Iraq: COUNTRY DIRECTOR IRAQ (100%)

HEKS/EPER Swiss Church Aid is the aid organisation of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland and has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland. HEKS/EPER works towards a more humane and more equitable world, assisting people and communities irrespective of their religion to overcome economic, social or humanitarian disparities in order to gain autonomy and to live with dignity both in Switzerland and abroad. Therefore, HEKS/EPER engages in development cooperation, humanitarian aid and church cooperation. HEKS/EPER has its own coordination offices in presently 16 key countries and over 200 projects world-wide. HEKS/EPER is a member of the ACT Alliance.

In Iraq HEKS/EPER has been providing humanitarian assistance to most vulnerable since 2015. HEKS/EPER is currently scaling up its country program portfolio looking at identifying long term solutions for IDPs, refugees and host communities, with special focus in the areas of livelihood and sustainable return.

HEKS/EPER is looking for an experienced and proactive Country Director (International Head of Mission) who will further develop the country strategy, drive programming in Iraq and liaise with all relevant stakeholders (NGOs, clusters, donors and local authorities).

COUNTRY DIRECTOR IRAQ (100%)

Duty Station: Erbil, Iraq (non-family duty station)

Duration: 1 year with possibility for extension

Job overview

The designated Country Director will play a pivotal role setting up and leading a multifaceted country program with a diversified technical team. The programmatic work will range from cash based humanitarian interventions to longer term and more sustainable solutions. The position will demand strong acquisition skills with major donors such as USAID, ECHO and others.

Job Responsibilities

• Leads the identification, development and monitoring of new projects

• Develops a four years country strategy including a fundraising strategy for Iraq

• Fundraise with institutional donors including EU/ECHO, USAID and others in-country, including intense drafting work for concept notes and project proposals as well as carrying out in-depth assessment in the field.

• Ensures submission of appropriate, timely high quality proposals and leads required donor negotiations

• Establish and leads a qualified technical team of high performing and motivated staff

• Ensures the implementation of high quality programs

• Joining or leading the establishment of consortia

• Represents HEKS/EPER in Iraq and pro-actively engages in the ACT Alliance Forum Iraq

• Continuous situation analysis of the context in Iraq

• Oversees the HEKS Security Protocol in Iraq and develops security procedures with the national HEKS-security Officer as required by the operations of HEKS in Iraq.

Qualifications:

• University degree in a relevant field

• Minimum 5 years experience in the humanitarian sector and 3 years as Head of Mission in an INGO.

• A proven track record of acquisition of funding with major donors such as USAID, ECHO, EU etc.

• Strong proposal writing skills, proven financial management, monitoring and evaluation skills.

• Excellent representation, networking and negotiation skills.

• Proven external and personal leadership skills. The successful candidate will undergo an external in-depth personality and leadership assessment prior to recruitment.

• Ability to work in insecure settings and under pressure.

• Flexibility to travel on short notice both within and outside Iraq.

• Ability to work both independently and with teams, excellent facilitation skills, sensitivity for gender & social equity and local culture.

• Language skills: excellent written and oral proficiency in English, Kurdish and/or Arabic is an asset

Our ideal candidate

A highly experienced professional with a minimum of 5 years’ working experience as a Senior Manager in a humanitarian/recovery context. Strong leadership skills and proven result related to the position’s responsibilities, including financial and team management. Knowledge of the context in Iraq and the Middle East is an asset.

NB: Please send your complete application in one pdf only (essentials: motivation letter, CV, copies of academic certificates and/or transcripts and of training certificates) until 30.09.2018 to HEKS/EPER (international@heks.ch). Nathalie Praz, Head of Humanitarian Aid Department, is at your disposal for further information: +41 44 360 88 94. All applications will be deleted after the recruitment process. More detailed information on HEKS/EPER see http://en.heks.ch