About MAG

MAG is a humanitarian organisation clearing the remnants of conflict for the benefit of communities worldwide. MAG is co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize and has been operating in Iraq since 1992. MAG has extensive experience and longevity in Iraq and delivers diverse programmes across emergency and development response projects, including support, training, and collaboration with national NGOs.

MAG’s Vision is a world in which everyone can live free from the enduring and devastating consequences of armed violence, conflict and their legacy.

People will live in communities where their rights are upheld, with dignity and choice and free from fear from mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and the impact of small arms and light weapons and ammunition.

MAG’s Mission is to save lives, ease suffering and enable sustainable development by limiting the causes and addressing the consequences of armed violence and conflict so people can live with dignity and choice, free from fear. We will use our core skills and distinctive competence to save lives through the removal of mines and ERW, and reduce the impact of small arms, light weapons and ammunition on people and communities. How we do this is as important as what we do – we work primarily with and for communities, for us ‘it’s all about people’.

MAG’s Values: Our values come to life through our actions, every day. How we act has an impact on others. As someone who works at MAG, you can help to create a positive culture by demonstrating our values through your own behaviour and actions. Everyone has a role to play in shaping our culture. Everyone should understand our values and is encouraged to think how they are relevant to their individual role.

• DETERMINED - we work with purpose.
• EXPERT - through excellence and expertise we build trust.
• INTEGRITY - we strive to do the right thing.
• COMPASSION - people come first in everything we do.
• INCLUSIVE - we are inclusive, and we value diversity.

Job Purpose:  

The Country HR and Safeguarding Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the Human Resources function in MAG Iraq, ensuring HR services are effectively delivered to support the programme’s current and future needs. The role focuses on ensuring HR systems, policies, and practices are aligned with MAG’s values, compliant with legal and donor requirements, and contribute to a positive, supportive work environment. 

The post holder works closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT), and MAG’s global People and Culture team to embed a strong ‘people framework’ across the programme, supporting workforce planning, staff development, performance management, and organizational culture.

In addition, the Country HR and Safeguarding Manager is responsible for the oversight of the safeguarding function, working in partnership with the HQ Safeguarding staff, and programme management to promote a safe and inclusive environment. This includes ensuring safeguarding standards are implemented and monitored, staff are supported and empowered to report concerns, and appropriate follow-up actions and investigations are undertaken.

This position is a member of the Extended SMT and contributes to strategic planning, staff wellbeing, duty of care, and the overall effectiveness of the programme.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Representation

• Provide responsible leadership, direction and guidance through the translation of organisational strategies into tangible, realistic plans which support the achievement of MAG’s Strategic Direction and are consistent with our values.
• Develop robust plans that support strategy and that appropriately generate and manage resources to ensure MAG’s long-term sustainability.
• Represent and develop MAG’s interests through proactive management of positive relationships with key staffs, stakeholders, partners, governments and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure and uphold MAG obligations under legal, statutory and contractual undertakings which include health, safety and security management in coordination with Security and Liaison Manager.
• Work with the Safeguarding focal point in the UK to support the implementation of safeguarding best practice, ensuring all staff experience a safe working environment.
• Ensure a cross-cutting approach to organisational management including finance, logistic, human resources and programming strands
• Support and coach managers to achieve effective team and individual performance.

Statutory and HR Compliance

• Develop, implement and monitor effective HR strategies in line with MAG’s national staff HR framework and compliance framework.
• Ensure that HR Handbooks, SoPs, HR Policies and contractual documentation are compliant, updated and implemented in line with legal requirements.
• Design, develop and review the remuneration policies and salary scale for national staff to ensure compliant, competitive and cost-effective salaries and benefits package are in place.
• Engage with NGO workings groups and bilateral meetings on HR issues to ensure awareness and compliance with current issues and common practice in the sector and where relevant statutory and legal requirements
• Coordinate and support the Security and liaison manager regarding relevant statutory and legal requirements.
• Follow up with MAG Iraq attorney on labor legal requirments and local legislations.

Operational HR

• Provide general HR Management support to the country SMT in dealing with a wide range of national and international staff issues.
• Provide advice to managers on complicated staff management issues including discipline and grievance procedures, staff absence, performance management, etc.
• Follow up on all local staff contractual status, and ensure appropriate and timely actions for new and renewals of contracts, and within-grade increments.
• Manage and review the monthly payroll reporting cycle for national staff to ensure that any issues are flagged and followed up on a timely basis, and payroll deadlines are met
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• Ensure appropriate oversight and accountability for leave tracking by supervising the system maintained by the HR team, and verifying that monitoring processes are accurate and consistently followed.
• Ensure staff tax payments, social security payments are compliant with law of country, and payments are carried over by timely manner.
• Lead and support recruitment and selection process and ensure transparent and legally compliant full-cycle recruitment process is in place.
• Provide advice and assistance with writing job descriptions and evaluating them ensuring that accurate job descriptions are in place and revised if needed.

