Job Description
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Apply by: 3 February 2018
Start date: Late February 2018
End date: July 2020
About the Project
The British Council is managing a €4.85m 3 year contract which commenced October 2017 to enhance understanding of faith and local custom’s relationship to peace building. The project specifically targets young men and women and IDPs to understand their opinions, perceptions and ideas on the subject and create the opportunity for their voice to be heard with Iraqi and international policy and decision makers.
Through mainly a debate model but also tailored technical assistance, the project will aim to achieve two main objectives:
- To facilitate better understanding and appreciation of perspectives between and amongst young people and community groups, on faith and religion’s relationship to peace building
- To increase evidence and knowledge sharing to inform policy development and decision-making
The main activities consist of research, conflict sensitivity analysis and gender analysis leading to the development of debate models to discuss sensitive subjects in safe spaces and for different audiences; and tailored capacity building to support targeted engagement with policy and decision-makers, and the development of a digital platform for sector learning.
About the Role
We are seeking a Team Leader with significant international consultancy or related experience in leading, managing and reporting on major programmes in conflict management and/or social development sectors, with professional experience working in sensitive political contexts.
The Team Leader will be required to:
- Provide overall strategic direction to the project in close liaison with the British Council, the client, Project Steering Committee and Advisory Group.
- Oversee the recruitment and performance management of project staff and consultants (both short and long term).
- Lead and coordinate the design, preparation, implementation, quality assurance, monitoring and reporting (both technical and financial reports) of all project activities.
- Lead the development of: A theory of change analysis, Conflict Sensitivity/Political Economic Analysis, Participatory Action Research, Gender Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy and a Visibility and Communications Strategy.
- Accountable for the project finances to ensure financial planning support and delivery of project results and value-for-money.
- Develop and manage a risk strategy ensuring this adequately protects the interests of the British Council/its clients and partners; adopting a ‘Do No Harm’ approach for participants, as well as optimising performance.
- Ensure the project meets all relevant internal and external compliance and client requirements (financial, HR, quality management, regulatory, security, etc).
- Lead on the engagement and relationship management with key project stakeholders, both locally and internationally.
- Ensuring effective skills transfer and capacity building through mentoring and coaching of local counterparts by all project staff (both long and short term).
- Ensure the capture and documentation of lessons/stories/case-studies as part of the broader communication, publicity and visibility effort.
Qualification and experience required
Essential:
- Iraqi citizenship, currently residing in Iraq or willing to relocate. Please note that there are no relocation costs associated with this consultancy opportunity
- Excellent written (especially technical reporting) and spoken Arabic and English
- A university degree
- Significant international consultancy or related experience in leadership roles on internationally funded contracts (DFID, EC, World Bank, etc) in social development, peace-building and/or conflict management programmes, with elements of project and financial management, contracting and partnering, and team working.
- Approximately five years’ experience of development cooperation, understanding the challenges at policy and implementation levels
- Knowledge of religious discourse in Iraq and the region
- Understanding of the current social and political landscape in Iraq
- Understanding of principles of state-building in fragile and post-conflict environments
- Excellent social and interpersonal skills in negotiation, leading on consultations with a variety of stakeholders, including community based institutions and civil society organisations, demonstrating inclusiveness and active listening approaches.
- High level of integrity and accountability, commitment to working with peer-reviews
- Ability to work autonomously and in a solution-oriented way.
Desirable:
- Professional experience in Iraq and/or Middle East North Africa region
- Internationally-recognised certification in project management.
How to apply
To apply for this role, please send:
- CV tailored to the profile of this position
- two references
- a covering letter/e-mail demonstrating how you meet the criteria and competences required and what has attracted you to apply
to iraqjobs@britishcouncil.org with the subject line ‘Team Leader: Faith and Development’.
