Project Manager

CLIC-Consultants in partnership with WUSC is seeking a Project Manager who is a resident of Iraq and able to work full-time in Baghdad.   This position is open immediately. Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview

 BACKGROUND

Canadian Leaders in International Consulting Inc. (CLIC), founded in 2007, is a professional services firm that provides high quality technical assistance and strategic advice in governance, institutional development, restoration, and capacity building to public, private and not-for-profit sectors.  CLIC works extensively in conflict and post conflict environments providing livelihood and stabilization services. In addition, CLIC conducts research, implements monitoring and evaluation and development projects globally with a focus on the broader Middle East and North Africa. Over the past 3 years CLIC has implemented, or is currently implementing, several contracts in Iraq with the WB, UNDP, the ILO and several international organizations and bi-lateral funding agencies.

WUSC is a leading Canadian international development organization that works with and through its southern partners to promote sustainable development. Founded in 1957 and currently working in 22 countries worldwide with an annual budget of approximately $45 million dollars, WUSC’s mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training. WUSC’s internationally recognized programs support youth, women, and other marginalized populations, focusing on three thematic areas of education, employment, and empowerment. Globally, WUSC works with a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders.

CLIC and its consortium partner, WUSC, are implementing the Training and Workplace Advancement Solutions for Opportunities in the Labour Force (TAWASOL) project in Iraq. TAWASOL, a project funded by Global Affairs Canada, aims to enhance economic empowerment for female and male youth in Iraq through establishing more inclusive employment environments enabling youth to make the transition from training to employment, and increasing more equitable participation of male and female youth graduates in the workforce. The TAWASOL project will be implemented over a period of five years, from April 2023 to March 2028 in four locations in Iraq (Baghdad, Basra, Najaf, and Mosul).

CLIC is seeking to recruit a Project Manager based in Baghdad to manage and implement the TAWASOL project, in partnership with WUSC. The Project Manager will be responsible for the effective delivery of the project under the guidance of the WUSC Country Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Project Manager will be responsible for implementing the project in Iraq. She/he shall ensure the coordination and implementation of all project activities, as well as managing the project team. Together with the Country Director, the Project Manager will represent the Project in dealings with different agencies and organizations and ensure linkages and synergies between the Project and other relevant initiatives in the country. The Project Manager will be the main point of contact for the Project’s implementing partners and national volunteers. The Project manager is responsible for developing a solid network of partners – from public and private sectors, and civil society – to achieve the Project’s objectives. The Project Manager may count on the support of the project team as well as colleagues in Canada for technical support, financial management, training, sectoral analyses, and monitoring and evaluation.

More specifically, the Project manager will be responsible for the following:

 Project Management & Coordination

• In collaboration with the Country Director and team members, design and implement the Project activities in a coherent and effective manner in relation to the country’s priorities and regional priorities.
• Develop work plans, annual budgets, and annual reports for the Project.
• Oversee day-to-day coordination, planning, delivery, and monitoring of project activities in conjunction with staff, technical advisors, consultants, volunteers, and partners.
• Participate in studies, analysis, and strategic planning for the implementation of the Project, taking a systems approach.
• Manage the Project in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Project and by CLIC and WUSC, in line with donor policies.
• In collaboration with the Country Director, represent the Project on behalf of WUSC and CLIC in dealings with governmental agencies, the Canadian government (Embassy, Global Affairs Canada), other relevant funders and strategic partners.
• With the support of the Gender Equality Manager, integrate and ensure the integration of Gender Equality concerns in all Project activities; organize and roll out training sessions for staff and partners, as needed.
• With the support of the MERL Manager, integrate and ensure the integration of RBM in activity planning and reporting of results; organize training for staff and partners, as needed.
• Regularly monitor progress towards results, ensuring appropriate course correction and iterative management.
• Ensure collaboration between program and MERL teams for effective monitoring and reporting of results.
• Ensure and facilitate learning and knowledge sharing among the team, with partners and stakeholders, with the donor, and with WUSC and CLIC colleagues in Canada and Iraq.

Partner Relations and Communications

• Establish and maintain effective relationships between key project partners
• Work closely with the Country Director, develop and maintain robust relationships with project stakeholders, including relevant governments, private sector, academic institutions, consultants and civil society organizations.
• Ensure the delivery of the Project’s expected results in-country by establishing agreements with partners and through planning, activities monitoring and results reporting.
• Work with the Project Finance Manager to ensure partner budgets are developed, monitored, and reconciled in a timely manner.
• Communicate effectively with partners to ensure joint expectations are clear, and that targets and objectives are set in a participatory manner.
• Be proactive and strategic in managing partnerships, conflict resolution and inculcating a culture of inclusion and gender equality.
• Ensure partners receive any capacity strengthening, coaching or support needed to implement their activities and effectively carry out their roles.

Human Resource Management

• Ensure personnel management in the country, by participating in recruitment, training, and performance reviews, in accordance with current policies and practices.
• Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of project staff that report to the Project manager, as well as volunteers and consultants.
• In coordination with the Country Director, oversee human resources management issues and work to maintain a fair, collegial, and supportive atmosphere in the workplace and professional relationships between the team members.
• Ensure that the emergency and security procedures established by WUSC and CLIC with respect to volunteers and Project personnel are implemented, updated, and enforced.
• Meet annual targets of number of national volunteers and expected person-days, participate in the recruitment of national volunteers, and implement procedures to support volunteers on their arrival and over the duration of their mandates. Ensure all logistics for volunteer placements are secured and managed with the support of the country operations staff.
• Organize appropriate onboarding and training/orientation sessions for new team members and national volunteers, taking into account the specifics of each role.

Financial and Office Management

• In close collaboration with the Project Finance manager, produce budget forecasts and ensure budget monitoring.
• In collaboration with the Project Finance Manager, plan and manage financial and material resources in accordance with Project plans and organizational and donor guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Authorize Project expenditures and approve the required financial reports, according to the organization levels of authority.
• Ensure that the project complies with relevant local taxation, banking controls, and labour laws.
• Facilitate coordination between finance/admin and program staff for effective tracking and monitoring of activities and expenditures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• An advanced university degree in a relevant discipline (international development, economic development, business development or development studies) or equivalent years of professional experience.

 Experience & Competencies

 Required:

• 5 – 8 years of experience in managing development cooperation programs.
• A minimum of two years of experience in coordinating intercultural teams.
• Experience in capacity building, training, and coaching.
• Experience in personnel management.
• Experience in budget development and budget management.
• Experience in project development and project management.
• Work experience in an intercultural context.
• Excellent communications and representation skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Highly Desirable:

• Knowledge and experience working with training and educational institutions in Iraq, such as vocational training centers and technical universities.
• Knowledge and experience working with government ministries in Iraq, specifically Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Higher Education.
• Proven experience engaging a variety of stakeholders in development programming, including training and educational institutions, private sector, government organizations, and civil society.
• Knowledge of national development strategies, particularly in relation to the economic sector, businesses, entrepreneurship, employability, and vocational and technical training.
• Knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship and employment ecosystem support, particularly with a gender lens.
• Proficiency with information technologies and computer skills (Word, Excel, the Internet, etc.) and familiarity with Google Drive and Gmail an asset.
• Knowledge of the economic development sector.
• Adherence to the Gender Equality approach and the values of social inclusion.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Management.
• Curious, enthusiastic, and willing to innovate and adapt.

 Languages

• Complete fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is required.