NRC in Iraq

Since the end of the war with Islamic State in 2017, Iraq has been recovering from the significant damage and destruction caused by the armed conflict. Of the more than six million Iraqis who fled their homes since 2014 4,2 million Iraqis have returned to their area of origin and 1,6 million remain internally displaced people (June 2019 HRP monitoring report). Many Iraqis have returned to areas that lack basic infrastructure, services and livelihood opportunities, or where explosive devices have not been cleared. Other challenges returnees face include the lack of security, community acceptance, housing, property and civil documentation issues and lack of educational and health services.

The UN estimates that more than 6,7 million Iraqis will need assistance in 2019. With military operations against IS group having ended, the Iraqi government faces new challenges to ensure an inclusive reconstruction and reconciliation that will sustain peace. Since 2010, NRC Iraq has been assisting internally displaced Iraqis, Syrian refugees, and host communities in Ninewa, Dohuk, Erbil, Kirkuk, Basra, Salahadeen and Anbar Governorates.

We focus on assisting the newly displaced, those experiencing protracted displacement in camps and those in hard-to-reach places. In 2019, NRC scaled-up programmes across Iraq to respond to people in need using our shelter and settlements, education, camp management, legal assistance, livelihoods, and cash activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of the Project Development Manager is to be responsible design, develop and implement CC (Core Competency) programme/project in a small and medium size Country Operation or a start-up/small CC in a large country. This role can only be added when the country programme is not large enough to have both CC Specialist and CC Project manager. The following is a brief description of the role.
Generic responsibilities

• Develop Shelter and Settlements strategy, technical SOPs / guidelines and Macro LFAs

• Compliance and adherence to NRC policies, Shelter and Settlements tools, handbooks and guidelines

• Responsible of development and manage funding proposal, project budgets and donor reports

• Overall management of project staff

• Coordinate and manage Shelter and Settlements project implementation (activities, budget and project documentation) in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements

• Ensure capacity building of project staff and transfer key skills

• Liaison and collaborate with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders and represent NRC in relevant forums/cluster/working groups.

• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy

Specific responsibilities

• These responsibilities shall be adapted to the particularities of the job location and context, phase of operation, strategic focus and type of intervention. This section shall be revised whenever a new employee is hired or the context changes significantly
• Line manage Shelter and Settlement PCs at AO level in Anbar as needed until nationalization plans are realized
• Matrix support to Shelter PMs throughout Iraq mission for quality checks and capacity building
• Responsible for Shelter and Settlements implementation as per NRC and donor rules, regulations and policies
• Ensure high quality proposals and programme development is in place
• Support creation of integrated programme model with other core competencies, including the development of integrated needs assessments and macro log frames
• Ensure a strategic and principled transition of activities from emergency to early recovery and durable solutions focused programming
• Design, develop, and adapt programme approaches, activities and SOPs that can be piloted and expanded throughout Iraq, including cash based programming.
• Higher-level programme development both within NRC and with external stakeholders
• Ensure capacity building plans are in place for national staff in all AOs
• Participate in external coordination meetings relating to shelter, WaSH (as needed), HLP and relevant technical working groups
• In close collaboration with the Advocacy Manager, articulate concerns and organize relevant evidence pertaining to shelter and settlements that contribute to NRC’s advocacy goals in Iraq

Knowledge, Skills & Experience that will help you succeed in this role

• 3 years of experience from a senior level project implementation position in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Technical shelter & settlements expertise
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge and skills in market analysis, cash-based interventions and market based programmes
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• University Degree in a related discipline
• Knowledge of the context in Iraq
• Direct experience with Shelter projects is essential
• Capability to establish good and respectful relationship with other actors;
• Able to train and manage teams (to listen, advise, support, solve conflicts, motivate, etc.)
• Experience in financial, asset and human resources management, budgeting and administration
• Proven skills and experience in successfully managing field teams and distributions
• Excellent knowledge of humanitarian principles and their application in high-risk environments marked by the presence of armed actors;
• Patience, good personal organization, good communication and ability to work in teams, seriously, rigorously and personal accountability
• Ability to work under time pressure, in demanding setting, with limited resources, independently and with limited supervision
• Experience in conducting, organizing and managing conducting needs/vulnerability assessments and beneficiary selection processes
• Ability to prioritize needs and carry out multiple tasks simultaneously
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Word and Excel. Knowledge of Microsoft Project is a plus.
• Proficiency in spoken Arabic would be viewed as an asset
• Experience with participatory fieldwork, methodologies, monitoring and reporting

Personal Qualities

• Managing resources to optimize results
• Empowering and building trust
• Handling insecure environments
• Planning and delivering results
• Flexible and creative

Additional Information

-Contract period: 12 months
-Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s salary scale and terms and conditions.
-Duty station: Ramadi, Iraq, with 60% travel within Iraq. The position holder will be expected to travel to all areas of Iraq where NRC is operational.
-Female candidates encouraged to apply.