The Program Development and Grants Manager will be the main support role of the Deputy Country Director (DCD), overseeing development of new business, in close coordination with the Program Leadership Team (PLT), which includes the direct reports to the DCD, Senior Program Managers and Program Managers. The Program Development and Grants Manager will assist in securing new programs by coordinating or leading proposal development processes, including the generation of new programming to fully operationalize the humanitarian-development nexus. The Program Development and Grants Manager will be expected to advise program teams on donor rules and regulation to ensure all programs are compliant with our internal and donor regulations. The Program Development and Grants Manager will also be responsible for timely submission of quality donor reports as well as communication pieces, working with his/her team. Essential Job Responsibilities Interface with Mercy Corps headquarters and the regional office to keep abreast of donor strategic priorities, specific requirements and deadlines.

Participate in key donor meetings and consultations, support donor contacts, when necessary, to foster long-term collaboration, engagement, and strategic prepositioning. In partnership with the DCD and Heads of Portfolio , help build strategic relationships with key stakeholders, peer agencies and donors that lead towards funding opportunities. With the DCD and Heads of Portfolio , help build relationships with potential partners, including international and national NGOs to pre-position for future funding opportunities. Maintain the system for tracking potential and current donors, and upcoming strategic funding opportunities. Lead the strategic evaluation process for new funding opportunities and provide strategic advice to DCD and CD to make go no go decisions . Liaising with the Subawards team to map existing implementing partners and other donor projects across a variety of technical sectors including market systems development, livelihoods, natural resource management, social cohesion, governance and education. Maintain an online grant filing system, ensuring compliance with PM@MC minimum standards and facilitating tracking of basic program performance (on time, on scope, on budget) . Play a leading role in grant kick-off and close-out meetings to ensure that all grant information, including deadlines, donor priorities and requirements, are communicated and understood by the team, and grants are closed in compliance with donor regulations. Maintain effective communications with headquarters staff, providing timely updates on grants and flagging potential issues promptly. Support to monitor progress of all programs and proactively raise issues to ensure program quality. Coordinate with Quality, Evidence, and Learning (QEL) team to develop an evidence base and learning pieces to improve program quality and ensure these learnings are incorporated into new program design . Work with the QEL team to ensure that donor and program related learnings are incorporated into Mercy Corps Iraq’s Learning Center online platform. In collaboration with Program, QEL, Finance , and Compliance Teams, ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations, including PM@MC minimum standards. Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills Exceptional English writing skills, including experience leading proposal development processes for nexus programming. Development proposal writing experience preferred. Strong analytical writing skills, required. 3 to 5 years of progressive work experience, with demonstrated strengths in program or portfolio management, grants management, proposal development, external relations, and donor reporting. Familiarity with US, EU and other donor regulations for grants and contracts related to reporting requirements and ability to understand and adjust to the donor contractual requirements preferred. Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organize a workload comprised of varying and changing tasks and responsibilities. Excellent representation skills required. Experience in staff management, supervision and capacity building. Demonstrated experience in working in a multi-cultural and high-stress environment. BA degree in relevant field and MA preferred. Arabic and/or Kurdish language skills are a plus. Previous work experience in conflict and/or post-conflict environments, particularly in the Middle East, preferred. The successful candidate will be eager to learn through doing and will not shy away from tough challenges. This position has a critical function in ensuring grant management systems and processes are successfully implemented across the life of a grant and key controls are in place to support effective management of the funding portfolio and compliance with the donor requirements. As such this person will be very closely working with the different departments. This position is based in Erbil, Iraq and requires up to 20% travel within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Federal Iraq to support Mercy Corps Iraq’s offices and programs. This position is unaccompanied and the location is eligible for hardship allowance and R&R benefits. Living conditions are in group housing: water, electricity and internet are present with some cuts. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact