Country Representative for Iraq

Country Representative for Iraq

Contract Length: 12 months with possibility to extension

Project Country: Iraq

Location: Prague/Erbil Iraq, based in Prague with approximately quarterly (1/3 of working time) travels to Erbil/Iraq

Line Manager: Deputy Regional Director for Middle East

Position Summary

As PIN’s team leader for the Iraq Project Country, the CR will be directly representing PIN at meetings with authorities, financial institutions, ensuring smooth relations and compliance with legislation, registration, and financial requirements with both the Kurdish and Federal Iraqi governments. The role will also cover oversight of program and operational functions of HR, procurement and logistics, security management, and work closely in partnerships with the regional staff at HQ.

The role provides strategic oversight of programme implementation and serves as PIN’s primary representative with donors and external stakeholders. Key priorities include identifying and securing new funding opportunities, establishing strategic implementation partnerships, and guiding PIN through a critical transition as humanitarian funding declines and new opportunities emerge though tenders, government partnerships, and development-focused financing.

The Country Representative will support the programme’s alignment with the Durable Solutions and Area-Based Coordination frameworks, as well as national development priorities and the Iraqi Ministry of Planning’s strategic vision.

The CR line manages the Program Manager & Program Coordinator, MEAL Officer, Operation Officer, Finance & Administrative Manager.

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

  • Represents PIN in Iraq regional and federal authorities, donors, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, UN agencies, Alliance 2015 members, other INGOs;
  • Ensures alignment of the Project Country (PC) with PIN HQ requirements, initiative, and strategies;
  • Monitors and analyses the political, humanitarian and socio-economic context. Based on the analysis and in collaboration with the Field team and HQ, review the missions’ strategies, the identification of funding opportunities, and contribute to the design of initiatives and new projects;
  • Ensures program, fundraising, and partnership engagement align with PC strategy within the thematic pillars of education, civic society and inclusive governance, livelihoods and economic empowerment, and climate adaptation;
  • Works with the Regional Grants Focal Points and/or IFU to identify and actively pursue new funding opportunities and explore different funding mechanisms (bilateral funding, consortiums, private funding, foundations, and other non-traditional donors etc.);
  • Engages in humanitarian advocacy initiatives and policy dialogues and oversees internal and external communications;
  • Ensures efficient internal coordination at the mission level and with HQ, reporting to the Deputy Regional Director, and working closely with the Institutional Fundraising Unit, Program Strategy & Impact Department, Compliance, Regional Logistics Coordinator and the Regional Head of Systems and Operations;
  • Leads the Iraq PC and provides senior management capacity for the PC office. 
  • Ensures expats who are stationed in Erbil receive the requisite duty of care while deployed on behalf of PIN.

Program Oversight

  • Ensures the conditions (cooperation in between well-staffed departments in place, logistics for operations in the field, etc.) for good project management/implementation are in place and navigates Program managers/coordinators towards quality programming and program development (proper use of project tools and planning to achieve targets);
  • Ensures good staffing situation in the department;
  • Ensures effective coordination and communication is established between program team and donors;
  • Supports Program managers in monitoring progress of project timelines, identifying risks, and troubleshooting solutions with program staff;
  • Ensures PMs are trained and equipped with PIN finance systems and procedures in order to maintain spending targets and financial accountability;
  • Seeks - jointly with the Program managers - ways to drive innovative programming solutions in cooperation with PIN’s Program Strategy & Impact Department (PSI), to identify PIN’s niche in-country and fundraise;
  • Oversees directions given to the local partnership agenda seeking opportunities to identify and develop national partners who align with the CP programmatic pillars and geographic priorities (driven primary by assigned Program staff and Global Partnerships Advisor).

