Program Assistant/Senior Program Assistant

National Democratic Institute in Iraq

Job Description & Vacancy

Announcement: July 2024

Program: Women’s Advisory Boards II

Job Title: Program Assistant/Senior Program Assistant

Reports to: Resident Senior Program Manager

Duty Station: Baghdad, Iraq

Application Deadline: July.30.2024 (applications reviewed on rolling basis)

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) seeks a Program Assistant (PA)/Senior Program Assistant (SPA) to support a multi-year program to
enhance the voice and agency of women activists in five Iraqi provinces.

The PA/SPA will assist with events including workshops and trainings, and support oversight of subgrant partners, among other responsibilities. Relevant professional experience with provincial-level governance structures, civic activism or political organizing is expected. The PA/SPA will be based in Baghdad, Iraq, and will report to the Resident Senior Program Manager. Arabic fluency is required and travel to provinces outside Baghdad is expected, when permitted by security.

The PA/SPA’s responsibilities, as defined by his/her managers, could include, but are not limited to:

• Support implementation of NDI program activities;

• Facilitate regular communication between NDI management and program partners in the five provinces for the purposes of activity preparation and follow-up;

• Establish and maintain relationships with provincial-level government officials, and other local stakeholders;

• In coordination with the Administration and Finance Team, arrange logistics for NDI activities throughout Iraq, such as workshops, conferences, meetings, and other events. This could include communicating with participants, coordinating participant travel, arranging activity venues and accommodations, preparing supplies and printed materials, paying vendors, preparing cash advances and reconciling expenditures, among other tasks;

• Provide written translation and oral interpretation for Arabic-English and English-Arabic.

• Contribute to reports following trainings, activities and consultations;

• Assist with basic monitoring and evaluation data-entry efforts to track program activities, in line with NDI’s performance monitoring framework;

• Keep up with news developments in the project’s provinces and assist in preparation of news updates; and

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Resident Senior Program Manager, or other managers, even outside traditional working hours.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Minimum two-year of experience for PA (or four-years of experience for SPA) in a similar role with international organizations or civil society organizations;

• Bachelor’s degree required, with degree in social sciences fields preferred;

• Knowledge of provincial- and/or district-level governance structures is highly desired, particularly in the southern provinces of Iraq.

• Strong written and oral communication/translation/interpretation skills in Arabic and English are required;

• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively interact with all levels of staff, international personnel and consultants, political actors, and NGO community;

• Demonstrated capacity to think and write critically about politics and NDI’s program areas;

• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team;

• Working knowledge of Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive, and G+), and PC-based word processing and spreadsheet applications;

• Willingness to work beyond usual working hours, when necessary; and

• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, security situation permitting.

Applications:

Suitable and qualified candidates are requested to send a CV and cover letter in English, stating qualifications and previous professional experience, to the following
email address: [email protected], with the subject line (Ref: PA/SPA), Baghdad). Your CV and cover letter should demonstrate your interest and qualifications for this position.

Deadline for submission of applications is close-of-business on July.30.2024, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.