Project Manager

Brief description of the organization

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (“IS”) against the Yazidis and other communities in Iraq and Syria. Since its inception, Yazda has worked with local and international partners to provide Yazidi survivors, IDPs, and refugees with humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services in their post-genocide recovery. Yazda has been working in Iraq since October 2014 and operates out of the main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and out of the Sinoni office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States and is registered in Erbil, Baghdad, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Australia.

Project Background

The project “Beyond documentation: Strengthening Accountability and Justice for ISIL Crimes” aims to advance justice and accountability for ISIL crimes against Yazidis and other affected communities by supporting criminal accountability in third states while working on the root causes of the genocide and advocating for justice, accountability both nationally and internationally, the exhumation of mass graves and the return of the missing in Iraq.

Job Description

The Project Manager (PM) will be responsible for leading the implementation of the project, ensuring it is impactful, meets all its targets, and is survivors-centered while managing the project staff and ensuring a positive working environment. The project manager will liaise with the donors during the entire project implementation and will lead the drafting of all the required reports.  

Responsibilities and tasks

Under the supervision of Yazda’s Program Coordinator, the Project Manager is expected to fulfill the following tasks:

Team Management and Supervision:

• Manage a diverse team based in Duhok and Sinjar and ensure a positive working environment.
• Supervise project staff to ensure timely achievement of targets while ensuring adherence to international standards and best practices.

Project Coordination and Administration:

• Manage the project budget and ensure compliance with donors’ requirements.
• Lead and coordinate the drafting of all donor reports.
• Ensure all activities are impactful, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed.
• Draft social media posts related to the project and its objectives.

Evidence Management and support the prosecution of ISIL perpetrators:

• Oversee the collection, redaction, and management of evidence, ensuring adherence to international standards and best practices.
• Liaise with national law enforcement and prosecutors’ offices to share collected evidence and support the prosecution of ISIL members in countries respecting fair trial guarantees and the rule of law.
• With the support of the Advocacy Coordinator and the team, produce thematic and analytical reports to support accountability and advocacy efforts.
• Ensure survivors’ participation in investigations, trials, and outreach campaigns.

Advocacy and Outreach:

• Manage and support the Advocacy Coordinator in leading domestic and international advocacy on transitional justice, criminal accountability, and access to reparations for survivors.
• Ensure advocacy efforts lead to tangible results for survivors and victims, with a particular focus on the exhumation of the mass graves, the return of the missing, and criminal accountability.

Support and Other Tasks:

• Support Yazda’s fundraising efforts by contributing to proposals and budgets when needed.
• Assist in any additional tasks as required. 

 Requirements

Minimum experience: Minimum five years of relevant professional experience as a project manager or in a similar position in an NGO. Lawyer preferred.

Minimum education: Master’s degree in law, social sciences, project management, or any relevant field.

Required travel: Regular travel to Sinjar and other locations in Iraq

• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience as a project manager or in a similar position in an NGO. Previous experience in working on documentation projects or other human-rights focused projects preferred.
• Master’s degree in law, social sciences, project management or any relevant field. Lawyer preferred.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills to supervise staff from different background and in different locations and achieve project targets while ensuring the respect of international standards and best practice.
• Expertise in project budget management and compliance with donor requirements.
• Excellent writing skills and proven experience in drafting donor reports.
• Knowledge of survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches in project implementation needed. Absolute respect of confidentiality and informed consent.
• Experience in advocacy and in collaborating with stakeholders working on criminal accountability, including law enforcement and prosecutors preferred.
• Familiarity with the Iraqi context, particularly the crimes committed against the Yazidi community by ISIL.
• Flexibility to support fundraising efforts and assist with additional tasks as needed.
• Fluency in English (speaking and writing) required.
• Knowledge of French, German, Arabic, Kurdish, or other relevant languages is an asset.