Function Development & Capacity Building

• Work with the SMT to design and roll out the expansion of the HR function, including identification of gaps, and developing a plan for roles and responsibilities across operational bases.
• Feed into the development of HR Database systems, in conjunction with SMT and in coordination with MAG Iraq programme to ensure regional standardisation.
• Supervise and mentor HR staff, providing guidance and support in their day-to-day activities to ensure effective HR function within the program.
• Provide coaching, training and mentoring for HR team members to support their performance and their career development.
• Ensure HR information systems, processes and HR administrative procedures are developed and maintained
• Through the provision of advice, guidance and coaching, develop management skills to ensure that line managers are able to deal with all aspects of people management including performance, disciplinary and grievance management, legal compliance and the implementation of policies and procedures.
• Ensure that HR considerations (including legal, contractual and resourcing) are integrated into business development planning processes.
• Contribute to the maintenance of MAG’s global national staff HR framework and toolkit.
• Work closely with the HQ HR team on contributing to strategy, policy and projects.

Safeguarding

• Support the design and delivery of safeguarding training to raise awareness of safeguarding principles and expected staff behaviour, including induction, refresher, and role-specific trainings, as well as awareness-raising for communities in coordination with Community Liaison teams.
• Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are effectively communicated and accessible at all levels, including the display of posters with updated reporting details and distribution of reporting cards.
• Act as an advisor to managers when safeguarding issues are raised or concerns identified, providing professional and timely guidance.
• Strengthen and provide ongoing support to safeguarding focal points and facilitate focus group discussions to promote a safe and open reporting culture.
• Monitor and support partner organisations in their safeguarding due diligence processes and provide technical advice where gaps are identified.
• Manage and reinforce all safeguarding reporting mechanisms, including the hotline, email address, and suggestion boxes, ensuring accessibility and trust in all programme locations.
• As a member of the triage committee, ensure that all safeguarding concerns and complaints are reviewed promptly, responded to appropriately, and decisions are accurately documented.
• Track and report on progress against the programme’s safeguarding work plan, the Safeguarding Self-Assessment, and monthly management reports, supporting follow-up on identified gaps.
• Identify and assess safeguarding risks across the programme, and support teams in developing mitigation strategies.
• Provide proactive duty of care to staff, including psychosocial support and referral to external professional services for personal, mental health, and welfare-related issues.
• Act as the main point of contact for complainants, survivors, and others involved in safeguarding investigations, ensuring appropriate support and care are in place.
• Establish and maintain a database of verified external referral services and mental health resources in all MAG areas of operation.
• Facilitate access to individual counselling services for staff, and ensure they are informed about insurance coverage and external support options related to work stress, trauma, interpersonal conflicts, or personal issues.
• Support and coordinate safeguarding investigations, working with HR and management to ensure safe, timely, and professional responses to allegations.
• Serve as a member of investigation teams when appropriate, and ensure that survivor safety and dignity remain central to all actions.
• Conduct lessons learned exercises after significant incidents or investigations to drive continuous improvement.
• Represent MAG at external safeguarding events and networks in Iraq, and liaise with HQ safeguarding staff to exchange learning and ensure consistency in standards and approaches.

All staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:

• Work within the framework of MAG’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Work towards achieving programme and/or department business plan objectives
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all MAG policies and procedures and keep informed of MAG activities
• Undertake and apply learning from appropriate training and development programmes.
• Undertake the role in a manner appropriate to the cultural context and within the local legal framework.
• Understand and uphold the standards outlined in MAG’s Safeguarding Framework, acting with due care and attention to safeguard the wellbeing of anyone that comes into contact with MAG’s work and reporting concerns if they do arise.
• Travel within the programme , as and when required.
• Act as an ambassador for MAG.
• Participate in meetings, networks, seminars and conferences where relevant and beneficial to MAG and its mission and mandate. Where requested, give appropriate presentations in co-ordination with Country Director.
• Work in compliance with MAG's Equal Opportunities, Policy on Personal Conduct and Dignity at Work Policies.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as may be required.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Protection, Psychology, or another relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated management experience in Human Resources and Safeguarding, supporting complex operations and high-volume activities within INGOs, UN agencies, or similar organizations.
• Experience in identifying and mitigating HR and safeguarding risks across operational settings.
• Proven experience designing and delivering training, including safeguarding and HR topics, tailored to diverse audiences.
• Practical experience supporting or leading sensitive investigations, particularly related to safeguarding concerns.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to manage sensitive conversations with empathy and discretion.
• Sound knowledge of HR management systems, Iraqi labor law, and staff development strategies.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles, legal and regulatory frameworks, and best practices.
• High proficiency in managing team performance, coaching, and providing technical support.
• Strong analytical skills, including HR data interpretation and reporting.
• Very good IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel, Word, and HR information systems.
• Fluent in English, Arabic, and Kurdish (both spoken and written).
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders, and to professionally represent the organization in relevant forums.

Essential Aptitude

• Committed to MAG’s core values, humanitarian mandate, and safeguarding principles.
• Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, and discretion when handling sensitive issues.
• Proactive, flexible, and innovative with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Empathetic toward survivors and others involved in safeguarding processes; able to support staff wellbeing.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills; able to manage competing deadlines under pressure.
• Willingness to travel across the country, occasionally at short notice.
• Maintains confidentiality and acts as a role model for professional ethics and standards.

Application procedure for the position

Interested candidates should submit their updated CV and Cover Letter in English to Jobs.IQ@maginternational.org.

Please include the reference number (CHRM-0625) in the subject line of your email. Applications without a subject line, submitted through external links, or sent more than once will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within three weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Closing date for receiving applications is July 4th, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

** MAG is an equal opportunities employer.

** MAG Iraq does not charge any fees for Job applications.

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. Female Candidates are encouraged to apply. If you think you would be suited in this role 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.