Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact. Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of internally displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq’s goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crises. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society. Mercy Corps is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead implementation of the anticipated five-year USAID-funded fostering a more politically engaged citizenry in Iraq, enhancing trust and participation in the country's democratic processes. This activity seeks to elevate civic literacy, empower citizens to actively engage and contribute to discussions on issues of concern. Equipping citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in the democratic processes. This includes fostering awareness of governmental processes, promoting access to accurate media content, facilitating increased engagement with government entities at various levels, and empowering citizens to participate in public life. Essential Responsibilities Play an active role in identifying and developing new initiatives that foster and/or improve strategic objectives of the program and the country office. SECURITY & RISK MANAGEMENT
Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.
Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
Ensure that activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
Supervisory Responsibility Supervise the IC E A Team. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage. Accountability Reports Directly To: Country Director, Iraq Works Directly With: IC E A Team, Regional Directors, Country Director, Director of Programs, Program Performance and Quality Director, other COPs, HR, finance and operations teams, HQ Regional Programs Team, and HQ Technical Resources and Quality Unit Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging program participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
Minimum of 10 years relevant experience, including proven expertise in one or more of the following program areas civic engagement, community mobilization, governance, peacebuilding, youth development, and/or civil society strengthening
Minimum of 5 years of experience in a senior management position, preferably for medium ($15+ million) and complex USAID-funded activities; previous experience in similar roles (Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, or Program Director) preferred
Experience managing diverse multi-lingual teams located in different geographic locations, with experience in the Middle East strongly preferred
Familiarity with USAID rules, regulations, and requirements
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to network and maintain effective working relationships with diverse actors including CSOs, civic groups, community- based organizations, media, academia, political parties, government, the private sector, and USAID and other donors
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Iraq’s and similar complex political, governance, and conflict dynamics preferred Experience with collaborative design and management with local partners, mentoring and supporting development of partner capacity , and transition processes and awards preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about civic engagement to strengthen inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. The role is unaccompanied, eligible for R&R breaks, and hardship, and housing is provided in shared group housing in Erbil and when travel outside of Erbil is required . The team member must follow all security protocols at all times. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
