Livelihoods Program Manager Iraq

The “Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland (ASB)” is a German aid and welfare organisation with more than 300 branches at national, regional, district and municipal level all over Germany.

More than 1.2 million members provide a broad social basis for our organisation and more than 20,000 employees as well as over 17,000 volunteers form part of the ASB ensuring a high level of quality in areas such as rescue services, civil protection and social services. Since its foundation in 1888, the ASB has acted as a politically and denominationally independent association ensuring a high level of continuity and reliability. ASB Foreign Aid Department provides both direct emergency relief to people hit by man-made or natural disasters and longer-term rehabilitation measures designed to promote recovery and to rapidly help restore the livelihood of refugees, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable people. ASB currently has a portfolio of more than 100 relief, rehabilitation, development and DRR projects in countries like Bosnia, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kosovo, Nicaragua, Niger, Philippines, Serbia, and Ukraine. Operational in Iraq since 2014, ASB has been committed to support refugees, IDPs and host communities in the sectors Health, WASH, Livelihoods and Protection.

ASB is currently seeking expressions of interest from qualified and committed individuals for the following position:

Livelihoods Program Manager Iraq

1. Purpose:

The Livelihoods Program Manager will be in charge of the overall leadership and strategic development of the ASB Livelihood Program in Iraq in coordination with the Country Representative. This includes the oversight, overall management and budget monitoring of the economic recovery and developmental operations, liaison with the relevant stakeholders and authorities, representation of ASB at the cluster and other relevant meetings, taking the lead in defining ASB’s livelihoods sector strategy in Iraq and searching for funding to drive the strategy. He/she will report to the ASB Iraq’s Country Representative and work closely with the Finance/ Admin Manager.

2. Responsibilities:

• Ensure, in close consultation with Project Support Team, the effective application of PCM tools, elaboration of coherent work plans, project and programme documents, preparation of compelling proposals, monitors the project work plans, project effectiveness and achievement of results and provide inputs to the Strategic Results Framework and Results Oriented Donors Report;
• Improve/establish communication and coordination mechanisms and procedures amongst the various stakeholders and implementing partners;
• Prepare inception reports, work plans, regular donor progress and impact reports for the projects;
• Take full responsibility for the delegated budget on the programmatic aspects of the projects, participate actively in award review meetings and contribute to financial decision making;
• Ensure that MEAL tools are systematically implemented and used by project staff and partners;
• Support baseline surveys, regular monitoring, review and evaluation, in cooperation with the partners and CR;
• Foster an integrated approach by coordinating and cooperating with all other thematic areas during program implementation and for future program design and development;
• Ensure that cross-cutting themes such as WASH, child protection, gender and DRR are effectively integrated throughout implementation;
• Ensure the achievement of outputs are in line with the approved work plan through the day-to-day planning, management coordination and implementation of activities;
• Manage and monitor identified project risks and update the status of these risks and keep the CR abreast of emerging project issues;
• Liaise continually with and establish close linkages with other programs, agencies and entities, and other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing assistance on Sustainable Livelihoods issues to Iraq;
• Elaboration of coherent work plans and budgets for all activities in the programme portfolio and the continuous monitoring of project work plans in close consultation with the CR;
• Ensure timely and adequate reporting against plans in consultation with CR providing timely and articulate progress reports and inputs to the Strategic Results Framework and Results Oriented Annual Report;
• Strict and consistent application of ASB rules and regulations and ensuring the implementation of clear accountability mechanisms throughout the programme portfolio;
• Support capacity-building of national counterparts and partner organizations, ensuring partner organizations are active members/ participants in the project cycle and support their operations and implementation of the grant;
• Direct responsibility for their recruitment, contracting and management of national staff as well as contractors involved in the implementation of the programme in accordance with standing criteria and procedures;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods Programme for organizational sharing and learning; actively participate in the knowledge networks and application of best practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally.

3. Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent preferably in economic science, agricultural economics, industry sciences, certified project management, international studies, development studies or any other related field;
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural and/or post-conflict setting;
• Required expertise in the area of Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods, preferably with recent experience in local economic development (long term income generation and micro-finance), early recovery from conflict/post conflict or disaster context;
• Three or more years of senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexity;
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing systems, implementing project start-up and using project management tools;
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with host-country counterparts and representatives from partner organisations and other key stakeholders such as NGOs, the private sector and donors;
• In-depth knowledge of donor regulations, compliance and reporting (preferably FAO, WFP, AA, BMZ, IHPF, EU etc).
• Proven understanding of key monitoring and evaluation principles and the ability to analyse and utilize data to direct project activities and track project progress.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting and to lead formulation, monitoring and management of projects
• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational skills and ability to lead effectively with mentoring and conflict resolution skills.

4. Desired:

• Understanding of the social and political context within the Republic of Iraq including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq through previous experience working in the country, and established relationships with government agencies, key livelihood / agricultural personnel, and agricultural/food security livelihoods partners is desirable
• Experience in high-level policy advisory services to Government counterparts is desirable
• Appreciation for socio-cultural differences in countries, preferably having lived and worked in one or more low resource settings and awareness of, sensitivity to, and experience in working in multiple socio-economic settings and with multi-cultural staff and groups
• Fluent in or a working knowledge of Arabic, Kurdish and/or German will be an asset

5. Conditions:

Start date: 1^st January 2021

Duration of contract: 31^st December 2021

Duty Station: Dohuk with frequent travel within Governorates of Ninewa, Anbar and Salahaddin

Salary: ASB offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience