Country Director, Iraq

The Country Director, Iraq leads Save the Children’s programmes in Iraq based in Erbil, providing strategic direction, managing a significant portfolio, and representing the organization with key stakeholders. The role involves leadership of multiple teams, fiscal management, risk oversight, and ensuring compliance with policies and donor requirements in a complex humanitarian and development context.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and direction for the Iraq country programme
• Effectively lead a high performing Senior Management Team to deliver against strategy and model expected behaviours and values
• Take responsibility for the leadership and management of staff and programme in Iraq
• Ensure ongoing analysis of the national socio-economic, security and political situation
• Support development and review of the Country Strategy and progress against objectives
• Ensure focus on the rights and needs of children
• Contribute to regional and global knowledge and learning
• Attract and retain high calibre staff and develop their potential
• Implement HR policies and performance management systems in line with guidelines and local law
• Foster a collegial, supportive and respectful culture within the team
• Build a High Performing Senior Management Team and ensure strong collaboration
• Promote inclusivity and apply zero-tolerance policy toward bullying and harassment
• Lead improvement of KPI performance and programme quality
• Ensure programme interventions align with best practice, policies and strategic objectives
• Implement effective monitoring and evaluation systems
• Capture and communicate programme learning
• Prepare and implement rapid responses to emergencies affecting children
• Lead operational and programmatic adjustments in response to crises
• Promote innovation across the Country Office
• Develop and maintain relations with Members, donors, government, UN agencies, NGOs and communities
• Represent Save the Children in Iraq and at donor events
• Develop media, advocacy and campaign strategies addressing child rights issues
• Ensure effective financial budgeting, management systems and compliance
• Ensure procurement and asset management systems comply with standards
• Assess and support partner organisations on financial management and governance
• Ensure compliance with host government requirements including registration, taxation, labour law, auditing and fraud
• Ensure timely internal and external audits and follow-up on recommendations
• Support risk and compliance priorities
• Lead fundraising efforts including concept notes and proposals
• Develop and implement donor engagement strategies
• Network and manage dialogue with members, donors and INGOs
• Develop and manage programme security plans and procedures
• Maintain and communicate security context analyses
• Support staff security awareness and safety
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Regional Director

Requirements

• Master’s degree level qualification or equivalent length of experience in the sector
• Substantial experience of building, leading and developing a diverse team of senior staff to deliver on both development and humanitarian programs
• Experience working with large, complex donors to secure and/or manage new large-scale and/or competitive funding
• Experience of managing a humanitarian crisis situation requiring quick changes to priorities and rapid action to respond
• Excellent understanding and experience of risk, programme, financial and operational management processes
• Experience of successfully leading change in an organisation
• Experience of building effective personal networks at a senior level
• Experience of managing security in a complex and rapidly changing environment
• Experience of solving complex issues
• Good understanding of key trends in international and humanitarian development
• Commitment to Save the Children values
• Fluency in English
• Experience of Iraq with sound knowledge of the country context and key government and civil society stakeholders (desirable)
• Fluency in Arabic (desirable)

Skills

• Team Leadership
• Humanitarian Programme Management
• Development Project Management
• Donor Relations
• Large-scale Funding Management
• Humanitarian Crisis Management
• Risk Management
• Programme Management
• Finance Management
• Operational Management
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Security Management
• Complex Problem Solving
• Strategic Planning
• Fiscal Management
• Compliance Management

Languages

English, Arabic