Organisational Overview:

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an international organisation tasked with promoting innovative, comprehensive and sustainable migration policies. With 17 Member States and over 60 projects active throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, ICMPD is a growing and ever-more relevant presence in its field. The organisation’s greatest assets are its 200+ staff members, who personify its values of commitment, integrity, partnership, respect, and innovation in actions and decisions.

Project Overview:

ICMPD is inviting all interested candidates to apply for the position of Project Manager (Project Coordination) for the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) funded project, Developing the Iraqi Government’s knowledge and expertise in migration governance. The overall objective of this project is to engage key ministries in Iraq in forging solid and future-oriented migration partnerships with European counterparts (with initial focus on Switzerland), with the following specific objectives:

• Advancing the knowledge base of key Iraqi ministries in the field of migration;
• Developing the technical expertise of key Iraqi ministries in the field of migration;
• Fostering standards and best practices in migration governance in Iraq.

The aforementioned SEM-led action ultimately aims at bringing the Iraqi governmental institutions on the same wavelength as European counterparts when it comes to migration cooperation. This, it is hoped, will facilitate a more constructive, efficient, and action-oriented migration dialogue for the future.

The long term aim of fostering deeper and wider European engagement with Iraqi decision makers through Swiss support requires upgrading the know-how, knowledge base, and technical expertise of key decision makers within the Iraqi Government sector; hence the focus (at this stage) on the educational and training elements.

Please note that this position is subject to approval and availability of project funds.

Job Description:

The Project Manager (Project Coordination) is responsible for the management of the project “Developing the Iraqi Government’s knowledge and expertise in migration governance” in Iraq and for ensuring the direction of project activities, delivery of project outputs and the achievement of project targets and results.

The Project Manager (Project Coordination) organises for a prompt kick off/initiation of the project, including set up and recruitment of project staff. S/he develops and maintains relationships with project partners, beneficiaries and other stakeholders as well as plans and coordinates implementation of all aspects of the project ensuring that the project is managed according to the approved project documentation, work plans and budgets in line with ICMPD´s rules and business processes as well as partner and donor agreements. The Project Manager (Project Coordination) ensures timely and qualitative delivery of project outputs and achievement of project results in close collaboration with the project team, project beneficiaries and donors as well as manages a smooth project finalisation and closure.

The Project Manager (Project Coordination) establishes and monitors the implementation of a project work plan ensuring that adequate data and information is gathered for assessment and reporting. S/he continuously analyses the implementation of the project, takes corrective action as required and assesses achieved results for quality and impact. The Project Manager (Project Coordination) plans and coordinates project communications activities and ensures that reporting on project progress and results is timely, of high quality and carried out in accordance with donor agreements. The Project Manager (Project Coordination) coordinates project´s contribution to ICMPD´s knowledge base and identifies and develops new projects and participates in resources mobilisation activities.

The Project Manager (Project Coordination) leads and supervises the project team consisting of ICMPD personnel and consultants ensuring that the team works according to the project work plan and produces timely and qualitative outputs. S/he assesses the performance of the project team members and works closely with relevant ICMPD Units and coordinates work with the other Project Managers.

The Project Manager (Project Coordination) works under the supervision of Regional Portfolio Manager and in coordination with the Head of Office and the project partners, donors and stakeholders.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Direction of project activities and kick off:

• Ensure a prompt start of the project.
• Recruit project team. Draft ToRs (use ICMPD standard Job Descriptions as available), organise interview panels, follow-up on recruitment process ensuring timely deployment of the project team.
• Organise on-boarding for the newly recruited project team members.
• Establish project work plan ensuring adherence to the Project Document and direction of project towards planned targets and results.
• Coordinate project strategic direction and work plan with project partners.
• Establish collaboration and information flows with project stakeholders (donors and beneficiaries) and key project experts ensuring that project´s objectives, direction and expected results as well as implementation approach are well-communicated to all stakeholders.
• Assess and as necessary, adjust initial project budget ensuring that budget supports achievement of results within the timeline.
• Develop a communications plan for the project according to donor agreements and ICMPD´s Communications Strategy. Coordinate set up of project website and social media contents. Initiate project contacts database
• Initiate project implementation by organising/coordinating organisation of kick off and inceptions events as applicable.

2. Project management and implementation:

• Organise work of the project team in line of the project work plan. Track and monitor implementation of the work plan and the timely accomplishment of project outputs. Take corrective action as required.
• Mobilise project staff and experts, goods and services, capacity building and grants schemes for activities, including reviewing and approving terms of references and specifications and overseeing contractors’ work.
• Coordinate and follow-up with partners ensuring that activities are carried out according to agreed work plan and other agreements. Ensure that project´s scope and direction remain relevant for achievement of the intended results.
• Ensure that project content and outputs are produced timely and according to project work plan and ICMPD´s quality standards. Review and approve project outputs (reports, presentations, publications). Ensure review and quality control of policy and research outputs by Policy and Research Units respectively.
• Organise and coordinate organisation of meetings, seminars, workshops and other events. Ensure that agenda, technical notes and working group papers and other inputs to events are produced in a timely manner.
• Approve project correspondence.
• Assess project progress and results in close consultation with project stakeholders. Develop improvements to enhance performance of the project.
• Implement ICMPD´s risk management system at project level. Take preventative and mitigation measures as applicable.
• Systematically monitor project activities and progress in line with ICMPD monitoring guidelines. Ensure data and information gathering for project monitoring.
• Organise scheduled and ad hoc project reviews.
• Monitor implementation of the project communications plan. Organise drafting of communications materials, edit project-related publications, coordinate and oversee inputs from the project team.
• Participate in, and chair project events, seminars and workshops. Present project results to various stakeholder groups such as Steering Groups/donors.
• Participate on behalf of ICMPD in conferences/meetings/seminars relevant for the project.