Operations Oversight

  • Provides leadership and oversight to the IRQ CP by supporting deployed staff through promotion of team spirit and staff conflict management;
  • Ensures the country budget is being spent in line with internal agreements and that no additional costs are being born – Country Representative is an owner of the mission budget
  • Promotes a culture of respect, personal responsibility, transparency, openness;
  • Actively represents the CP at the meetings with the governmental authorities, financial institutions and others;
  • Ensures that systems and operations support the implementation of the CP strategy and that procedures and regulations are implemented in full transparency and in accordance with donor and PIN rules;
  • Ensures adequate staffing of all supervised departments in order to achieve efficient delivery of People in Need’s (PIN) CP;
  • Ensures that staff have developed capacity building plans and are held accountable to their own learning needs;
  • In coordination and with the support of the Finance CP Coordinators on HQ level, oversees the mission economy;
  • Supports cooperation of the CP departments during strategy, audit, CP reviews; Supports coordination of CP based operations department with HQ support focal points such as Regional Logistics and HR Coordinators
  • Ensures full respect of PIN’s administrative, HR, financial, logistics procedures; ensures the CP based teams
  • Together with RHOSO supervises the implementation and periodic review of PIN’s international and national HR policies in collaboration CP and HQ-based staff;
  • Reviews and suggests changes in the HR structure according to the strategy, CP/context needs, budget, and potential funding;
  • Identify, support, and coordinate with the hubs and HQ capacity building activities to strengthen and develop the capacity of the team;
  • Oversee investigations related to the reporting of breach of PIN Code of Conduct or other disciplinary issues;
  • Line manages the Iraqi Finance Department, supports communication between Finance and other departments with special focus on budget management;
  • Supervises and advises to CP Operations department and makes sure Annual Procurement Plan is developed and maintained by all stakeholders;
  • Ensures that all obligations towards local authorities (annual audit, annual reports, fiscal financial reports, tase etc.) are respected and met in a timely manner;
  • Ensures that all taxes are paid in line with national regulatory framework;
  • Ensures that tax exemption (when possible) will be applied by NGO;
  • Ensures that all agenda related to permits, licenses, and registrations are dealt with as and when required;
  • Together with RHOSO ensures that respective operational departments are  familiar with donors’ conditions-requirements, makes sure they are respected.

Security Management

  • Oversees the mission’s Safety and Security Management Plan (SSMP), evacuation, and medical plans and ensures that the documents are kept up-to-date and well disseminated with support from the Regional Security Advisor;
  • Ensures that PIN is fully included in the existing security information and coordination mechanisms, such as the UN (UNDSS) or INSO;
  • Manages security incidents & crises, in coordination with and supported by the Regional Security Advisor and Regional Leadership at HQ.

Quality and Risk Management

  • Leads upon transition process from Country Programme to Project Country approach, linked to the structure and processes aligned with the Project Country simpler management concept.
  • Ensures PIN policies guidelines (expect specific program guidelines) are known and respected;
  • Supervises all support departments and functions, and sets up effective internal coordination and communication;
  • Promotes participation and accountability towards local authorities, local partners, and donors;
  • Manages risks and coordinates risk mitigation measures.

We Offer:

  • Working environment in a well-established humanitarian organization in a challenging context;
  • Starting Salary and benefits based on PIN’s salary scale and HR policies, expected salary range between 53.000 - 58.000 CZK gross for full time (based on experience);
  • Time off and Rest:
    • 25 days of holiday annually;
    • 3 sick days and 3 study leave days;
  • Equipment and Workspace:
    • Laptop;
    • Mobile phone with a company plan;
    • Flexibility with occasional home-office arrangements;
    • Open and informal organizational culture, interesting and creative work in an international environment;
    • On-site kindergarten located on the ground floor of our building;
    • Dog-friendly office environment.
  • Professional Development:
    • Free access to e-learning platforms and PIN Learning Hub;
    • PIN’s global Induction Training;
    • Tailored capacity-building opportunities;
    • Free psychological consultations and coaching options.
  • Additional benefits:
    • Opportunity to participate in events organized by PIN, including the One World International Film Festival, knowledge-sharing sessions, and retreats;
    • Multisport card (for access to numerous sports facilities - paid by employee);
  • When traveling abroad:
    • Reimbursement of travel expenses such as flights, visas and vaccinations; assistance with the visa application procedure;
    • Travel health insurance covering medical care, incl. the repatriation;
    • 24/7 Medical Support available online.

Main requirements:

  • Significant previous experience with managing finance, logistics and procurement and HR;
  • Experience with team management and supervision, and interest in building capacity of local staff;
  • Experience of working in a humanitarian and/or development organization, including in developing and delivering processes/procedures and policies compliant with main international donors (previous experience with EU funding and UN is an asset);
  • Experience leading the design and writing of high-quality proposals aligned with donor priorities and organizational strategy;
  • Excellent communication skills, fluent spoken and written English;
  • IT literacy, advanced knowledge of MS Excel;
  • Strong coordination, critical analysis and problem-solving skills;
  • Responsible and systematic, and ability to organize and plan effectively;
  • Ownership, independence, proactive approach, flexibility;
  • Ability to work in difficult conditions and under pressure.

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and is committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involved. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
 

How to apply:

If you are interested in this position, send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.
Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.


People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.