Country Manager – Iraq At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

Place: Erbil, Iraq
Starting date: 1st, October 2024
Duration of contract: 24 months
Closing date for applications: 28 July 2024

Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. The organisation works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since its creation in 1982, HI has run development programmes in more than 60 countries and responded to numerous emergencies. Today, we have a budget of approximately 255 million euros, with 4794 employees worldwide.

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview. For more information about the organisation: www.hi.org

JOB CONTEXT:
The Iraq mission is part of the Mashriq regional programme, which covers Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. HI implements a mid-sized mine action program in Salahaddin governorate (demining, risk education, victim assistance) and two projects in support of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.

HI’s main country office is in Erbil, with an Area Office in Tikrit (Salahadding) and a small representation office in Baghdad. HI is registered both in Iraqi Kurdistan and in Federal Iraq.

The total budget for 2024 is around 3.5 M EUR; total number of staff around 80.

The funding levels have forecast to remain stable between summer 2024 and summer 2026, around 3.5 M EUR/year.

The main challenges are the relatively low levels of humanitarian and development funding for Iraq.

Security in Iraq has steadily increased in the past 5 years. There are still several pockets of insecurity around the country, with the presence of several paramilitary groups and occasional airstrikes on targeted locations by the US, Turkey or Iran

Foreigners are not a target of violence at present. Criminality rates are quite low. The main safety risk are car accidents.

The economic conditions are relatively good in Federal Iraq and fragile in Kurdistan Iraq, with some repercussions in terms of demonstrations and social stability.

YOUR MISSION:
Reporting to the Regional Director, the Country Manager contributes to the implementation of the mandate and 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion in Iraq. S/he ensures optimal quality and the impact of the projects implemented in the country by means of a delegation system with appropriate oversight mechanisms. With all the other HI managers, s/he shares responsibility for the sound management and effective functioning of the global organization through paradigm changes. The country manager manages a team of project managers in his/her country.

In this framework, as Country Manager, your main duties are:

Responsibility 1: Management, strategy and direction

• You contribute to the development of the operational strategy of the program, as well as its implementation and annual monitoring in the country.
• Serving as Role Model and coach for your team, you contribute to organizational transformation. You communicate the organization’s strategy, encourage innovation, and facilitate inter-departmental collaboration. You also play a crucial role in organizing operational management, ensuring performance, and fostering staff development while upholding the organization’s code of conduct and policies.

Responsibility 2: Standards and expertise

• You ensure implementation and compliance with HI global frameworks, institutional policies and standards.

Responsibility 3: Operational implementation

• You ensure good management and supervision of projects under your responsibility.
• Take into account both potential opportunities and risks, contribute to the monitoring and analysis carried out by the line manager and propose mitigation measures when relevant.
• Develop the external influence of HI (forums, operational and strategic alliances, etc.) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) in the country.
• Support the Program Director in monitoring security in the country and ensure adequate resources according to the context

Responsibility 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response

• You lead emergency preparedness actions in your department and, in case of emergency, reorganize your team’s priorities according to humanitarian priority, in order to ensure a rapid and efficient response by HI.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

• Living conditions in Erbil and Baghdad are acceptable, with modern comforts, a good quality of services, many restaurants, some bars, and a few social and cultural activities.
• A limited number of historical sites is open for touristic trip. Some mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes in Kurdistan are accessible for tourism and trekking.

YOUR PROFILE:

• You have at least 7 years of overall professional experience
• You have at least 2 years of experience as Country Manager, Operations Manager/Area Manager, TUM/THoP or Deputy Country Manager
• Proven experience in managing development programs in collaboration with national authorities.
• Proven experience in representation and fundraising
• Experience in managing mine action programs (including demining activities) is a big asset
• Strategic patience

CONDITIONS:
At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission. https://hi.org/en/join-the-team

• 24 months International contract starting from 1st, October 2024;
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
  • Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals;
  • Pension scheme;
  • Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution;
  • Repatriation insurance paid by HI;
• Salary from 2986€ gross/month upon experience;
• Perdiem: 596,06€ net/month – paid in the field
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: 5 days every 3 months
• Position:

Unaccompanied:

• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects;
• Child allowance of 100€ per month, per child (from the second child) paid in the field;

open to couples:

• Support travel costs (air ticket & visa) for accompanying dependent and health/ repatriation insurance if the dependent has no income;
• Payment of one yearly additional return flight;
• Housing: Individual taken in charge by HI;

If you are resident in the country: local package.