Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager 

Location: Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRI), with regular travel to Halabja, Germian, Chamchamal, Raparin, and other areas of KRI.

Type of Position: Full-time Employment Contract

Length of Contract: 12 Months

Compensation and Benefits: Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with skills and experience. National Compensation Package: includes local transportation allowances, Medical insurance and Life insurance.

About SEED: SEED is a women-led, local NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, working to create a future where everyone can thrive by protecting rights, empowering communities, and strengthening systems. We promote gender equality and work to end gender-based violence; protect children and promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and youth; combat human trafficking and uphold survivor rights; and improve mental health and well-being. Through transformational services, community development, capacity building, and policy and advocacy, we support individuals, communities, and institutions to create sustainable impact.

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. The PM reports to the Programs Department Manager, and coordinates closely with the Program Management and Development Unit.

The Program Manager will oversee community-based development initiatives, psychosocial support, and group programming aimed at strengthening mental health and well-being, promoting gender equality, and supporting vulnerable individuals and families, with a focus on adolescents and youth. Programs are implemented through community and service delivery centers, structured PSS sessions, youth and community engagement activities, and partnerships with local stakeholders. Sessions and activities will address issues such as equality, violence prevention, well-being, women and girls empowerment, adolescent and youth leadership, engaging men and boys, and community resilience. The role requires strong contextual awareness, ethical judgment, and the ability to manage programming that combines technical rigor with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and community trust.

Key Responsibilities:

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:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing programs within the humanitarian or development sectors.
• Demonstrated experience with donor-funded program management, including private, institutional, or local donors.
• Strong understanding of program cycle management, including planning, budgeting, implementation, and reporting processes.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and inclusive programming.
• Knowledge of psychosocial support (PSS), protection principles, and community-based programming, including experience working with vulnerable populations and familiarity with survivor-centered, do-no-harm, and ethical approaches.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and ensure compliance with donor and organizational policies.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience supervising teams and fostering professional development.
• Excellent coordination, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Kurdish is required; Arabic a plus.
• Experience representing an organization externally and building strategic partnerships.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

To Apply: 

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their cover letter and resume via this LINK no later than April 30, 2026.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Safeguarding Statement 

SEED staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities professionally, respecting SEED’s Code of Conduct and Policies. SEED is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members as part of our commitment to a safe and harmonious work environment.