions and support problem-solving.

Executive Leadership

• Supports the SMT and provides strategic direction and advice and supports organization-wide initiatives, ensuring that appropriate action is taken, and the results are communicated to all relevant Directors, parties, and stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Supports the SMT on all projects and initiatives.
• Supports the SMT with providing input and approvals to staff, and that only the most critical issues are approved by the President and Vice President.
• Support draft of the SMTs communications, presentations, correspondence, and talking points, tasking managers and teams as appropriate.
• Ensure that the SMT are prepared for all meetings, events, and public engagements.

Board Relations and Governance

• Regularize and oversee board engagement, setting agendas, meetings, and follow up.
• Help facilitate a strong, effective, and collaborative working relationship among the Board of Directors and the SMT.
• Assist the Board Members in contributing strategic guidance, fundraising, and support to SEED.

Oversee Decision-Making, Policy-Making, and Communication

• Work with the SMT and other managers to draft and/or deliver key organizational information to ensure staff are informed of, included in, and engaged with SEED work and organizational priorities.
• Supports staff in formulating plans, policies, and decisional documents and receives decisions and feedback from SMT in a timely way.
• Manage existing staff communication venues, e.g., monthly all-staff meetings and Bi-weekly management team meetings.
• Identify issues and problems for resolution; assist departments, managers, and units in resolving complex issues particularly when crossing many department’s equities or responsibilities; raising issues for SMT decision when appropriate; facilitating efficient decision making through well thought out analysis and presentation of the issues.
• Facilitating policy or procedure making and ensuring implementation of decisions, policies, and procedures.

Organizational Development and People Leadership

• Collaborate with the SMTs, department, program, unit, and service delivery managers, to develop, motivate, and lead team members, creating an equitable and inclusive environment that promotes collaboration.
• Intentionally share power through collaborative decision-making, clear definition of roles and responsibilities, effective delegation, and equitable access to resources.
• Foster collaborative working relationships across SEED in ways that drive organization-wide effectiveness.
• Provide strategic direction and advocacy for accountable leadership and strong organizational effectiveness.

Essential Criteria:

• Masters Degree in management, development, law, sociology, or equivalent years of experience preferred.
• At least 5 years of senior organizational leadership and direct people management experience are required.
• Experience managing in diverse settings, including international organizations preferred.
• Demonstrated senior leadership and management skills and abilities in strategic and operational planning, and ability to successfully manage multiple competing priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in change management best practices and implementation required, including knowledge of best practices related to human behavioral change required for long-lasting organizational change. Occasional evening and/or weekend availability required.
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments.
• Results/action-orientation; organizational management skills.
• Highly developed communications skills (written/verbal), emotional intelligence, and interpersonal savvy; Tact, diplomacy, and perseverance.
• Organizational and political agility.
• Strong negotiation, collaboration, and teamwork skills.
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, including financial analysis;
• Ability to meet demanding deadlines and work under stress.
• Possesses excellent oral/writing communication skills in English. Kurdish, Arabic, a plus.
• Strong computer skills – Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Google; IOS/MAC a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, solve problems; resourceful.
• Experience creating systems, processes, and procedures.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and self-starting.
• Strong belief in human rights and gender equality.