Head of Programmes

Background:

Sahara Economic Development Organization (SEDO) is Iraqi National NGO, it’s established in November 2007 as an independent NGO with its main office in Tikrit city. It focuses on developing the economic sector by providing business management training courses and counseling services to entrepreneurs and potential investors to enable them to efficiently contribute to the local economy. SEDO is considered among the most effective and qualified organizations in Iraq. It has conducted economic studies on the business environment in Iraq, identifying business opportunities and market niches for potential investors in Iraq. SEDO started humanitarian intervention in Iraq to respond to the urgent need for our beneficiaries, its work in WASH, Livelihood, protection, Food security, and Education sectors.

Job Summary:

To lead, develop and manage the program team to achieve the aspirations of SEDO’s Country Strategy through Programme Development, effective coordination, consolidation, technical support, and guidance by ensuring a cohesive team spirit and motivation to perform. He/she manages and ensures resource mobilization, prioritization, and allocation, work plan coherence to deliver the SEDO’s Country Strategy. This role is responsible for working with SEDOs’ donors and partners and Allies to foster a long-term relationships to successfully deliver the SEDO program strategy.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Provide leadership in the development of strategic plans and budgets for all programs in the country.
• Provide leadership to the Programme Team towards achieving the objectives of the Country Strategy of SEDO.
• Review and ensure alignment of program priorities, strategies and plans to the CSP
• Support the Executive Director and the Operation Director to lead the development of both strategic and operational plans in accordance with Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and planning guidelines.
• Ensure SEDO’s programme activities are grounded, strongly inter linked, and consolidated at the national level in line with SEDO’s CSP.
• Ensure quality implementation of all projects of SEDO.
• Ensure learning are documented by the programme team in the most effective way demonstrating value for money.
• Support the Executive Director, in developing and managing relationship within country donors.
• Lead on development of programme ideas into quality grant proposals through a community based, participatory approach.
• Collaborate with the SEDO Business Development Officer to respond to potential funding opportunities in Iraq.
• Ensure close monitoring of the program works in the field to ensure alignment and contribution to country strategy, monitor flow of information and systemic documentation of quantitative and qualitative achievements in the field and lessons learned thereof.
• Ensure quality and timely submission of quarterly and annual or required Programme and Project Performance Reports as per desired standards and guidelines.
• Ensure compliance of approved Programme and Project plans.
• Promote evidence-based learning and the agenda of advancing alternatives.
• Represent SEDO in various programme-related knowledge sharing and learning forums, document and share feedback with the team.
• Track trends in contemporary development programming and programme management practices, document and provide advice/ recommendations on key developments to SMT.
• Support Program Managers to strengthen networks in SEDO’s collaboration areas.
• Provide support to the networks for building capacity of the member organisations.
• Support the Programme Managers in strengthening our relationship with the strategic networks and alliances.
• Represent SEDO and participate in network and alliance meetings, events and forums at national and international levels.
• Ensure effective information flow and communication with other stakeholders including partners and international teams.
• Initiate and nurture networks and alliances with academia, and research institutions.
• Ensure effective partnerships at all levels as per standard procedures and guidelines of the organization.
• Coordinate and support review of SEDO partnerships.
• Ensure follow up of partners after reviews and reflections.
• Develop, monitor, review and update the Programme department activity, work plan to ensure that it attains its objectives as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.
• Review and approve programme concepts, partner financial requests as per organizational process and procedures.
• Manage the expenditure and disbursement of resources allocated to program department.
• Review programme expenditures from the programme team line staff to ensure conformity to Financial Policies and Procedures Manual (FPPM).
• Monitor and advise on programme and project spending and variance report as per organizational process and procedures.
• Lead and manage program team to achieve its mandated targets in accordance to annual operational plans.
• Ensure an empowering work environment and team building in compliance to SEDP‘s values, principles and attitude.
• Ensure an enabling environment for staff performance, recognition and reward of the program team to encourage staff productivity, innovation and performance (e.g. facilities, equipment, duty facilitation, team building etc.).
• Participate in the review of staff job descriptions and setting of performance standards • Involves in recruitment of staff under supervision of HR.
• Assigns performance objectives to supervised staff, conducts comprehensive performance appraisal of supervised staff and provides / obtains feedback when necessary.
• Ensure that performance records of staff under supervision are submitted to HR on time.
• Provides induction, training, coaching, mentoring and advice to supervised staff to ensure that they understand and carry out their responsibilities effectively.
• Works with HR Function to identify training needs and development opportunities for supervised staff
• Participate in the review and update of SEDO policies and procedures at country level and advise the SMT on the potential implications of the new system, policies and procedures.
• Implement all necessary policies and procedures to ensure that correct procedures are followed by staff under supervision.
• Adhere/ Comply with approved organisational policies and procedures

Required Qualification

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience working with NGOs preferably in livelihood, WASH, and protection.
• Strong written communication skills, and experience writing reports or other narrative documents.
• Competence in basic Microsoft Office software (e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook etc)
• Negotiation: Project managers will negotiate with clients on an appropriate schedule and scope of work. They will bargain for certain resources and manpower. Knowing how to negotiate to get what they need to succeed and keep everyone involved satisfied is a skill developed and improved through experience.
• Problem Solving: Issues that need attention regularly come up for project managers, and it’s their duty to predict potential problems in advance and brainstorm solutions in case these issues arise.