Head of Partnership and Programme Support Unit (PPSU) (P)

The Head of Partnership and Programme Support Unit (PPSU) in Baghdad is responsible for technical and managerial authority over the PPSU, directing policy analysis, programme support and development, donor reporting, project cycle assurance, partnership support, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning functions. The role involves strategic leadership to ensure evidence-based programme design, effective implementation, results-based management, donor accountability, institutional learning and continuous improvement within the assigned portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Direct and integrate the operations of the Partnership and Programme Support Unit (PPSU), establishing a unified system of programme development, partnerships, policy analysis, donor reporting, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning services to strengthen portfolio performance across assigned programme units.
• Provide the DCoM with analysis and technical advice on programme quality, portfolio performance, funding opportunities, donor requirements, government-led priorities and implementation risks to shape the strategic priorities and decisions affecting the CO's programme direction.
• Roll out, apply and quality-assure agreed project-cycle and programme-quality tools and procedures within assigned programme units, securing full compliance with IOM policies, donor requirements and results-based management principles.
• Drive coherence, synergies and integrated programming across programme units by embedding cross-cutting priorities – protection, accountability, gender equality, disability inclusion, localization and environmental sustainability – into integrated programme design.
• Lead programme-development efforts, identifying funding opportunities and directing the preparation of and review of concept notes, project proposals, and results frameworks to expand the CO’s funded portfolio.
• Design and drive resource mobilization efforts in close collaboration with senior management, programme units and relevant stakeholders, positioning the CO competitively with donors in line with strategic priorities.
• Represent CO in operational-level liaison and negotiation with donors, government counterparts, UN agencies, IPs and other stakeholders to build and sustain partnerships that secure resources and enable programme delivery.
• Coordinate the operational preparation of donor visits, programme briefings and external presentations, ensuring accurate and compelling representation of CO’s programme achievements, challenges and priorities.
• Analyze relevant government policy developments and provide inputs to the DCoM on their operational implications and possible linkages with the assigned programme portfolio.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for joint programming or fundraising with other UN agencies in Iraq to expand the CO’s collaborative funding base.
• Coordinate the application of established project-cycle management, donor reporting, grants management and documentation standards, ensuring timely, accurate and compliant submission of programme and donor deliverables.
• Oversee project revisions, extensions, reporting obligations and project registration requirements in collaboration with programme units, the EO and the RMU to safeguard portfolio integrity.
• Maintain consolidated visibility of the project pipeline and active portfolio and provide regular analysis and recommendations to senior management on programme performance and funding trends.
• Develop the CO’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework to standardize approaches across programmes and alignment with organizational policies and donor requirements.
• Quality assure the application of approved monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems, including data quality assurance, evaluations, accountability mechanisms, and lessons learned to generate evidence that promotes adaptive management and programme improvement.
• Champion results-based management, knowledge sharing and continuous learning, translating monitoring findings, evaluations and community feedback into programme design decisions and advice to the DCoM.
• Manage, supervise and develop PPSU personnel, directing effective workforce planning, performance management and capacity development to build a high-performing unit.
• Perform such other relevant duties as may be assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Law, Political or Social Sciences, Humanities, International Relations, Development Studies or a related field from an accredited academic institution with seven years of relevant professional experience; or, University degree in the above fields with nine years of relevant professional experience.
• Extensive experience in policy analysis, programme or portfolio strategy, project development, implementation support, donor reporting, monitoring and evaluation, results-based management or resource mobilization.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating across programme, technical, operational and resource-management functions.
• Experience establishing quality-assurance, monitoring, reporting, learning or project-cycle management systems across multiple projects or programmes.
• Experience in donor relations, proposal development, grant management and compliance with institutional-donor requirements.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative monitoring, evaluations, accountability mechanisms, data-quality assurance and the use of evidence for adaptive management.
• Experience of liaising with government authorities, diplomatic missions, UN entities, civil society, implementing partners and other stakeholders.
• Experience in humanitarian, recovery, stabilization, peacebuilding or development settings; experience in transition or post-conflict environments is an advantage.
• Experience with IOM or another UN/international organization is highly desirable.
• Excellent strategic planning, programme development and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project-cycle management, Results-Based Management, MEAL and donor-reporting principles.
• Ability to interpret programme, results, financial and risk information and convert it into clear management advice.
• Excellent drafting, editing, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Proven leadership and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to build collaboration across units without displacing programme ownership or formal accountabilities.
• Proven knowledge of UN coordination and funding mechanisms.
• Proficiency in project management, information-management, spreadsheet and database applications.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and manage competing demands in high-pressure environments, ensuring continuity of programme delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster collaboration, accountability and performance across teams.
• Proficiency in drafting operational briefs, reports and inputs for senior management and external stakeholders.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic or Kurdish.
• Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Skills

• Policy Analysis
• Programme Strategy Development
• Project Development
• Implementation Support
• Donor Reporting
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Result-Based Management
• Resource Mobilization
• Team Management
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Quality Assurance Systems
• Project-Cycle Implementation and Management
• Donor Relations
• Proposal Development
• Grant Management
• Compliance Management
• Quantitative Monitoring
• Qualitative Monitoring
• Accountability Mechanisms
• Data Quality Assurance
• Adaptive Management
• Stakeholder Liaison
• Humanitarian Programming
• Recovery Programming
• Peacebuilding Processes
• Strategic Planning
• Analytical Skills
• Drafting and Editing
• Presentation Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Leadership
• UN Coordination
• Financing Mechanisms
• Project Management
• Information Management
• Spreadsheet Applications
• Database Applications Knowledge
• Operational Briefing
• Report Writing

Languages

English, Arabic, Kurdish