JOB DETAILS

LOCATION: KRI (Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah)

CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term (12 Months) (TENTITIVE March 2026 – March 2027)

INTERNAL JOB GRADE: D2                                                                 

DEPARTMENT and TEAM: Programe – Program and Partnerships Manager.

SALARY:  as per Oxfam salary scale

HOURS (FTE): 40 hours per week

FLEXIBLE WORKING

‘We believe flexible working is key to building the Organization of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. We think this role would work particularly well as a or Specify what flexibility will work for the role (e.g. part-time, job share, fully or partially home-based).

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE: To design, manage, and deliver inclusive livelihood and enterprise development programmes that strengthen economic resilience, promote decent work, and support sustainable income generation for vulnerable women, youth, and communities in line with Oxfam’s country strategy in KRI based on areas of interventions.

JOB PURPOSE: PROJECT OFFICER – Cash, Enterprise, and Skills Development (Oxfam): This position plays a pivotal role in the design, coordination, and implementation of a project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The Officer is instrumental in building resilient livelihoods and fostering economic inclusion for vulnerable populations, including Syrian refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities.

Core responsibilities are delivered through three integrated pillars: First, enhancing skills and employability by facilitating formal, certified vocational training for youth and providing dedicated job placement support. Second, strengthening local economies by supporting the existing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with capacity building and promoting inclusive market systems that connect them to sustainable opportunities. Third, providing immediate humanitarian stability through targeted Cash Transfer to the most vulnerable households, enabling them to meet basic needs while stimulating local markets.

By collaborating closely with local partners, private sector actors, and community members, the Officer ensures interventions are contextually relevant and leverage local expertise. The aim is to catalyse sustainable business growth, create decent employment, and advance the economic empowerment of marginalized groups. The position is also critical for ensuring all activities adhere to Oxfam’s quality standards and AICS donor regulations, while effectively contributing to the program's broader strategic objectives of reducing vulnerability and promoting sustainable development.

ROLE REPORTS TO

 Program and Partnerships Manager

ROLES REPORTING TO THIS POST

Enumerators, Partners AICS Project staff and relevant private and institutional sectors.

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY

N/A

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Technical Leadership & Program Implementation (Skills, MSMEs, and Employment):

• Lead the technical implementation of enterprise development, MSME support, job creation, and skills development activities in line with project objectives, donor requirements, and Oxfam standards.
• Provide technical backstopping for vocational training, job placement, TVET programming, and MSME support interventions.
• Conduct and support the MEAL and Enumerator in market assessments, business profiling, business plan development, and design/review of training materials.
• Support the design and delivery of business training, mentoring, coaching, apprenticeships, and grants, with a focus on youth, women, and vulnerable groups.
• Organize job fairs and networking events in collaboration with partners and private sector actors to expand employment opportunities.

2. Cash Transfer & Beneficiary Management (Humanitarian & Inclusion Focus):

• Oversee the Cash Transfer component targeting the most vulnerable 300 households in the project area.
• Supervise the beneficiary registration and selection process, ensuring fair targeting, inclusion, and compliance with approved selection criteria and methodologies.
• Ensure the cash transfer modality aligns with program safeguards, accountability standards, and humanitarian principles.

3. Partnerships, Coordination, Monitoring & Organizational Support:

• Coordinate closely with implementing partners, private sector actors, Chambers of Commerce, TVET centers, and financial institutions to ensure quality delivery and strong market linkages.

·       In collaboration with the partners organize job fairs and other networking events for the youth to be able to get job opportunities.

• Contribute to partner capacity strengthening in enterprise development, financial management basics, and donor compliance.
• Monitor progress against workplans, budgets, and indicators, contributing to reporting, learning, and adaptive management.
• Support resource management, including budget tracking, procurement coordination, and cost-effective use of project funds.
• Promote team collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cross-departmental coordination to strengthen sustainability and impact.

·       Support the design and delivery of business trainings, coaching, mentoring, apprenticeship, and grant support processes, with a strong focus on youth, women, and vulnerable groups.

ESSENTIAL

To identify your essentials, start by selecting at least two of the most relevant Oxfam Leadership practices for this role (which you can read more about here ). These are set up as dropdowns. There are 12 in total to choose from and we include ‘Self-Awareness’ as the default for all roles.

Then, choose 5-7 additional essential competencies (or knowledge/experience). These are the essential criteria an individual needs to be able to deliver the role.

-          Graduation or master’s in economics, Business Administration, Social and other relevant qualifications

-          Good written and spoken English, as well as strong spoken and written Arabic and Kurdish is essential.

-          Proven experience in enterprise development, MSME support, or livelihoods programming, preferably within humanitarian or development contexts.

-          Good understanding of the Cash Transfer Programming and Cash Transfer modalities.

-          Strong understanding of the TVET landscape in the KRI (Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimaniyah)

-          Strong understanding of the job placement process for skills development

-          Very good understanding of the private sector, industry, companies and business service providers. 

-          Strong understanding of youth employment, women’s economic empowerment, and market-based approaches, including business grants, apprenticeships, and value chain support.

-          Experience working with local partners, private sector actors, and institutions (e.g., Chambers of Commerce, TVET centers, financial institutions).

-          Ability to plan, coordinate, and monitor multiple activities simultaneously, ensuring quality implementation, compliance, and timely delivery.

-          Basic financial and budget management skills, including tracking activity budgets and supporting payments and procurements.

-          Strong communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams, partners, and diverse stakeholders.

-          Commitment to accountability, safeguarding, and Oxfam values, including gender equality, inclusion, and protection mainstreaming.

-          Self-Awareness

-          Strategic Thinking and Judgment

-          Mutual accountability

In addition:

-          Strong communication and interpersonal skills

-          Negotiation skills and the ability to influence and inspire confidence in others in diverse working environment

-          Community mobilisation experience

-          An understanding of gender, protection and diversity issues in Cash and Voucher Programming would be advantageous

-          Ability to work effectively with others

-          Ability to work well under pressure and in response to changing needs.

-          Ability to travel and to work in difficult circumstances

Desirable

·       Experience working with private sector actors, SMEs/MSMEs, or Chambers of Commerce in employment or enterprise development programs in KRI.

·       Knowledge of market systems development, value chain analysis, or inclusive business approaches, particularly in fragile or post-conflict contexts.