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

As a member of the country core SMT, the Programme Manager will provide senior level support to the Country Director with a focus on grant management, programmatic strategy, compliance with donor’s regulation, external communication and resource mobilization. This will include the following:

• Lead the overall grant and programme management, including proposals, reports, success stories and information management.
• Support the Country Director in the identification and pursuit of opportunities for the continuation and expansion of MAG programme activities.
• In collaboration with the Country Director, manage the overall programmatic strategy across the programme and ensure alignment between MAG’s strategy, needs, national priorities and donor priorities.

• Oversee external Programme communications and visibility ensuring consistent and impactful representation of MAG’s work in collaboration with MAG HQ.
• In collaboration with the Country Director, develop effective relationships and networks with stakeholders including local, regional and national authorities, donors, partners, the UN, NGOs and commercial mine action operators.

• Support the Country Director with donor engagement and donor relationship management.

• Responsible for the management of strategic national and international partners
• Collaborate with other SMT members, to coordinate budgeting, forecasting and allocating

Primary Responsibilities:

Contract Management & Reporting

• Coordinate and write high-quality proposals, reports and case studies related to the country programme.
• Manage and mentor the IM Coordinator, ensuring robust systems for grant management, reporting data analysis and donor compliance are in place and adhered to across the programme.
• Work with Information Management Coordinator to analyse operational data for use in reporting and M&E
• Responsible for ensuring that all internal and external reporting requirements are met, and that accurate and meaningful data is available to support reporting requirements.
• In close collaboration with the community liaison staff in the field, manage internal measurement of project outcomes and impact of MAG’s activities as well as external materials such as success stories, snapshots and profiles ensuring that both quantitative and qualitative data are captured and used effectively for internal learning and donor reporting.
• Manage the funding grid and forecast allocator, aligning donor priorities, operational needs, and financial resources to maintain team funding.
• Actively participate in BVA meetings led by the Finance Department analysing financial materials and performance, identifying variances and providing recommendations regarding effective spending management.
• Coordinate with Finance, HR and MAG HQ staff regarding the need for and preparation of grant amendments, extensions and realignments where necessary
• Ensure that all activities are implemented in line with donor requirements and in accordance with MAG, donor, country and international standards, rules and regulations.
• Ensure contractual compliance with project donors, proactively identifying and addressing potential compliance risks and providing guidance on donor requirements.
• Support staff under their supervision and SMT with compliance and answer questions regarding donor regulations.
• Act as the primary focal point for third party monitoring and evaluation of MAG’s projects.
• Facilitate lesson learning and knowledge sharing within the programme and with partner to continuously improve grant management and reporting.

External Communication and Representation

• Oversee the development of the programme’s communication and visibility strategy in compliance with MAG’s global branding, donor requirements and the programme context.
• Oversee the visibility of the country programme and manage the programme’s visibility budget
• Oversee engagement with traditional media and ensure the programme is effectively represented on social media in coordination with the relevant SMT staff ensuring adherence to security procedures and alignment with MAG’s messaging and communications strategy
• Support the Country Director in providing effective representation for MAG to donors, national and local authorities, partners, and other relevant stakeholders in the country and region to ensure that MAG’s mission, values and specific project objectives are clearly understood and supported.
• Together with the SMT, ensure MAG is adequately represented in coordination fora when appropriate.
• Engage with the NGO community, donor networks and advocacy platforms to feed into project design or support coordinate response when necessary and stay abreast of emerging needs and funding opportunities.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with different stakeholders in Iraq
• In collaboration with the CL team, develop internal systems to ensure proper flow of information and
• Coordinate, maintain and strengthen effective relationships with national and international partners in different fields within MAG’s area of operations.
• Proactively identify potential opportunities for cooperation and follow up as necessary.
• As a member of the Iraq’s Senior Management Team, inform peer members of any external risks, opportunities or relationship challenges that may impact MAG’s operations or reputation.
• Ensure all relevant parties are kept informed of MAG activities as appropriate.

