Country Director

Are you an experienced and motivated Country Director who would like to lead our professional and committed national team, working in a highly complex but rewarding environment?

NPA is looking for a new Country Director for our programme in Iraq and Syria. NPA has been working in Iraq since 1995 and in Syria since 2012. Currently, the country office runs a solid programme with more than 50 national and international staff and a total annual budget of 90 million NOK. NPA Iraq and northern Syria has a wide range of humanitarian and development partners within Sexual and Gender based Violence (SGBV), Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) and Civil Society Development. The CD is NPA’s legal representative in Iraq, but the management of NPA’s Mine Action programme in Iraq is delegated to NPA’s Programme Manager for Mina Action and Disarmament in Baghdad. Our key donors include Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), EU and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Duty station: Erbil, Iraq

We offer

• An interesting and challenging position, with high potential for further development of the programme.
• Comprehensive salary package including country specific allowances and insurance scheme.
• Five weeks’ annual holiday plus one additional week off for expats.
• Three international flights home per contract year.

Please note that we offer a two-year contract* with the possibility of renewal. The salary and allowances are subject to income tax according to NPA’s Tax Policy. The working conditions, including annual leave, follow the Norwegian Working Environment Act.

Requirements

• Relevant higher education.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to build teams and empower others in decision making.
• At least 5 years experience as a successful upper level leader in an international organisation with documented good results.
• Solid understanding of complex operational environments, including demanding compliance requirements and understanding of operations under ATF/AML and sanction legislation work.
• Experience with developing and implementing strategies, plans and programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in work with civil society organisations and managing programmes based on partner collaboration.
• Good political intuition and understanding of political dynamics.
• Knowledge of the MENA region, particularly Iraq and Syria is an advantage.
• Previous experience with rights-based programme development in support of local civil society is an advantage.
• Experience with crisis management is an advantage.
• Experience with fundraising and donor relations is an advantage.

Personal Competencies:

• An inspirational leader with strong interpersonal- and communication skills.
• Analytic, strategic, creative and problem-solving ability.
• High work capacity and ability to work under pressure.

What you will do

• Lead and manage all personnel under the DHC Iraq Programme and promote a leadership culture and team spirit based on equality and mutual respect, reflecting NPA’s global vision of Solidarity in Action.
• Provide overall strategic guidance and oversight, quality control, development, monitoring and management of Iraq and northern Syria country programmes.
• Overall budget responsibility and ensure that financial and administrative procedures support programme activities and are in line with NPA guidelines and comply with donor, AMT/ATF regulations and relevant sanctions.
• Overall responsible for optimal development and running of the programmes, in cooperation with Programme- and MEAL Managers.
• Ensure adequate risk management, including streamlining integration of risk and security management perspectives in all strategic and programmatic processes.
• Overall responsible for the safety and security of NPA staff, assets and resources, development of crisis management plans and security plans and coordination of necessary actions with NPA HO.
• Build skills and capacity within programmes, both with the national staff and partners.
• Identify, promote and secure good cooperation and synergies among NPA programmes.
• Ensure that the country programme maintains a comprehensive understanding of the country context and monitors developments in Iraq, Syria and Turkey.
• Represent NPA in Iraq and northern Syria.
• Lead on donor relations and fundraising initiatives.

*Validity of the offer and contract depends on satisfactory medical certificate, full vaccination, valid travel visa and necessary permits for service and residency in the country of service. The offer and contract also depend on donor funding and might be subject to donor approval.