Near East Foundation (NEF)

Job Title: Project Manager
Reports to: Program and Operations Director
Location: Mosul Iraq

Travel: Yes, 80% of time
Project Duration: July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
Project Title: Innovate Mosul: Strengthening the Green and Digital SME Ecosystem

Organizational Background

The Near East Foundation (NEF) is an international non-profit organization that has worked for over 100 years to build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa. NEF operates through country offices and local partners across ten countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, and Sudan. NEF’s programs focus on Inclusive Economic Development, Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, and Peacebuilding.

As part of its Iraq portfolio, NEF is implementing the UNDP-funded Innovate Mosul project, which aims to strengthen the green and digital SME ecosystem in Mosul and surrounding areas, enabling small and medium enterprises to grow, create jobs, and access new markets.

Project Context

In Mosul, years of conflict have eroded economic stability, limiting opportunities for youth, women, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable communities. Gaps in business skills, market access, finance, mentorship, and environmental resilience hinder private sector growth and entrepreneurship. Climate change and rapid urbanization further aggravate these challenges.

Through Innovate Mosul, NEF — in partnership with UNDP, Mosul University, and the Mosul Chamber of Commerce — will directly support 200 SMEs and entrepreneurs by providing tailored business training, mentorship, business coaching, startup financing, and digital solutions for business registration. The project will strengthen inclusive, climate-smart, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship as a foundation for long-term local economic development and resilience.

Position Overview

The Project Manager will serve as the senior management lead for the Innovate Mosul project. The Project Manager will oversee full-cycle project implementation, ensuring the efficient, timely, and quality delivery of all project activities in line with NEF, UNDP, and government requirements. The role will require strong leadership, coordination, technical oversight, and stakeholder management capacities to ensure successful delivery of a highly complex multi-stakeholder program.

The Project Manager will serve as the main liaison with UNDP, government counterparts, private sector actors, academic institutions, and partners, ensuring strong coordination and collaboration. The Project Manager will supervise the full project team and ensure that financial, administrative, and technical components are well-integrated.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Project Leadership and Strategic Oversight

• Provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and day-to-day management of the Innovate Mosul project.
• Lead the development, coordination, and execution of project work plans, implementation schedules, procurement plans, and budget forecasts.
• Ensure full compliance with NEF, UNDP, and donor standards, policies, and contractual obligations.
• Lead adaptive management processes to ensure that activities are responsive to changing needs and contextual realities in Mosul.

    2. Stakeholder Engagement and Representation

• Serve as the primary NEF focal point for UNDP, government institutions, Mosul University, Mosul Chamber of Commerce, private sector actors, incubators, and other project partners.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with government ministries, local authorities, business networks, academic institutions, and private sector actors.
• Represent NEF in official meetings, coordination platforms, and external events at national, governorate, and local levels.
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder coordination across public, private, academic, and civil society partners to ensure cohesive implementation.

     3. Programmatic Oversight

• Supervise the full implementation of project components including:
  • Rapid market assessments and sector prioritization.
  • Business development training, bootcamps, and business coaching.
  • Startup and SME financial support and investment readiness.
  • Development of the digital business registration system for Mosul Chamber of Commerce.
  • Climate-smart business mainstreaming and inclusive approaches targeting women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Ensure timely delivery of key outputs, deliverables, milestones, and outcome-level results.
• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to business development, financial, and administrative teams.

   4. Financial and Compliance Management

• Oversee the financial performance of the project, ensuring alignment with approved budgets, donor rules, and NEF financial procedures.
• Review financial forecasts, procurement processes, and expenditure reports in collaboration with Finance, Admin, and Procurement teams.
• Ensure strict compliance with NEF’s internal controls and UNDP donor regulations.

    5. Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning

• Ensure rigorous project monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) processes are in place.
• Oversee preparation of timely narrative, financial, and results-based reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and adaptive management throughout the project cycle.
• Support external evaluations, audits, and donor verification exercises as required.

   6. Team Leadership and Capacity Development

• Directly supervise and provide leadership to all project staff, including technical, administrative, and financial personnel.
• Facilitate professional development, mentoring, and performance management for the project team.
• Promote an accountable, collaborative, and inclusive work culture.

   7. Other Duties

• Ensure proper documentation, knowledge management, and archiving of project records.
• Support NEF Iraq’s broader country strategy and regional programming as assigned.
• Perform other relevant duties requested by the NEF Country Director.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree, or Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 additional years of relevant experience (minimum 7 years total), in Business Administration, Private Sector Development, Business Development, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in managing and coordinating national-level projects, including livelihoods, entrepreneurship, or SME development programs.
• Proven experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder projects involving government counterparts, private sector actors, academic institutions, and international donors.
• Strong technical knowledge of livelihoods, business development services, SME support models, financial inclusion, and innovation-based entrepreneurship programming.
• Demonstrated experience in donor compliance, financial management, and contract oversight for large-scale projects.
• Excellent project planning, problem-solving, leadership, and adaptive management skills.
• High-level organizational, time management, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) in both Arabic and English. Kurdish is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites in Mosul and Erbil.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience managing projects funded by UNDP or other major international donors.
• Experience managing innovation, green economy, climate-resilient businesses, or digital transformation programs.
• Familiarity with Iraqi governmental processes related to private sector and SME development.

NEF will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline will be on June 14, 2025.

To apply:

Please apply by submitting the following documents on the Near East Foundation's career page at: 

https://neareast.bamboohr.com/careers/456?source=aWQ9MTY%3D 

1. Cover letter outlining relevant experience and skills based on the requirements outlined above;
2. Curriculum Vitae;
3. List of three references (including one from current, or most recent, employer).

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Near East Foundation by visiting the NEF website at www.neareast.org.

The Near East Foundation promotes Equal Opportunities for all applicants seeking employment and NEF employees.

Pre-employment Checks

Any Employment with the Near East Foundation will be subject to the following checks prior to start date:

• A satisfactory Restricted Party Screening;
• Receipt of satisfactory references;
• Proof of eligibility to work in the national location for this role.

NEF's strength is its people. Our team is our fuel to achieving the innovation, quality programming, community focus, mutual trust, sustainability, and learning needed to realize our mission. To help our team thrive, we support a working structure that prioritizes flexibility, personal commitments, and staff well-being while promoting a work culture of teamwork, collaboration, respect, integrity, and excellence.

As an international organization, we value a truly diverse workforce and prioritize a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We strive to create a high-achieving work environment informed by different cultures, perspectives, and experiences. With a commitment to diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion in all we do, our aim is to ensure that people feel heard, protected, and empowered to contribute to NEF's mission from day one.