3. Project administration and reporting:

• Ensure that project activities are implemented in an efficient and cost-effective manner in line with the work plan.
• Ensure that administrative processes such as procurement and contracting are carried out promptly and in accordance with ICMPD rules and established business processes. Ensure compliance with donor rules as applicable
• Identify and implement corrective actions promptly.
• Oversee the appropriate use of project funds in accordance with the budget. Monitor and analyse budget implementation and adjust budget to changes in project work plan.
• Ensure timely reporting to donors and partners; oversee formulation and drafting of progress and final reports. Coordinate with Corporate Resources Management (CRM) Team for preparation of financial reports. Submit reports (full package) to donor according to established reporting schedule.
• Ensure project documentation is maintained and filed according to ICMPD policies.
• Coordinate and implement project closure activities.

4. Management of project team and experts:

• Plan the composition of the project team, revise as required.
• Identify project experts. Draft /approve ToRs. Oversee timely deployment.
• Coordinate the work of the project team by allocating tasks, supervising task completion, coordinating work processes.
• Ensure effective and transparent management and communication processes within the project team. Keep the team abreast with developments relating to ICMPD.
• Oversee implementation of ICMPD´s security system for staff safety, as applicable, in collaboration with ICMPD Field Security Advisor and Head of Office.
• Evaluate the performance of project team and experts according to ICMPD´s performance management system, report on team performance to supervisor.
• Keep informed about the expertise/specialisation of project team members. Support development of expertise and knowledge in the team.

5. Participation in programme/project development:

• Actively identify opportunities for expansion of ICMPD´s activities and development of new initiatives.
• Provide and formulate inputs to development of new initiatives.
• Identify and formulate lessons learned and best practices from project implementation to feed into formulation of new projects.
• Provide support and participate as a member of ICMPD communities of expertise and practice in collaboration with the PRS.
• Develop and formulate new projects. Draft concepts and project proposals, work plans and budgets for new projects.
• Participate in resource mobilisation for new projects.

Key Results (as per Job Component):

• Project implemented according to project documentation, donor/partner agreements and project work plan and budgets in line with ICMPD´s rules and business processes.
• High-quality project outputs and deliverables produced according to project plans.
• Project budget implemented according to ICMPD´s rules and project narrative reports prepared according to donor agreements and ICMPD guidelines.
• Project Team deployed as per project work plan and the work of the team supervised and coordinated in a results-oriented and motivating manner.
• Project lessons learnt and best practices identified and documented.
• Ideas and concepts for new projects identified and new projects formulated.

Incumbent Profile:

• A minimum of 5 years of position-specific experience in management of medium to large multisector projects in the field of migration.
• Expertise in the project´s technical field, including specific experience and knowledge of national institutions and frameworks in Iraq. Experience in management of donor and partner

Relationships.

• Proven experience in project financial management.
• Experience in management of project teams and experts.
• Substantive knowledge of migration issues.
• Professional training in project cycle management. Certification is project management (Prince2 or similar) is a distinct asset.

Corporate Qualifications:

• Experience in an international context.
• Clear and sound understanding of migration issues, especially within the framework of external cooperation;
• An attitude of openness and commitment to human rights and gender equality principles;
• Ability to plan, manage priorities to meet deadlines, and work under pressure on occasion in a highly stressful environment;
• Ability to establish good working relations with the Government of Iraq and with a multinational, multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Proficiency in (verbal/written) English and Arabic.
• Master´s degree (or equivalent) related to the area of work.

Compensation:

ICMPD offers a monthly gross salary to be calculated based on qualifications and experience. Additional benefits include Health and Accident Insurance and six weeks’ annual leave.

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application in English through the ICMPD online recruitment system at http://www.icmpd.org/work-for-us/current-vacancies by midnight (CET) of the closing date specified above. For this purpose, candidates will first need to register with the ICMPD website. Once the relevant data has been entered, candidates will be able to apply for vacancies.

Please note that in the course of the online application, the motivation letter and personal CV must be uploaded in the EuropeAid format in English. The template is available for download at

http://www.icmpd.org/work-for-us/.

All applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated above. Applications received after the published deadline, and offline applications submitted via email, fax or post, will not be considered.

Due to the high volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted and applicants are expected to be available for a personal/telephone interview.

In the event of a technical issue with your application, please email recruitment@icmpd.org

General Information:

ICMPD retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy or to cancel the recruitment.