Program Officer – MYRP/Tazeez Program

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action – helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work. Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of refugees and displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq current goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crisis. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict- affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society.

Program / Department Summary

The “Tazeez” Program (Enhancing Education for a New Generation) is a five-year program funded by Education Cannot Wait’s Multi-Year Resilience Programs (MYRP), where Mercy Corps will lead a consortium of two international NGOs (Mercy Corps and Save the Children) and two Iraqi NGOs (Public Aid Organization and Iraqi Alliance of Disability Organization). The aim of the consortium is to work through community structures to increase access to, and retention in, quality education and enhance protective and safe learning environments for all children. The target population for this program will be supported through an integrated mechanism that ensures safe access to inclusive education for pre-primary, primary, and secondary level learners, with the provision of inclusive and gender responsive teaching and learning materials, capable and skilled teachers, and by establishing enhanced community-based and institutional system efficiency in school governance, education continuity and quality.

The consortium partners are geographically spread in response to different needs, considering their specialized expertise and interventions. The program activities will be implemented in four governorates: Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Kirkuk and Ninewa.

General Position Summary

The Program Officer will work under the supervision of the Consortium Manager to provide leadership, technical oversight, and management support in implementing activities under Mercy Corps’ five-year MYRP (Multi-Year Resilience Program). The program aims to enable out-of-school IDPs, returnees, and vulnerable host community youth to access education through direct assistance.

The Program Officer will coordinate closely with parents, school administrators, and Ministry of Education officials to ensure effective service delivery. They will also collaborate with partners to monitor progress by conducting regular site visits.

The Program Officer will ensure high performance and quality in Mercy Corps’ education programs, adhering strictly to Mercy Corps’ internal policies, procedures, and donor regulations. Additionally, the role includes representing Mercy Corps to government entities, partners, other implementers, and external stakeholders to build relationships and promote program objectives where necessary.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

1. Program Implementation
o Collaborate with the Consortium Manager to ensure the successful implementation of program activities.
o Ensure program objectives and deadlines are tracked and met, working closely with program, finance, and administrative staff to ensure compliance with donor regulations and Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures.
o The Officer will also be responsible for raising and tracking Purchase Requests and processing payments related to programmatic activities, ensuring smooth and efficient operational support for program implementation.
2. Government and Stakeholder Engagement
o Maintain regular follow-ups with relevant government officials in target locations, including the Directorate of Education, Provincial Council, and local mayors.
o Ability to translate official documents and communications to and from English and Arabic.
3. Workshops and Meetings
o Organize workshops and meetings, including participant invitations, venue arrangements, and provision of materials such as stationery and refreshments.
4. Team Coordination
o Work in coordination with support departments and partners to align efforts.
5. Monitoring, Documentation, and Reporting
o Ensure proper documentation of all activities, including meeting minutes, photos, case studies, and progress reports. Adhering strictly to the record retention minimum standards.
o Pro-actively collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to implement robust monitoring processes and evaluate program outcomes.
o Review monthly progress reports to the Consortium Manager and assist with bi-annual and annual narrative reports, as well as prepare additional reports, presentations, and statistical data as required.
6. Accountability and Compliance
o Guarantee program activities adhere to accountability commitments for beneficiary communities, donors, and other key stakeholders.
o Follow all security and operational protocols to ensure safe, community-responsive, and high-quality program implementation aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles and strategic goals.
7. Professional Conduct
o Represent Mercy Corps professionally and uphold its humanitarian mission.
o Perform additional tasks as directed by the supervisor.

Accountability / Reporting

The Program Officer will uphold Mercy Corps’ commitment to accountability, ensuring compliance with international standards and actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of field projects. They will ensure adherence to internal control procedures and implement necessary measures to maintain high standards of accountability and compliance. Findings from endline surveys, evaluations, and audits will be utilized to refine and improve program delivery. The Program Officer will also ensure the production of high-quality reports for internal, donor, partner, and
external stakeholders, meeting all required standards. The Program Officer will ensure compliance with security policies and procedures as established by country leadership. They will proactively create a secure working environment for team members, ensuring awareness of and adherence to relevant security protocols.

Organizational Learning

In line with our dedication to fostering continuous organizational growth and recognizing the enhanced effectiveness, efficiency, and community relevance that learning-oriented entities exhibit, we anticipate all team members to allocate 5% of their working hours to engage in learning initiatives that both enrich Mercy Corps and contribute to their personal development.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability: Accountable to position description, MC HR Manual

Reports Directly To: MYRP Consortium Manager

Works Directly With:
• Consortium Partners: Collaborate on joint planning, implementation, and monitoring activities.
• Program Support Counterparts: Coordinate with program performance and quality teams, finance, operations, and human resources to ensure seamless program implementation.
• Consortium Manager: Work closely for strategic guidance, reporting, and program oversight.
• Engineer: Collaborate with Engineer in direct program implementation.
• Operations Team: Ensure alignment with logistics, procurement, and operational protocols.
External Contacts: Ministry of Education, Partner NGOs, Donors, and local communities.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills
Knowledge and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• At least 2 years of experience working with an international NGO; experience in education programs is strongly preferred.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (reading, writing, and speaking) is required.
• Proficiency in Kurdish is a plus. Strong problem-solving abilities with effective listening, negotiation, and representation skills. Proven ability to work collaboratively with ethnically diverse staff in sensitive and challenging environments.
• Dynamic relationship builder with effective communication skills adaptable to various stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in education, psychosocial support (PSS), and protection programs is preferred.
• High proficiency in computer and internet use, including Microsoft Office Suite.

• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and prioritization abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Exceptional writing and reporting skills.
• Dedicated to supporting vulnerable groups irrespective of race, religion, or gender.

Success Factors

The successful Program Officer will combine strong time management skills with the ability to maintain effective relationships with donors, government officials, and partners. They will excel in leading and communicating with team members of diverse work styles, ensuring clarity and collaboration across all program components. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential, including the ability to translate formal governmental letters, draft internal and external reports, and maintain regular updates. Flexibility, creativity in problem-solving, and a proactive approach to learning and taking initiative are critical to achieving program goals. The Program Officer must balance a clear understanding of the program’s larger vision with meticulous attention to detail, demonstrating conscientiousness and sound judgment in decision-making. Success in this role also requires a strong commitment to teamwork, adaptability in dynamic environments, and the ability to foster inclusivity while working with diverse groups. Understanding the long-term implications of development work and prioritizing effective communication in all situations are hallmarks of the most successful Mercy Corps staff members.

Organizational Learning As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Participants Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

Successful candidates should meet the education and experience requirements in the position descriptions for the vacant positions. S/he must be self- motivated, creative, tolerant, and able to work in difficult, stressful environments and follow Mercy Corps procedures. S/he must respect diversity and gender equality at the workplace.

Interested candidates should apply before the deadline indicated below on the below Link:

Apply Here

ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY December 19^th , 2024

Potential candidates for the post will be contacted for an interview and processed according to Mercy Corps Human Resources policies and procedures. As soon as qualified candidates are identified the positions will be closed automatically. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview.

Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. Females are highly encouraged to apply.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.

Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers. Mercy Corps Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.