Country Programmes and Grant Officer At Jesuit Refugee Service

The Organisation

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a faith based International NGO that has been working in Iraq for the past nine years. Our mission is to accompany, serve and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. JRS Iraq operates with the support of JRS’ Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, which coordinates the work in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. In 2022, twelve people work in the Country Office and JRS Iraq runs programmes mostly in Qaraqosh, Sharya, and Sinjar, with an approximate total of 150 staff members.

Job Purpose

The Country Programmes & Grant Officer (CPGO) is a dynamic and varied position that supports the development and management of JRS Iraq projects at the country level. The primary functions of the role include assisting in the identification and design of new projects and partnerships, leading proposal development, grant management, and reporting tasks, ensuring projects are delivered in line with funding agreements, and managing relationships with key donors. In addition, the CPO is responsible for ensuring close coordination between programmes, M&E and information management personnel.

Works directly with: Country Director (CD) and CD’s assistant, Project Directors, M&E officer, IMO, Finance Officer, Regional Head of Programmes – Grant Management, Regional Accountant and members of the Regional Quality and Innovation Team.

Main Responsibilities of the Position

1. Programme Development
   1. Under the direction of the CD and in consultation with the Regional Office Programmes Team, coordinate and contribute to the development of the multi-year JRS Iraq country programmes strategy;
   2. Coordinate assessment and planning processes for JRS Iraq projects with counterparts at project, country, and regional levels in line with JRS Iraq priorities;
   3. Lead the development of proposals for JRS Iraq projects in collaboration with relevant project, country and regional JRS personnel, including proposal narratives, logical frameworks, work plans, and budgets;
   4. Create proposal development timelines and organise proposal kick-off meetings with programs, M&E, and finance teams;
   5. Coordinate technical inputs from relevant in-country and regional personnel and ensure effective communication is maintained throughout the proposal development process;
   6. In collaboration with the Regional Head of Programmes – Grant Management, support effective matching and alignment of proposed projects with donor funding opportunities and establish and nurture new and existing relationships with donors;
   7. Identify and disseminate new funding opportunities and procedures with JRS colleagues;
   8. Ensure timely submission of funding applications to donors in accordance with internal standards and donor requirements;
   9. Represent JRS in appropriate donor liaison meetings as required.
2. Programme Coordination and Support
   1. Disseminate key project and grant information and requirements among relevant personnel when new funding is confirmed;
   2. Promote and maintain effective communication with project teams throughout the project cycle;
   3. Liaise with members of the country and regional teams to ensure close support for project teams;
   4. Regularly visit the project sites and work with project staff collaboratively;
   5. Ensure project planning and implementation is coherent and adheres to agreed proposals, budgets, and grant agreements;
   6. Provide capacity-building support to project teams, as needed, on proposal and report writing skills;
   7. Identify and monitor risks and challenges with consequences for the projects, grants, or donor management, resolving and/or escalating as needed to relevant personnel at country and regional level;
   8. Attend regular team meetings, general coordination team, planning meetings and workshops, as required;
   9. Keep abreast of changes in the local humanitarian context and the programmes of wider humanitarian partners;
   10. Participate in relevant working groups at the national level;
   11. Regularly visit the project sites and work with project staff collaboratively.
3. Programme Reporting and MEAL
   1. Maintain reporting systems and ensure that projects remain compliant with donor contracts;
   2. Ensure timely and accurate reporting in accordance with JRS and donor requirements, in collaboration with Project Directors and MEAL, Information Management, and Finance colleagues at Country and Regional level;
   3. Liaise with donors on contract delivery and compliance issues and grant amendment requests in close coordination with the Regional Head of Programmes – Grant Management;
   4. Provide support to M&E officer at key points in the project cycle, including inputting into the development and delivery of M&E plans, baseline studies and evaluations;
   5. Follow up on project progress and changing needs on the ground in order to anticipate and present requests for project adaptations.
4. Programme Finance
   1. Review financial reports and ensure spending is in line with workplans, approved budgets and income and expenditure forecasts;
   2. Participate in monthly income and expenditure reviews with the Regional Finance team to identify funding needs and ensure spending is in line with approved budgets and income.
5. General Administration and Knowledge Management.
6. Ensure project and grant files are maintained in the agreed system.
7. Carry out programme administration tasks as required.

Availability: Undertakes any other reasonable tasks as assigned by the Country Director that are within the ambit of the position.

Qualifications, skills, and attributes

• Compassion and strong commitment to accompanying, serving, and advocating for refugees and other displaced people;
• Advanced university degree relevant subject (e.g., humanitarian / development studies, international relations, social sciences, or related disciplines);
• At least five years of practical work experience with donor-funded programmes, particularly with NGOs in a similar setting;
• Strong experience in programme design, proposal writing, project cycle management, and multi-donor fund management;
• Experience in sectors of health, education, livelihoods and/or community building are an asset;
• Experience with institutional donors such as BPRM, ECHO or UN agencies;
• Good knowledge and experience working with budgets and financial reporting;
• Understanding of protection standards (e.g., SPHERE standards);
• Strong assessment, analysis, strategic, and planning skills/experience;
• Ability to work under pressure and within strict timelines;
• Excellent communication and writing skills;
• Strong coordination and relationship management skills;
• Experience supporting programmes remotely is an asset;
• Demonstrated experience working with marginalised communities of diverse backgrounds;
• Ability and willingness to travel to JRS project sites and adapt to modest living and working conditions;
• Work experience with a faith-based organizations is an asset;
• Fluency in verbal and written English. Good verbal and written Arabic and/or Kurdish is an asset;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Share Point, One Drive.