Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact. Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of internally displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq’s goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crises. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society. Mercy Corps is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead implementation of the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Iraq Civic Engagement Activity (ICEA). The proposed program will fostering a more politically engaged citizenry in Iraq, enhancing trust and participation in the country's democratic processes. This activity seeks to elevate civic literacy, empower citizens to actively engage and contribute to discussions on issues of concern. Equipping citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in the democratic processes. This includes fostering awareness of governmental processes, promoting access to accurate media content, facilitating increased engagement with government entities at various levels, and empowering citizens to participate in public life. The expected result is a more resilient and participatory democracy in Iraq, with a particular emphasis on empowering marginalized groups. The Position The COP will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic vision for the implementation of the anticipated Activity, ensuring that the program meets its targets and deliverables on time and within budget. The COP will supervise all program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies as well as all donor rules and regulations. The COP will be the primary representative for the program with stakeholders including USAID, government entities, and all other partners. Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND VISION

Provide overall technical and administrative leadership and expertise. Responsible for administering and managing the implementation of the activity and has the overall responsibility for assuring that all assistance provided is technically sound and appropriate to meet activity objectives. Lead the development of a vision and strategy for the program shared with the program team and key stakeholders. Play an active role in identifying and developing new initiatives that foster and/or improve strategic objectives of the program and the country office. Integrate and embrace all voices into shared strategies for inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. Prioritize collaborative design and adapative management with Iraqi partners and stakeholders, for a locally led program vision that empowers Iraqi organizations and leaders. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT Oversee program management and administration for the duration of ICEA. Ensure implementation is on time, target, and budget, using effective M&E systems to assess impact. Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan. Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee capacity building for partners. Integrate locally-driven approaches, gender sensitivity, and capacity strengthening and sharing into all activities, as appropriate. Certify that all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards. Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice for systems thinking, resilience, peacebuilding, and governance approaches. Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities. Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide. TEAM MANAGEMENT Oversee recruitment and onboarding of Activity staff and consultants. Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of staff roles, and assist with career development. Provide team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance and reach objectives. Promote staff accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews. Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

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