Program Officer (Program Management and MEAL), E5 (Subject to funding)

Background Information

ICMP is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization, based in The Hague, the Netherlands that helps governments and other authorities to locate missing persons from conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes. ICMP supports the work of other organizations in their efforts, encourages public involvement in its activities and contributes to the development of appropriate expressions of commemoration and tribute to the missing. To learn more about ICMP, click here.

About the Position

The Program Officer (Program Management and MEAL) is responsible for providing advice and assistance on ensuring the quality of ICMP’s work in Iraq, bringing immediate and lasting changes to the surviving families of Iraq’s estimated 250,000 to 1 million missing persons.

In addition, the Program Officer is responsible for comprehensive internal and external reporting, as well as monitoring and evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) mechanisms for ICMP’s Iraq Program, including establishing systems to promote evidence-based decision making. Working closely with the Head of Program (Iraq) and technically supported by the ICMP Global MEAL Officer, the Program Officer will lead program planning, reviews and evaluations to document and monitor progress, effectiveness and impact of ICMP’s activities in Iraq.

The following are the main duties and responsibilities:

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Lead the roll-out and implementation of the ICMP MEAL framework that ensures accountability to donors and Iraqi key stakeholders in coordination with the Global MEAL Officer
• Prepare and refine logic models and results frameworks, performance monitoring plans, including standard indicators and data collection and reporting protocols, for ICMP grants in Iraq, in coordination with technical teams and the Program Operations Unit
• Support the Global MEAL Officer in managing external evaluations to capture lessons and inform future programming in Iraq
• Promote MEAL and adaptive management for increased transparency, accountability and a learning mindset, both internally (program and HQ) and externally
• Ensure feedback from accountability and learning tools are integrated in program planning, implementation and closeout
• Provide analytical thinking and in-depth understanding of current and emerging approaches to MEAL

2. Program Management

• Contribute ideas to the development of program strategy, supported by evidence as applicable
• Serve as the primary interface with the Head of Program in monitoring project implementation across grants, including preparing and consolidating internal and external reports
• Support the Head of Program in the preparation of project proposals for the Iraq program, as well as assist in coordinating the budget with the Corporate Services Department
• Advise on grant implementation, including on grant visibility guidelines

3. Program Coordination

• Support the Head of Program in providing inputs to internal and external communications, ensuring effective coordination with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, donor community, embassies, international organizations and stakeholders at ICMP HQ
• Establish, maintain, and develop productive working relationship with Iraq Program staff and supports the Head of Program in planning and monitoring project activities

4. External Representation

• Manage external subject matter experts’ and interns’ timely and high-quality submission of deliverables in close cooperation with program technical teams
• Represent ICMP in knowledge network events among implementing partners operating in Iraq
• Act as an ICMP Gender Focal Point

The incumbent will also be responsible for other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• University degree in project management, political science, international development, public administration, public relations, business, social science or other relevant area
• At least six years of experience in a similar role within an international organization
• Professional fluency in English, Arabic and/or Kurdish is highly desirable
• Project and program design, implementation and monitoring
• Managing staff and budgets
• Preparation of reports, project documents, briefing papers
• Transformational leadership ability
• Proven experience in designing and maintaining tools for program planning and MEAL
• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming in project management
• Capacity building/institutional development
• Proven ability to interact positively with colleagues regardless of culture, nationality or gender
• Willingness to travel and to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings, when necessary
• Commitment to the underlying objective of assisting the authorities and families of the missing in locating and identifying missing persons in an impartial and transparent manner
• Mental and physical capacity and willingness to work in sometimes challenging circumstances and under hardship living conditions
• Positive attitude, humility and the ability to work within multidisciplinary team

Benefits

This position will be based in Baghdad, Iraq and may involve travel to the Netherlands or other locations for official business reasons.

This is a full-time fixed term position with a competitive base salary at the E5 level on the ICMP Professional salary scale, generous paid leave, and extensive health insurance benefits for the incumbent and any eligible dependent. For more details, please see the ICMP website.

This position is eligible for expatriate allowances.

Expected start date: 01 April 2024

VN close date: 29 February 2024

Review of applications will begin on 01 March 2024; however, the position will remain open until filled.

ICMP is committed to maintaining an environment of mutual respect, where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants. ICMP believes that diversity and inclusion among our staff are critical to our success as a global organization, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented individuals from a thoroughly diverse range of candidates. ICMP is proud to be part of the International Gender Champions network.

ICMP may cancel this recruitment without notice or may decide to offer a position with different duties and/or contract length.

ICMP does not request payment during any stage of the selection process.