Back Programme Manager

The vision of Norwegian People's Aid is Solidarity in Action. We are a politically independent membership-based organisation working in Norway and in more than 30 countries around the world. Founded in 1939 as the labour movement’s humanitarian solidarity organisation, NPA aims to improve people’s living conditions and to create societies that are more just and more democratic. NPA’s international work covers three core areas: Mine Action and Disarmament; Democratisation and Just distribution of power and resources; and Humanitarian Action and Crises response. In Iraq, NPA has activities in all areas.

The position is based under the NPA Department for Development and Humanitarian Cooperation (DHC).

Are you an experienced programme manager that would like to lead our professional and committed national programme team, working in a highly complex but rewarding environment? NPA has been working in Iraq since 1995. Currently, the DHC programme runs projects with total annual budget of 50 million Norwegian kroner. NPA Iraq has a wide range of partners within Sexual and Gender based Violence (SGBV) and Civil Society Development. The Iraq programme is also an implementer of mine action activities, including survey and clearance of Explosive Ordnance (EO). Our key donors include Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Swedish International Development Agency, and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Duty station: Erbil, Iraq

Your main responsibilities will be:

• To promote a leadership culture and team work within the programme team, based on equality and mutual respect, reflecting NPA’s global vision of Solidarity in Action.
• Lead and manage all programme personnel under the DHC Iraq Programme.
• Responsible for the overall strategic guidance and oversight, quality control, development, monitoring and management of all DHC Projects and Programmes in Iraq, in line with NPA’s overall strategies, plans and policies based on authorisation from the CD.
• Responsible for overall budget and technical management for the programme.
• Ensure coordination of democracy and human rights, protection and humanitarian relief activities of NPA programmes and with all relevant stakeholders.
• Under the overall guidance of the CD and as part of the Management Team, ensure adequate risk management in NPA Iraq and all activities.
• Build skills and capacity within programmes, both with the national staff and partners.

To be succesfull in this role you must have:

• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to achieve results, build team and work with local partners.
• Relevant higher education.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a successful Programme Manager, with documented good results.
• Minimum 5 years international experience/field experience, preferably working in the Middle East or similar contexts.
• Experience with partnership cooperation with civil society organisations and strengthening their capacity.
• Strong grant management and compliance experience and experience managing multi-year and multi-donor programmes.
• Experience in fundraising and programme development.
• Ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of the conflict, the human rights situation and the political environment.
• Experience with capacity building of staff.
• Written and verbal proficiency in English.

We consider it an advantage if you also have:

• Driving Licence
• Knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurdish

In this position, the following personal qualifications are required:
We seek a self-driven person with integrity and a strong and capable leader with the ability to organize and lead through others. The person needs to have good communication and interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate across departments and programmes. We are seeking a person with ability to work under pressure, who remains calm and flexible to handle changing and competing priorities and is able to solve problems.

Preferred starting date: As soon as possible

Before you apply: We kindly ask you to carefully read NPA’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, and Anti-Corruption Policy before you submit your application. If you are the selected candidate for this position, you will be asked to complete and sign a Safeguarding self-declaration as well as our Code of Conduct.

In return we offer: A position in the labour movement's global humanitarian solidarity organisation. NPA strives for diversity and gender equality, and encourages candidates of all nationalities, backgrounds and gender to apply. We strive to provide an inclusive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported. In addition, we are aiming to reduce our environmental impact in all our interventions. We offer a salary package which includes country specific allowances, and a comprehensive insurance scheme. We offer five weeks annual holiday plus one additional week off for expats. NPA provides three international flights home per contract year. We offer a one year contract with the possibility of renewal. Iraq is R&R duty station. Validity of a potential offer and contract depends on satisfactory medical certificate.
* Please note that salary and allowances are subject to income tax according to NPA’s Tax Policy.
** Terms for annual leave follow the Norwegian Annual Holidays Act
*** Terms apply according to NPA’s internal regulations