Iraq: Project Development Officer

The Center for Victims of Torture is hiring a Project Development Officer to establish and oversee operations of a small, capacity-building project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This is a 12-month pilot project aimed at addressing the emotional and physical rehabilitation needs of Iraqi torture and war trauma survivors in collaboration with local service providers. This initial intervention will inform CVT’s future program development in both Kurdistan and greater Iraq. Working closely with project partners, the Officer will assess project needs and strengths, support the development of joint capacity-building plans, provide ongoing support to achieve benchmarks set forth in those plans, and identify opportunities for additional collaboration, expansion and impact.

Reporting relationship: International Services Program Manager

Start date: September 2016

Agreement duration: 1 year – may be renewable pending project needs and funding

Post conditions: Unaccompanied post

Organization:

The Center for Victims of Torture works toward a future in which torture ceases to exist and its victims have hope for a new life. We are an international nonprofit dedicated to healing survivors of torture. We provide direct care for those who have been tortured, train partners around the world who can prevent and treat torture, and advocate for human rights and an end to torture. We are headquartered in Minnesota, USA with offices in Africa and the Middle East.**Responsibilities:** Project Development

· Manage the start-up and implementation phases of project operations in Iraq.

· Analyze needs and opportunities in Iraq on an ongoing basis, and make recommendations for adjustments in project design, strategy and expansion.

· Cultivate potential funding and partnership opportunities consistent with organization’s vision and mandate in Iraq.

· Coordinate the in-country training team consisting of 3 technical experts, ensuring regular check-ins on project progress, needs and activities.

· Provide administrative and programmatic support to the training team in developing, drafting, formatting and implementing capacity-building needs assessments.

· Support planning and logistics for training activities, including regional exchange visits.

· Ensure that internal and external deadlines for data collection, reporting and information-sharing are met.

· Prepare timely, high quality reports on project activities and progress toward objectives that are consistent with donor standards and requirements.

· Make frequent site visits to conduct assessments and monitor the impact and viability of project design and objectives.

· Take direction from, provide feedback to, and communicate regularly with Headquarters-based Program Manager.
Communications & Networking

· Establish, develop and leverage a diverse network of reliable sources to obtain credible and real-time information on IDP movements, needs and services as it applies to project activities.

· Engage in discussions with partner organizations and prospective partner organizations in order to identify joint opportunities for collaboration in support of CVT’s strategy in Iraq

· Work closely with government authorities to ensure productive relationships and to obtain required permissions to implement project activities.
Risk Management

· Serve as key risk management contact in Iraq, updating headquarters on local developments and ensuring local team members understand protocols and policies related to health, safety and security.

· Liaise regularly with available sources of risk management information, including local organizations and their appropriate staff.

· Participate in regular health, safety and security activities and briefings within the (I)NGO, diplomatic and UN communities.

· In collaboration with a representative from Headquarters or a security consultant, conduct risk assessments in operational sites and other potential sites in Iraq.

· Serve as the focal point for all safety and security-related telecommunications systems, including SMS incident notifications, satellite phone oversight, global phone monitoring and emergency mobile credit distribution

· Recommend changes in country and regional safety and security plans to Program Manager, as needed.
Other Duties: Participate in other project and regional activities, meetings and trainings. Complete administrative responsibilities. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations

· Bachelor’s degree in development, program management or related field.

· At least 2 years of experience working in international project development or implementation.

· At least 3 years of experience working in a project management, public health, or logistics capacity.

Preferred education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations

· Master’s degree in international development, program management or related field.

· 2 years of experience working in international project development in high risk settings.

· 3 years of experience in project management, public health, or logistics capacity in an emergency response or humanitarian effort.

· Experience working in the Middle East region.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

· Written and spoken fluency in English is required. Proficiency in Arabic or Kurdish is highly desirable.

· Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian and human rights principles.

· Demonstrated experience sensitively building trust with local communities and partners.

· Experience with mental health or psychosocial programming preferred but not required.

· Strong analytical skills and sound judgment, with the ability to synthesize diverse and complex information from a wide range of sources, and to develop clear and actionable recommendations based on that information.

· Demonstrated ability to assess and create viable project frameworks in fluid or rapidly evolving contexts.

· Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements, client or staff needs and security climate.

· Demonstrated ability to plan strategically, problem-solve creatively and mitigate risks effectively to ensure successful project implementation.

· Demonstrated success in collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams in multi-cultural settings.

· Political, culture and gender awareness in the context of the Middle East.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and diplomacy skills.

· Ability to travel between 3-15 hours per week by vehicle to partner locations. span

Submit resume, cover letter and salary expectations to http://cvt.simplicant.com/