Programme Manager

Job Title: Programme Manager

Departement: Programming

Division: Programme Implementation

Duty Station: Erbil with 50% travel to the field sites

Line Manager: Head of Programme

Line Management Responsibility: Team Leaders

Position Type: Full-Time

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organisation. We work with people affected by violent conflicts to enhance their security and dignity through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP). We work to reduce violence, protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath, and help transform the world’s response to conflict situations.

Job Summary:

To manage the implementation of NP’s Program, overseeing violence prevention programming in areas where NP operates in Iraq. The Program Manager (PM) is responsible for ensuring the implementation of effective programming and operations in complex, and dynamic locations. The PM manages the implementation of programming across various project locations, ensuring the project is implemented in accordance with NP’s mission and vision, compliances, and allocated budgets. The PM will provide leadership for the project(s) in close liaison with heads of departments.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Management

• Responsible for the overall planning and effective delivery of the project(s) in areas of implementation through the application of Unarmed Civilian Protection approach with a significant component on social cohesion.
• Provide technical advice and oversight for the field teams implementing violence reduction projects, either directly or through team leaders in field sites.
• Guide teams in strategic planning, development of work plans and adapting programme implementation to address emerging protection needs, social cohesion opportunities and/or contextual or operational challenges.
• Produce monthly and/or quarterly internal reports, covering context, programming, staffing and welfare.
• The PM will support field teams and serve as interlocutor with Management and the Programme Development team if programming has to be adapted to address dynamic contextual realities and/or if changing circumstances renders the project objectives irrelevant or impossible.
• Work very closely with MEL team to ensure the effective implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, and learning strategy of program in each of the program locations.
• Engage in direct programme implementation as needed, participate in integrated capacities and needs assessments and emergency response if needed. Stand in as Acting Team Leader when necessary.
• Contribute to broader country programme strategy development together with the rest of the Programme and Management team.
• Participate in grant inception process with programme development, finance and operations and then lead grant inception process with field teams in partnership with Programme Development department.
• When requested, contribute to donor reporting for area of operations.

Representation and Advocacy

• Represent NP in coordination and advocacy fora where appropriate and needed, including on issue-based advocacy in Erbil and Mosul
• Represent NP at the sub-national level (with local authorities in field locations) when Team Leaders request senior support.
• Provide guidance and direct support on access related negotiations in areas of operation as needed in close coordination with the Access and Security Officer and the Head of Mission.
• In collaboration with the Programme Development team, represent NP Iraq to donors, engaging in proactive communication to keep donors updated on the progress of the project and the evolving conflict and protection context in Iraq.
• Represent NP Iraq during donor visits to areas of operation and planning donor visits together with the Programme Development team and will whenever possible, accompany the donor on field visits.

Financial & Operational Management

• Supervise field level cash management, ensuring field level bookkeeping is done according to NP policies and procedures, ensuring that irregularity is addressed and corrected.
• Supervise and ensure that teams comply with their internal and external reporting requirements.
• Support with field level budget management including coding of field level expenses in accordance with approved project budgets.
• Prepare budget forecasts in collaboration with Team Leaders and supervise field cash management.
• Supervise and ensure that teams comply with their internal and external reporting requirements and that complete documentation is received in the finance department.
• Review coding for all field level expenses in accordance with approved project budget.
• Serve as interlocutor between field teams and programme support departments (HR, Finance and Operations), ensuring that the needs of field teams are met and that field teams are fully aware of what is happening operationally in Erbil as it relates to their sites.

Personnel Management

• Serve as Line Manager for Team Leaders.
• Facilitate strong staff morale and positive working environment using and practicing the NP values as central guidance.
• Coach and guide team leaders on field-based personnel management, with the support of Human Resources colleagues, ensuring that labour law is adhered to and NP Human Resources policies are known and implemented.
• Ensure sufficient level of staffing, identifying the need for new recruitment in a timely fashion.
• Participate in a recruitment panel for international programme staff and when possible, field office-based recruiting.
• Support Team Leaders to ensure that all field team staff (programme and programme support) receive timely performance reviews in close coordination with HR department.

Qualifications:

• Masters degree in conflict resolution, conflict transformation, peace studies, international relations, political science, negotiation, mediation, human security or related area of study.
• 4-6 years work experience in civilian protection, violence prevention, social cohesion, peacebuilding.
• Demonstrated management experience in working in complex security environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with state authorities and negotiation
• Demonstrated ability to live, work and solve problems independently and effectively in remote, highly challenging locations
• Demonstrated ability to analyze conflict, security and political contexts
• Identify with NP values and UCP principles

Skills and Competencies:

Independent Judgment/Analytical:

• Ability to set priorities, solve problems and analyse data
• Ability to manage information with discretion
• Demonstrable conflict analysis skills, identify entry points and design prevention and protection strategies

Interpersonal:

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and motivate and provide leadership to team and to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Solutions focused, creative problem solver
• Proven ability to build relationships with the full range of actors including government, various community leaders, military, police and non state actors
• Genuine commitment and interest in living and working at the community level
• Flexibility and adaptability

Language:

• Ability to interact confidently in English with colleagues and external contacts, to write documents and reports, and to present effectively relevant information
• Arabic skills an added benefit

Information Technology:

• Good skills in Microsoft Office applications. Hardware IT skills a definite asset

Other Specialized Requirements

• This field site is a complex security environment where conditions change rapidly – experience in insecure environments is essential to success in this position

Working Conditions:

• This field position may include challenging living conditions, limited access to amenities, and potentially unstable security situations.
• You must be prepared to live in basic or non-traditional accommodation, which may include shared housing, camps, or field-based settings
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to strict security protocols.