Programme Manager – Iraq At INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Programme Manager

Code: SR-29-2094

Duty station: 80% Erbil, 20% Sulaymaniyah

Starting date: 15/12/2021

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: Country Programme Coordinator

Supervision of: 2 Technical Managers, 1 Programme Officer

Dependents: Accompanied Duty Station

General context of the project

INTERSOS is present in Kurdistan Region of Iraq since 2015 implementing Protection, Education and more recently health projects for Refugees, IDPs and Host Community. The Protection programme covers i) Legal awareness, counselling, legal documentation and court representation; ii) structured and individual PSS sessions for children and caregivers; iii) support to government shelters in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah supporting women victims of domestic violence and GBV survivors, through GBV case management, legal and PSS services and capacity building and mentoring of shelter staff. Education sector activities include: i) support to formal and non-formal education, facilitating non-formal activities with remedial and catch-up classes; ii) support and facilitation of the Integration Policy developed by the Ministry of Education to integrate refugee children into the Kurdish formal education system; iii) follow-up of students attendance in 46 schools in Erbil and 11 in Sulaymaniyah; iv) capacity building of formal and refugee teachers and school administration staff; iv) provision of teaching and self-learning materials and education kits. The Health sector in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates encompasses: i) capacity building of health staff; ii) supply of pharmaceutical items, equipment and PPEs; iii) community engagement and awareness raising activities; and iv) small scale rehabilitation.

General purpose of the position

In close collaboration with the Coordination team, define and plan project objectives and priorities, identifying humanitarian needs, analysing context and humanitarian issues at stake, risks and constraints and calculating HR and financial needs. Coordinate, in close collaboration with Head of Mission, Country Programme Coordinator, relevant Program Managers and Technical Coordinators (Protection, Education, Health), operations, strategic growth and strong external and internal representation in order to efficiently achieve goals and improve the targeted population’s humanitarian and socioeconomic conditions.

Main responsibilities and tasks

o Represent INTERSOS within Erbil and Sulaymaniyah programme limits proactively participating in relevant technical coordination meetings, cluster meetings and working groups. In close consultation with the Coordination team, develops institutional contacts with local government and national partners at project’s level (civil society, civil and military authorities, NGOs, nonstate actors, Clusters focal points, Ministry of Education, UN agencies and donors, etc.) as well as with media in order to obtain all information and agreements necessary for the integration of INTERSOS’s programmes in the local context and improve the targeted population’s awareness

o Observe the political and humanitarian situation in the programme’s region in order ensure that INTERSOS’ charter, policies and image are respected with regards to national employees, populations, authorities and partners

o Together with Coordination and projects team, evaluate needs by identifying the population’s status, by analysing the context (environment, actors involved, negotiations for access etc.) and associated risks and constraints in order to define priorities and projects goals and to calculate material, human and financial resources needed

o Propose and carry out exploratory missions and rapid assessment related to INTERSOS strategy in the country, according to SMT directions, in order to better comprehend context, priorities, constraints and population needs and design new project proposals

o Preparing regular updates of project activities work-plan and related financial plan, ensuring timely and quality implementation in compliance with INTERSOS and donor guidelines and in line with the projects and overall protection and health strategies

o Steer and supervise the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programmes in collaboration with the team, by collecting information and comparing it with the objectives, schedule in order to monitor progression and early detect deviations and propose corrections

o Provide reporting to the SMT on project’s evolution and propose corrections if needed

o Elaborate the Project’s institutional memory, keeping written records (and file them) on its development, in order to broadcast INTERSOS achievements and improve awareness

o Monitor the risks and threats around the project(s), documenting the situation and analysing the consequences of political decisions or negotiations in course, in order to bear witness of and to render the populations’ distress public

o In coordination with the HR department and relevant Coordinators, plan and organise the organizational charts, distribute tasks and workload among the teams, guiding their comprehension of the issues linked to the projects and the Mission through regular working meetings and feedback, in order to ensure an efficient deployment of the resources and the achievement of the expected goals

o Inform the field team on the instructions given by the SMT, promoting clear written and oral communication and information flow and ensuring confidentiality where appropriate

o Supervise full implementation of security and safety protocols in order to ensure safe working conditions for the project staffs

o Contribute to the proper application of HR policies and associated processes (recruitment, training, briefing/debriefing, evaluation, potential, detection, staff development and internal communication)

o Responsible for ensuring that the project staff, with the support of key protection staff, is duly trained on INTERSOS PSEA/CP Policies and that PSEA/CP Policy roll-out is implemented in the area of responsibility

o Ensure the project’s staff respect INTERSOS rules and regulations, and adheres to INTERSOS Fundamental Charter Values and Code of Ethics, PSEA and CP Policies

o In coordination with the HR department and relevant Managers, identify training needs, building the capacity, coordinate, supervise and motivate the staff; support ad hoc training sessions and on-the-job training; provide individual follow up and coaching; carry out end of mission evaluation of the team members and lead internal communication initiatives in order to facilitate people’s integration and professional development and to maximize their capabilities and commitment to INTERSOS values and project’s goals

o Supervise all orders (logistical and medical) and the Project’s purchases as well as the financial indicators, in order ensure efficiency and early detect deviations and its causes

o Ensure that all INTERSOS security and safety rules are strictly followed by staff, in collaboration with the Head of Mission and the Security Department; monitor and report any changes in context, or or any concerns about risks to staff

o Constantly monitor financial supervision of expenditure

o Produce monthly internal specific report and elaborate mid-term and final report according to donors rules and regulation and INTERSOS Project Appraisal Tool, ensuring accurate data collection and timely submission

o Ensure accurate data collection and reports are submitted in a timely manner for all activities within the project

o Periodic field visit to the project locations to ensure the quality of the intervention in compliance with the internal and donors’ standard

o Guarantees close coordination and interaction with the other Programme Managers and Technical coordinators deployed in the mission, in order to ensure consistency and harmonization of modalities of implementation, tools, approaches etc.

Required profile and experience

Education

o Master degree in Political Science, international development, MBA or other relevant subject, or equivalent working experience

Professional Experience

o Minimum 3 years relevant work experience in the humanitarian or development sector

Professional Requirements

o Strong professional ethics and commitment to humanitarian principles

o Good understanding of the needs of refugees and displaced people (specific experience or knowledge of the context in Kurdistan region or elsewhere in Iraq is an asset)

o Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with analytic approach

o Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration with the mission team and external actors

o Strong initiative and self-motivated

Languages

· Fluent English (written and spoken) – mandatory

· Fluent Italian (written and spoken) – mandatory

· Arabic or Kurdish is an asset**

Personal Requirements

o Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders

o Ability to integrate and work well within multi-ethnic and multicultural teams

o Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships

o Ability to work in austere and sometimes stressful environments

o Ability to share accommodation when required

o Commitment to INTERSOS principles