Business Development

• Proactively identify and pursue business development and funding opportunities to maximize MAG’s impact in country and ensure the programmes’ continuity and stability.
• Analyze donor trends, policies, priorities, and thematic funding opportunities.
• Lead the development of high-quality funding proposals for donors and coordinate with HQ, Operations, finance, HR and other departments to ensure timely and coherent proposal submissions.
• Develop and maintain the programme’s resource mobilization and donor engagement strategies/workplans.
• Support the Country Director and the programme with the drafting and the implementation of the Country Strategy and Annual Business Plans.

Partnerships

• Act as focal point and be responsible for the successful management with MAG’s international and national partners, including due diligence, vetting, oversight on compliance and follow up on activities and outcomes.
• Monitor risks related to partnerships, including compliance, performance and reputational risks and ensure timely actions to address or escalate issues.
• Manage MAG’s partnerships strategy and ensure it is integrated within the programme and in the implementation of the annual business plan
• Establishment of joint project boards or coordination mechanisms for significant partnerships that the programme is involved in, ensuring clear roles, accountability and effective decision making.
• Work with the relevant departments in the programme, HQ and partners to ensure partner compliance with reporting and donor rules and procedures.
• Develop and manage a framework for M&E of partnership projects and sub-grants
• Negotiate and implement MoUs with international and national partners as required, and prepare technical agreements per project / grant / periodic partnership review

Management and Training

• Supervise the day-to-day work of team members, and delegate tasks as necessary, ensuring all deadlines are met and that work is of a high quality and standardized.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting monthly, quarterly and yearly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented regular performance reviews.
• Ensure that all the programme team members have received training in line with their level of responsibility and receive technical support relevant to their fields of responsibility.
• Supervise and line manage department staff in line with MAG’s HR policies and procedures.
• Plan and deliver capacity strengthening opportunities for line reports and other staff member of MAG collaborating with the programme team.

Health and Safety

• Maintain oversight of Programme health and safety minimum standards, supporting the CD in ensuring that relevant policies and controls are adequately applied to ensure the safety of MAG staff, assets and resources.

Safeguarding

• Lead the diffusion of best practice and behavioural change initiatives to promote MAG key ethical and behavioural values, ensuring that every relevant stakeholder (staff / partner / third party / local authorities and Donors) is aware of available reporting mechanisms.
• Support MAG’s commitment to safeguarding by ensuring alignment between donor requirements and MAG’s safeguarding policies, when necessary, allowing for safeguarding refresher training in project output targets, and supporting donor reporting requirements related to safeguarding cases in a confidential manner when required

GENERAL

All MAG staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:

• Work towards achieving departmental business plan objectives.
• Work within the framework of MAG’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Work as part of a team and liaise with other departments to ensure effective communications across the organization.
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all MAG policies and procedures and Safeguarding framework.
• Ensure confidentiality of information as required by MAG policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as may be required.
• Aware of gender mainstreaming and ready to participate in gender awareness courses/training
• Able to work in a mixed team
• Undertake and apply learning from appropriate training and development programmes.
• 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. 

Qualifications and Experience:

• Demonstrable senior management experience, preferably in international aid and development with a humanitarian agency
• At least 5 years of experience in similar position
• Experience of developing and supporting projects including implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation and contract compliance

• Proven expertise in the development of new business, including developing proposals, networking and contract negotiations
• Experience of having developed successful relationships and negotiated with donors, government bodies, other NGOs and local partners

• Experience of producing high quality donor reports and proposals (preferably with U.S. Government, Canada, Finland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)
• Experience of managing partners and providing oversight, particularly on compliance requirements and capacity strengthening.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally
• Strong English language skills, both written and spoken
• Strong writing skills to be able to write proposals, budgets and reports etc.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant institutional donors e.g. EU, UN, government departments
• Strong representation, communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple activities and several projects.

Essential Aptitude

• Ability to meet deadlines and work calmly under pressure

• Ability to communicate effectively in person and remotely

• Ability to represent and promote MAG at a senior level
• Commitment to MAG’s strategic direction and core values
• Ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally

Other:

• Willingness to travel occasionally to field sites and other bases as needed.

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 (EBL-PM25) 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 June 12^th, 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.