Deputy Chief of Party

Organizational Background:

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is the international wing of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, a family of organizations that has been leading anti-poverty and social justice work in Chicago for more than 125 years. HAI is comprised of numerous country offices implementing programs on a broad range of human rights issues globally, as well as the Chicago-based Marjorie Kovler Center for survivors of torture. HAI’s technical areas of expertise include mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), gender equity, access to justice, and stigma-free health care. Across all programs, HAI promotes progressive, innovative approaches to human rights protections, and gender equity.

Overview:

HAI Iraq seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for an anticipated multiyear USAID/Iraq Civil Society Activity that seeks to increase citizen engagement in the public sphere, especially among women and youth, while supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) to connect to and empower citizens and other CSOs. The Activity will also provide tailored capacity building to cover any skill gaps that civil society may need – preferably through networks of CSOs in Iraq and/or the region acting as “incubators” for this skills building. This DCOP will support the COP programmatically in the implementation of HAI’s innovative, place-based and community-responsive support services. The DCOP will provide technical leadership and expertise over the program. S/he will work with USAID/Iraq and will be responsible for the management activity implementation, including, but not limited to, technical and logistical management.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

– Ability to manage technical assistance teams.

– Knowledge of and familiarity with international assistance program requirements, preferably USAID and/or other funding agencies; their policies and regulations.

– Excellent representational and communication skills, written and oral proficiency in English and Arabic.

– Oversee program start-up, management and administration. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

– Responsibility to assist COP in award management, including the implementation of all components of the activity, fiscal integrity, quality and timely deliverables, and coordination with USAID and all project stakeholders.

– Manage subcontractor agreements and assist the COP in tracking their progress toward the agreed performance goals.

– Advanced staff and financial management experience.

– Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with HAI´s program guidelines, principles, values and strategic plan.

– Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.

– Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.

– High sensitivity to gender and demonstrated ability to integrate gender considerations in management, operation and programs.

Qualifications

Authorization to work in Iraq, with strong preference for Iraqi nationals. A Master’s degree in social sciences, community development, communications, business, international development, and/or other related fields. At least eight (8) years of experience working in the engagement of civil society. Demonstrated experience developing systems to identify potential partners, evaluation of capacity of partners, and managing grants (in-kind and cash) with local partners, training development and other technical areas related to the objectives of this activity. Demonstrated history of professional experience with large-scale, US Government funded programming. Previous experience with USAID strongly preferred. Demonstrated working alongside and developing the capacity of grassroots NGOs. Fluent written and spoken English and experience presenting to a variety of audiences (national and international). Professional proficiency in Arabic is preferred. Knowledge of the Middle East Region is required.