Job: Deputy Director for Operations

Location: Erbil, Iraq 
Description

The Deputy Director of Operations plays a key role in the leadership and management of IRC Iraq's program support departments, including Safety and Security, Human Resources, Administration & Supply Chain and Information Technology. He/she is responsible for ensuring quality program support services according to IRC principles and donor guidelines and that these services are completed in a timely manner and within budget.

Reporting to the Country Director and serving as member of the senior management team (SMT), the Deputy Director of Operations is expected to contribute to organizational strategic thinking, planning, and overall coordination efforts. This position has close working relations with the Deputy Directors of Programs, Finance Controller and Grants Manager as well as other program and region-based staff. This position will be based in Erbil with extensive travel to Dohuk, Baghdad and surrounding governorates.

Responsibilities:

Program Design

• Support the program staff in developing high-quality project proposals and budgets that include operational realities and requirements.
• Provide operational analysis and guidance to program expansion opportunities, including expansion to new regions, cities and programming sectors.

Human Resources

• Supervision of Sr. HR Manager.
• Verify that human resources policies and procedures are documented, disseminated and consistently applied across the country program. Ensure that compliance monitoring processes are developed and effectively implemented.
• Through collaboration with HR and program staff, ensure that each team is staffed appropriately according to need and funding availability. Ensure that IRC Iraq's staff recruitment is executed efficiently, through transparent, rigorous and soundly-justified procedures; and in compliance to national labor law and IRC policy.
• Work with the country and field offices to implement IRCconnect, staff training programs, and initiatives related to staff retention and nationalization strategies to maximize use of staff capacity and resources.
• Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures
• Provide support to the Sr. HR Manager in the roll out of IRC global HR initiatives.
• Ensure that the HR team is working in a harmonized manner and there is consistency among application of policy throughout all offices, and identify and implement mechanisms to ensure cooperation, communication and teamwork.
• Provide supportive guidance and supervision to the Field Coordinators in Baghdad and Erbil, Sr. HR Manager, and IT team . Discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.
• Clearly define the training needs of direct reports and ensure they are able to access training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Lead with commitment, integrity and accountability to the 'IRC Way' – Global Standards for Professional Conduct

Administration & Supply Chain

• Supervision of Field Coordinators in Baghdad and Erbil.
• Ensure regular review/update of IRC Iraq's remote management plan for all field sites as the context and programming changes and that all personnel are complying with the remote management policies.
• Verify that admin & supply chain policies and procedures are documented, disseminated and consistently applied across the country program. Verify that relevant donor supply chain and procurement policies are consistently applied. Ensure that compliance monitoring processes are developed and effectively implemented.
• Assist the Admin & Supply Chain staff in developing and managing appropriate coordination mechanisms to ensure that all operational units are interacting well with each other, at the Country Office, across different field sites and with the Regional Unit, GSC, and other support entities.
• Assist logistics staff in working effectively with other units to improve planning and resource utilization. Work with program staff to ensure procurement planning and identification of operational support needs.
• In collaboration with the Finance Controller and Deputy Directors of Programs, ensure systems are streamlined between HR, Admin & Supply Chain, Finance and Programs.
• Provide input to the Country Director on potential areas of concern related to operational spending and effectiveness of in-country reporting and planning systems.
• Ensure full proactive involvement of key processes with the finance department including budget versus actual report input and necessary information for operational budget accuracy.
• Provide support to the Field Coordinators to ensure all field offices are functioning transparently and in compliance with IRC Supply Chain guidelines and procedures.

Information Technology

• Verify that information technology policies and procedures are documented, disseminated and consistently applied across the country program. Ensure that compliance monitoring processes are developed and effectively implemented.
• Support the IT staff to provide effective IT services and support to the Country Office and across different field sites.

Safety and Security

• By delegation of the CD, exercise authority over safety and security in the field based on the IRC Global Security Policy (article 14).
• Manage all aspects of the management of safety and security for the IRC in Iraq, including ensuring that the program has current, adequate and effective security management plans on file and that the plan is revised regularly.
• Collaborate with the Deputy Director of Programs overseeing security of programs and then Regional Safety and Security Advisor in assessing country program safety and security requirements and monitor security conditions, advise/inform the CD, staff, the RSSA on security phase changes, response measures, procedures and contingency planning.
• With support from the Deputy Director of Programs overseeing security of programs, review all reports related to safety and security incidents and conducts analysis of all incidents.
• In collaboration with the HR/Admin department in country, ensure that all IRC personnel, dependants, IRC and non-IRC visitors receive an orientation on security from their respective Security Manager within the first 24 hours of arrival in the country program.

Coordination & Representation

• Serve as an active member of the country program's Senior Management Team and occasionally deputize for the Country Director when he/she is out of the country or on leave.
• Ensure proactive communication with the Regional Unit, NY and UK offices as appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Postgraduate degree in Business Management or relevant technical field preferred with a minimum of five years progressive management and leadership experience.
• Experience managing a large country team with a diverse portfolio; knowledge of major donors (including USAID/OFDA/PRM, ECHO/EC, DFID, UN Agencies).
• Strong finance background in budget development and analysis.
• Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills and a demonstrated ability to develop harmonious teams in cross cultural context.
• Strong diplomacy skills. Ability to establish good working relationships with partners, donors and other stakeholders in a sensitive environment.
• Experience in HR management, Logistics, IT and security is strongly preferred.
• Sense of humor, discretion, flexibility and patience.
• Iraq or regional experience is preferred.
• Arabic language skills preferred.

The position is based in Erbil with frequent travel to Baghdad and to field sites in central and northern Iraq, including Dohuk. Movement is restricted in Baghdad but not in Erbil; housing is shared with senior staff in Erbil and with all international staff in Baghdad.

More Info and Application