Program Manager At SEED

Job Title: Program Manager

Location: Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRI), with frequent travel to other areas of KRI.

Type of position: Employment contract/Expat contract

Length of Contract: 12 Months

Compensation and Benefits: SEED welcomes applications from both national and expatriate candidates. Competitive salary and benefits package designed to recognize skills and experience, with benefits tailored according to employee status. Expatriate packages include relocation support, housing allowance, health insurance, and local transportation allowance.

About SEED: SEED is a women-led, local NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, dedicated to creating a thriving society by advancing social protection and human development. We support individuals, empower communities, and strengthen systems to drive lasting change and equal opportunity. With a focus on collaboration, we promote gender equality, protect children, combat human trafficking, and improve mental health and well-being. SEED’s holistic, locally-driven approach integrates transformational services, community development, training and education, and advocacy to create sustainable impact. SEED is committed to creating a just, equitable society where everyone’s rights are protected, with healthy families and strong communities, and a future where everyone can thrive.

Role of the Program Manager: The Program Manager (PM) is responsible for managing donor-supported programs in line with SEED’s mission and values, ensuring the achievement of goals, objectives, and targets. The PM leads all aspects of grant and program management, including compliance, reporting, coordination, and representation. This includes: designing and overseeing program activities; developing and tracking detailed work plans; leading budget planning and execution; monitoring progress with the MEAL Unit; preparing donor reports; and ensuring effective communications with donors, partners, and stakeholders. The PM manages program staff, collaborates with colleagues across departments, and engages strategically with local and international partners, NGOs, and government agencies. The PM may also contribute technical content in alignment with program objectives and works closely with senior management, technical advisors, and operations staff.

Specific Tasks:

Program and Grant Management and Leadership (80%)

• Lead full program cycle management: design, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ensure compliance with SEED policies and program management guidance, donor agreements, and local laws.
• Set program direction, oversee implementation, and ensure responsiveness to community needs and alignment with SEED standards and strategy.
• Develop and track work plans, objectives, activities, and targets, ensuring timely and on-budget delivery.
• Lead budget planning, monthly forecasting, monitoring, and expenditure tracking, ensuring efficient use of funds and proper cost allocation. Review BvAs, transaction lists, and financial projections to maintain compliance and accuracy.
• Convene monthly program meetings to review activities, budgets, challenges, and timelines with the program team, ensuring strong coordination and clarity.
• Coordinate with technical, programmatic, communications, operational, and management teams for integration and efficiency.
• Work with MEAL to develop monitoring and evaluation plans, capture outcomes, and recommend course corrections.
• Maintain organized filing systems (physical and digital) and ensure documentation is audit-ready.
• Supervise and build capacity of program staff through coaching, training, development plans, and performance appraisals.
• Lead the drafting and timely submission of high-quality program reports.
• Contribute to proposal and concept note development and to SEED’s overall strategy.
• Coordinate closely with colleagues across technical, programmatic, operational and management teams to ensure complementarity of programming and efficiencies.

Communications, Coordination, and Organizational Representation (20%)

• Lead the development of program communications materials (flyers, social media, website content, awareness materials) and events, working in collaboration with the Communications Unit.
• Build and manage partnerships with humanitarian actors, coordination bodies, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with donors, government actors, UN agencies, and NGOs.
• Coordinate closely with program partners and sub-grantees.

Other

• Ensure the respect of SEED’s Code of Conduct, SEED’s policy on Accountability, and ensure compliance with SEED’s policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, humanitarian principles, and contribute to protection, and Age, Gender, Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming into SEED’s programming.
• Undertake any other duties that may be assigned by mutual agreement.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Degree in social sciences, international relations, international studies, conflict studies, gender studies, human rights, or another related field.
• At least 5 years experience managing protection and GBV programming, policy and advocacy programs within conflict and post conflict settings.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Experience implementing donor-funded international development and/or humanitarian assistance programs.
• Experience in the Middle East, Iraq and/or Kurdistan Region is a plus.
• Strong belief in protection, gender equality and human rights.
• Good interpersonal, communication, collaboration, time management and team-building skills.
• High standard of spoken and written English, with Kurdish a plus.
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments.