Deputy Chief of Party, Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA) At Counterpart International

Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. We equip individuals, organizations and communities-our counterparts- to become solution creators in their own families, communities, regions and countries. We work with them in some of the world’s most challenging places to tackle social, economic, environmental, health and governance issues that threaten their lives and undermine their futures. For more information on Counterpart, please visit our website at www.Counterpart.org

Counterpart International seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) to support the USAID-funded Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA-Tafa’aol) project, launched in October 2023. ICSA-Tafa’aol’s objective is to increase citizen engagement in the public sphere, particularly among women and youth. The project aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) in connecting with and empowering citizens, enhancing CSO resilience, and increasing their credibility and effectiveness. The expected outcome is a more active and inclusive civil society sector that effectively fosters change and contributes to a more equitable and democratic Iraq.

Under the Chief of Party (COP) supervision, the DCOP will lead the overall technical implementation, management, reporting, developing and maintaining local partnerships to meet ICSA-Tafa’aol objectives; providing technical expertise; and handling administrative and supervisory responsibilities as specified by the COP.

Qualified Iraqi nationals are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Oversight of the technical team, local partners (LPs) and community-based groups, the project activity implementation progress.
• Coordinate with program functions; MEL, Grants, Finance and Operation to ensure coordination and optimal support to achieve timely implementation.
• In close collaboration with Grants and MEL functions, identify local grant prospects, review sub-grant applications, monitor sub-grant recipient technical activities, and ensure sustainability in grants technical execution and implementation.
• Ensure that implementation is on time, within target, and budget.
• Work with the COP to establish a technical management structure that favors integration among technical sectors.
• Work closely with MEL function to ensure that the M&E system is effective to assess programming and technical implementation impact.
• Participate in the development and review of annual work plans quarterly reports, and annual reports as well as any technical deliverable to USAID.
• Ensure high-quality delivery of the program through innovation, active pursuit of lessons learned, adaptability to changing dynamics, and integration of related programming for increased impact.
• Assume leadership and supervision of the program’s technical project staff, including the civil society technical lead, and leading the program relations with local partners, and others.
• In coordination with the project’s Director of Finance and Operations (DFO), ensure program implementation follows Counterpart’s policies/procedures, the laws of the Government of Iraq, and USAID rules and regulations, particularly with respect to financial and grants management.
• Maintain regular contact and interaction with project and USAID mission staff, as well as with civil society partners and all stakeholders to the program.
• Other duties as assigned by the COP.

Qualifications

• A bachelors degree in social sciences, community development, communications, business, international development, and/or other related fields; Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of experience closely engaging civil society organizations (CSOs) on issues of citizen empowerment, and democracy, with a view to enhancing their credibility and effectiveness.
• Previous experience supporting and/or managing complex donor-funded projects, including minimum 3 years of progressively responsible operational management experience backstopping USG-Funded programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing systems to identify potential partners, evaluation of partner capacity, managing local partners implementation, training development and other technical areas related to the activity objectives.
• Ability to work effectively and develop trusting relations with government officials at all levels, CSOs, USAID, project staff, and project stakeholders.
• Demonstrated project management experience. Experience implementing development projects focused on civil society strengthening, democratic reform, and government accountability in Iraq.
• Experience supervising teams of diverse backgrounds and demonstrated leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical reports and give effective presentations.
• Ability to produce high-quality deliverables throughout the project cycle from planning, management, and execution to troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of applicable Federal and regional governments laws and regulations,
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate fully and effectively, both oral and written, in English is required, and in Arabic is strongly preferred.