MAG recruits a Country Director – Iraq
Permanent
The starting salary package for this position is £67,696 GBP / approx. $83,998 USD including all allowances
About the Iraq programme:
Following decades of conflict, Iraq is heavily contaminated with landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO). The recent regional crisis has added to the scale of this problem. MAG has been working in Iraq since 1992 and has expanded into new areas over the last few years. We currently have approximately 900 national staff and 100 teams operating in 7 areas across Northern Iraq, in both the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and Federal Iraq. By clearing hazardous areas, MAG has enabled new schools, roads and hospitals to be built, opened up vital trade routes and allowed communities to use their farming land in safety, giving them greater food security and an escape from poverty. Our work over the last 4 years in particular has supported the surveying and clearance of contaminated land, as well as delivering life-saving risk education for those who have fled the violence and are now seeking to return. The HQ office for the programme is in Erbil, KRI, with 6 operational bases in various locations and a support office in Baghdad.
About the role:
Reporting to the Regional Director, you will be MAG’s most senior representative in Iraq, responsible for the effective integration of strategic, programmatic and operational management and the development of new business, in compliance with contractual obligations and MAG’s mission and mandate. You will have a wide variety of strategic responsibilities including contract management, donor liaison, business development, people management, security management, capacity building and risk management. This position is based in Erbil, with travel to MAG’s operational bases as and when required.
About you:
You will have extensive experience working overseas at a senior management level in large scale programmes in the protection and/or humanitarian field. This includes extensive experience of managing complex multi-million dollar projects across a wide donor base as well as developing new business. You will have experience in leading programmes in volatile security environments, monitoring and analysing security information, assessing threats and managing critical incidents. Excellent people management skills and the ability to manage support functions including HR, administration, logistics and finance are key for this role.
Finally, you will have demonstrable experience of working in complex political contexts while representing the organisation at the highest level with multiple local, national and international stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have the tact, diplomacy and tenacity needed to lead MAG’s largest programme. Previous experience in the mine action sector is desirable but not essential.
Benefits
MAG staff are rewarded with generous benefits:
- Salary: The total salary package for this position is £67,696 per annum including all allowances, and this increases with service.
- Accommodation: MAG will provide accommodation in-country.
- Leave: We recognise our staff work hard and need the appropriate time out to stay motivated. You will have a minimum of seven weeks out of the programme per year rising to eight with years of service.
- Flights: MAG provides three international flights home per year (for permanent contracts)/ MAG provides three international flights home per year pro rata if your contract is less than a year (for fixed-term contracts).
- Insurance: All international staff are automatically covered by MAG’s comprehensive insurance package including: Personal accident and medical expenses insurance; Death by natural causes insurance and access to 24-hour medical assistance including evacuation and repatriation
Please see the candidate information sheet in the application pack for further details on these benefits.
Please note that as part of MAG’s commitment to safeguarding, this post is subject to background checks before an offer of employment is confirmed.
MAG is committed to the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion. If you think you would be suited to one of our roles we would welcome your application regardless of your background. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential.