Operations Director - Baghdad, Iraq

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In a 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.

Program/Department Summary

Mercy Corps seeks an experienced, skilled, and visionary Director of Operations to manage and further develop the Mercy Corps Operations team and department and contribute to implementing MC Iraq program activities and strategies.

Mercy Corps Iraq worked across Iraq's 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on refugees and displaced persons' specific needs. The country is in the midst of a transition from humanitarian to longer-term development programming. Mercy Corps Iraq's 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 amid increasing crises. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) livelihoods programs to address the needs of conflict-affected communities and communities in general for sustainable development and dignified living (2) social cohesion programs by assisting and enabling communities to strengthen their resilience against conflict, civil society development, foster peaceful existence and enhance mutual trust and cooperation within communities and towards Iraqi decision-makers. (3) education programs focusing on youth and provision of adequate education; partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society; and (4) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs.

General Position Summary

The Operations Director is a member of the country's senior management team (SMT) and is responsible for ensuring operation functions support the country's strategy and programs' advancement. The Operations Director is responsible for developing an operations strategy while providing oversight for the Procurement, Logistics, Assets, Fleet, Warehousing, and IT. They ensure compliance with donor regulations and Mercy Corps' internal policies and procedures and update local manuals and policies. The Operations Director builds the capacity of the operations team members across the MCIQ offices. They provide support and advise the Country Director on operational issues. The Operations Director works closely with the rest of the SMT members and the Program Leadership Team (PLT) to ensure the efficiency and integrity of operation functions is maintained by promoting inclusive consultative and decision-making processes.

Essential Job Functions

STRATEGY AND VISION

• Articulate and lead the operations department's strategic direction, considering the MCIQ country strategy and strategic direction of MCIQ programmatic sectors.
• Contribute to the country's strategic planning process and provide regular updates.
• Organize Operations department to ensure its agility and adaptability to changing circumstances and MCIQ programming.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COORDINATION

· Supervise the functions of liaison with governmental departments.

· Enable and assist members of the program leadership team in outreach towards government representatives on local, regional, and central levels.

· Maintain productive relationships with the private sector, inclusive of vendors and suppliers.

· Work in close coordination with Country Director and MCIQ advisors to seek the necessary guidance to keep Mercy Corps policies and activities aligned to the Iraqi laws.

· Work closely with Global Procurement and Logistics (GPL) HQ department to ensure MCIQ's alignment to agency rules and regulations.

· Sets up internal processes for coordination between Operations and Programs teams, ensuring effective collaboration and timely implementation of procurements and logistical arrangements.

TEAM MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

· Develop the capacity of the operations team and assist with the continued development of a career path.

· Empower national staff members and contributes to the overall MCIQ nationalization strategy.

· Enhance cohesion and comradeship within the Operations department by creating an environment of trust and mutual respect among all team members.

· Work with all Mercy Corps staff to ensure a smooth introduction and adoption of operational systems and procedures.

OPERATION MANAGEMENT

· Responsible for the full and proper implementation of Mercy Corps systems of management, compliance, and control, as described in Mercy Corps field manuals featured in the Office in a Box.

· Work closely with Program Leadership Team to facilitate operations aspects of program planning and upcoming operations resources needs.

· Work closely with Program, Finance, and Grant & Compliance teams to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations.

· Work with the Ethics department and finance compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest, and legal aspects of Mercy Corps activities.

· Participate in management meetings and ensure close collaboration with Program and Finance Management across the Mercy Corps Iraq Country operations.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT – PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS

· Ensure quality, timely and accurate processing and procurement documentation described in the Field Procurement Manual (FP3) and according to in-country standard operating procedures (SOPs).

· Work with Procurement team towards full integration of online procurement platform (ProSource)

· Ensure procurement records systems are well managed and maintained.

· Ensure the warehouse procedures are followed as described in the Warehouse Policy and Procedures Guidelines.

· Ensure the establishment of a pipeline of supplies to Iraq overseeing the logistical aspects of the operation.

· Oversee the fleet management team and ensure that systems are in place to track maintenance schedules, fuel usage, and vehicle scheduling, as described in the Field Fleet Management Guidelines.

· Ensure tracking of all assets to ensure accurate record-keeping of Mercy Corps and donor assets, including exceptional items that require registration and movement tracking, per the Mercy Corps Asset Management Manual.

· Oversee customs clearing, equipment registration, licensing, and insurance.

· Oversee tender processes as required.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - ADMINISTRATION**

· Ensure Admin systems are implemented as described in the Field Administration Manual

· Oversee the set-up and development of the Mercy Corps office(s) to meet team members' needs. Review contracts for Office and housing space, leasehold improvements, IT.

· Continue the development or review of country or field office specific policies (phone policy, IT policy) and communicate new policies to all staff, ensuring full understanding and adherence to all policies.

· Oversee file management for administration, procurement, logistics resources documents.

· Oversee facility management, including housing and office leases. Ensure that security and safety standards are maintained at all premises with close coordination with Access and Security Team.

· Responsible for expatriate visa and work permits, if necessary.

· Supervise IT, System Administrator, to ensure IT systems functions as needed.

· Ensure that all Mercy Corps contracts and business transactions/relationships are transparent and comply with Iraq law and Mercy Corps/donor policies.

Supervisory Responsibility

Deputy Operations Director, Procurement Manager, Senior Operations Manager, Senior Liaison Manager.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Deputy Country Director, Ethics Manager, PAQ Director, Finance Director, Access and Security Manager, HR Manager, Program Leadership Team.

Collaborates With: All Mercy Corps Procurement, logistics, and operations team members as required.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

· BA/BS degree in a relevant field, Masters preferred

· A minimum of 5-7 field experience setting up and managing administration, procurement, logistics, and human resource systems with humanitarian or development NGOs with supervisory responsibilities.

· Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses with experience in the Middle East and insecure environments.

· Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines, and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.

· Demonstrated ability for multitasking and working in a high pace environment;

· Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures (esp. procurement systems) desirable;

· Knowledge of donor regulations, including USAID, EC, DFID regulations.

· Excellent organizational skills.

· Excellent negotiation and representation skills.

· Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization, and Microsoft Office applications.

· Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Arabic is a plus.

· Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

· Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will demonstrate critical problem-solving skills, multitasking, and the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. They will maintain strong collaborative relationships with other departments. The successful candidate will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial and training capacity and demonstrate the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and process information to support changing program activities. They will be able to organize the Operations department's work to be in a function of timely and effective implementation of MCIQ programs. They will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The successful candidate will show the desire to grow and learn by collaborating and working with a highly skilled and productive MCIQ team. They will face challenges with a smile and light-heartedness. They will be comfortable asking colleagues for help and stepping out of their role to assist others. The Mercy Corps team is one that emphasizes the value of joy and curiosity. The team enjoys a great sense of humor and comradeship.

Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Baghdad, Iraq, and is unaccompanied. Travel within Iraq is required to support all Mercy Corps Iraq's offices and programs. This position is eligible for R&R and hardship allowance. Living conditions are in-group housing: water, electricity and internet are present with some cuts.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

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. 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.

Apply here