Shared Future Project Director, Iraq

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS Iraq is supporting conflict-affected people to live in dignity through the provision of critical relief items, upgrades to shelter conditions and improved access to water and sanitation facilities, educational and psychosocial (PSS) support for children, and livelihoods support. Enabling Durable Solutions for a Cohesive and Diverse Ninewa Plains, or by its shorter name Shared Future, is a 2.25-year project launched in June 2018, to support families returning to the Ninewa Plains with durable returns, after years of displacement caused by the rise and fall of the Islamic State (IS).

Through Shared Future Phase 1, CRS Iraq established youth livelihoods programming as well as its social cohesion program, which seeks to build mutual understanding, tolerance, and trust among religious and ethnic groups in Iraq, specifically among youth and community and religious leaders. The project is expected to continue at an expanded scale for an additional three years as part of Phase II.

Job Summary: 

As Project Director, you will provide overall leadership, management, and technical oversight of the USAID-funded Shared Future project, with responsibility for the quality of programmatic implementation (including monitoring, evaluation, and learning) and administrative elements of the project. You are responsible for ensuring that project results are achieved on time and on budget, including strategies for scale-up, phase out, and sustainability. The Shared Future project—implemented by a consortium of CRS, Caritas Iraq, YouthBuild International, and Iraqi Al-Amal Association—seeks to reduce the key barriers to return in the Ninewa Plains of Iraq through social cohesion and livelihoods interventions.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of the USAID-funded Shared Future project throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, scale-up, implementation, and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, USAID guidelines, and industry best practices. Serve as the primary point of contact to USAID, as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability. Ensure coordination between program and operations staff. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise Shared Future project team consisting of 10-15 staff. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and recruitment process of senior staff
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources. Ensure compliance with the USAID cooperative agreement, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to USAID.
• Coordinate with MEAL team to oversee the design and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system, using appropriate forms, procedures, and tools for data collection and analysis as the basis for measuring, documenting and reporting outcomes.
• Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Contribute to coordination of roles and activities of staff from consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
• Lead the development of program learning, including opportunities for research and publications for Shared Future. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in social cohesion and livelihoods programming for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the timely preparation of high-quality donor reports, quarterly performance indicator tracking tables, baseline and final evaluation reports, as well as other reports as needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or headquarters.
• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures. Serve as a liaison with media, as appropriate.

Required Languages – Fluent English is required; Arabic is a plus.

Travel – The position is based in Erbil, with 30% travel to project sites in Iraq, primarily in Ninewa governorate. Regional and international travel for training, as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Experience engaging with partner organizations and managing consortiums.
• Proven leadership and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams
• Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages
• Ability to work systematically to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments
• Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail oriented
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated strength in relationship management
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Supervisory Responsibilities: Peacebuilding Program Manager (international), MEAL Program Manager (international), Livelihoods Advisor (national), Communications Officer (national)

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Head of Programming; MEAL Program Manager, Senior Project Officer and Project Officers; Social Cohesion Program Manager; Livelihoods Program Manager; Procurement and Finance staff

External: Project partners including Caritas Iraq, YouthBuild International, and Iraqi Al-Amal Association; other operational partners and colleague organizations; local government; UN agencies and relevant sector leads

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of peacebuilding, livelihoods, or youth development required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Proven track record of successful program management, including management of multi-activity/multi-partners projects. At least 2 years of experience managing USAID funded programs strongly preferred.
• At least 3 years of supervisory experience, including performance evaluation, coaching and mentoring.
• MEAL skills and experience required
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience inrelevant field-based project management experience required, with at least 1 year working in the context of Iraq strongly desired.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of CRS Partnership strategy and Partner management experience an advantage.
• Prior experience working in Europe/Middle East/Central Asia (EMECA) region, preferred.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Excellent knowledge and experience in budget management and project management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Publisher, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer