Counterpart International is currently seeking a full-time Chief of Party (COP) to support the anticipated USAID-funded Iraq Civic Engagement Activity (ICEA). This activity will be a 5-year, $25-49.9 million program to foster a more politically engaged citizenry in Iraq, enhancing trust and participation in the country's democratic processes.  

The COP will be responsible for overall project leadership, management, technical direction and vision, oversight, quality and compliance, and maintaining relationships with USAID and stakeholders. The COP will be responsible for ensuring the timely submission and quality of all project deliverables. This position requires senior-level program management experience with USAID or other donors.

Qualified Iraqi nationals are encouraged to apply. 

• Provide overall project leadership, management, quality control, and technical direction, while ensuring compliance with donor requirements and regulations, and counterpart policies and procedures.  
• Build an integrated vision among diverse project components and stakeholders, with a focus on achieving results.  
• Identify obstacles and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments to the home office and donor.  
• Liaise with the USAID mission (and other donors as applicable), civil society organizations, local government officials, and other local partners to coordinate activities and facilitate monitoring and reporting of project objectives and achievements.  
• Manage and supervise the work of project senior personnel, subcontractors, and grantees, with a focus on achieving work plan targets and core results in a timely manner. 
• Provide mentoring and professional development support to project staff, with emphasis on building the capacity of national staff. 
• Oversee field office finances and administration of sub-contracts and sub-awards.  
• Oversee field office HR practices, ensuring hiring, employee evaluations and promotions comply with Counterpart policies and procedures.  
• Ensure that all project assistance is technically sound and appropriate. 
• Participate in specialized content (technical) events such as workshops and roundtables, support knowledge management, and share learning across key networks. 
• Coordinate activities between the field office and counterpart headquarters.   
• Leverage networks, program investments, and project successes to seek opportunities for program expansion and promote counterpart’s practice areas.  

• University degree (bachelor or higher) in International Development, Social Sciences, Political Science, Governance and Civil Society or other related fields; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in international development; Minimum of three years working on civic engagement programs, preferably in Iraq or in the MENA region. 
• Experience supervising teams of diverse staff and demonstrated leadership capacity and motivational skills;   
• Previous experience managing $25M+ USAID-funded programs highly preferred;    
• Demonstrated program management and organizational skills in managing, implementing, and monitoring effective program budgets, finances, and personnel of projects of a similar scale and scope; 
• Demonstrated experience managing and implementing development projects focused on furthering public knowledge on democratic processes, countering misinformation, and facilitating increased engagement with government entities.; 
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively with the social, political, economic and cultural context of Iraq or in the MENA region; 
• Demonstrated experience working effectively in post-conflict setting, preferably in Iraq or similar context and working in culturally and politically sensitive environments.  
• Demonstrated experience working with and building the capacity of marginalized groups, to include women and youth; 
• Demonstrated experience in designing technical interventions to build the capacity of grassroots organizations to become direct funding recipients; 
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively with senior government representatives at the local, municipal, and national level, local and national civil society actors, donors, USAID representatives, other implementing agencies, and other stakeholders; 
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and deliver quality outputs; 
• Experience with adaptive management approaches preferred. 

Languages: 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required; 
• Professional proficiency in Arabic preferred.  
• Great if you also have working proficiency in Farsi or Kurdish. 

Counterpart is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, Ameri-Corps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Accessibility Notice: If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to recruiting@counterpart.org. Please view Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.