Senior Project Associate (Livelihoods)
Organizational Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a leading UN agency promoting humane and orderly migration. In Iraq, IOM is a key player in post-conflict recovery, focusing on livelihoods development and job creation through community infrastructure, vocational training, and business development grants. This role supports the livelihoods portfolio from Baghdad, with travel to various regions.
Job Purpose
The Senior Project Associate (Livelihoods) will support the planning, coordination, and implementation of IOM's livelihoods programs in Iraq. This involves ensuring activities align with work plans and donor requirements, providing day-to-day operational guidance to field teams, and monitoring progress to identify and address implementation challenges. The role contributes to the effective delivery of livelihood interventions aimed at post-conflict recovery and job creation, ensuring timely and quality execution across assigned governorates. The position requires regular field travel to oversee activities and support field teams in achieving program objectives.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include supporting the Program Coordinator in planning and implementing livelihoods activities, ensuring adherence to work plans and IOM policies. The role involves day-to-day operational follow-up, tracking milestones, and identifying delivery gaps. Providing guidance and operational support to field teams for harmonized and quality implementation is crucial. The associate will assist in beneficiary targeting, verification, and selection processes, ensuring transparency and proper documentation. Regular travel to field locations for monitoring, quality checks, and problem-solving is required. Capacity building of field teams through coaching and mentoring is also a key duty. The role involves reviewing field documentation, tracking progress against targets, and following up on operational bottlenecks such as payments and procurement. Supporting data collection, consolidation, and reporting, as well as conducting monitoring visits and validation exercises, are essential. Participation in coordination meetings with stakeholders and providing operational continuity during the Program Coordinator's absence are also part of the duties.
Work Experience
Experience is required in supporting the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of livelihoods, recovery, or community stabilization activities. Field-level operational follow-up, implementation tracking, and coordination with multiple field teams are essential. Experience in monitoring visits, reviewing documentation, and addressing implementation issues is necessary. Working with international organizations or NGOs is advantageous, as is experience with local authorities and data management tools. Experience in post-conflict environments is also a plus.
Skills
Knowledge of livelihoods, recovery, and community-based programming approaches. Understanding of field implementation, operational follow-up, and monitoring processes. Ability to review documentation, track progress, and support reporting. Strong organizational and multitasking skills. Effective communication and coordination abilities. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Knowledge of data management and reporting tools is advantageous.