IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR

ABOUT US

Free to Run’s mission is to enable women and girls to safely and boldly engage in outdoor activity in conflict-affected regions. Through a combination of sports programs, life skills development, and community outreach, we help girls and women to reclaim public space and change views about the roles they can (and should) play in a society. Our programs are designed to develop community leaders who can bring people together across cultural, ethnic and religious lines. Free to Run has been operating community-led programs in Iraq for five years, primarily focused on girls and women in IDP and refugee camp settings. The organization is positioned to grow considerably in the next 3-5 years in Iraq and globally.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Iraq Country Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization’s work in Iraq – from big picture to the small details. The Country Director is responsible for building the Free to Run network in the country, with a specific focus on donor-relations to achieve fundraising goals and grow the organization’s profile. The Country Director reports directly to the (internationally-based) Executive Director.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES

1) Develop and Manage an Effective and Informed Iraq Country Strategy (10%)

• Envision a high-impact Iraq strategy that aligns with Free to Run’s global strategy

• Develop and track key performance indicators related to strategy

• Participate in organizational strategic planning, budgeting and performance reporting activities

2) Oversee Free to Run Programs (20%)

• Oversee program development and design efforts for Iraq-based programs, with support of Senior Program Officer who will directly manage program cycles, currently designed to be operating in three provinces by 2023

• Ensure all programs are adequately staffed and resourced, support staff training and development

• Oversee safe and high-quality program implementation, monitor day-to-day activities of Program staff

• Ensure all programs are monitored and evaluated using standard instruments, work closely with the Executive Director to improve current data collection tools to provide more accurate and timely information on project indicators for success

• Lead program learning and analysis activities with staff, contribute to global learning practices

• Develop and maintain relationships with key local, regional and national stakeholders to ensure smooth operations

• Ensure program data and learning is shared with other relevant staff for program improvement, external reporting and communications

3) Grow and Lead a High-Performing Team (30%)

• Lead recruitment, interviewing, hiring and on-boarding/off-boarding of Iraq Free to Run team

• Manage Senior Program Officer and Finance and Operations Officer (others as deemed necessary for growth and as resources allow)

• Ensure the organization and employees comply with all relevant in-country employment laws and best practices

• Coordinate the bi-annual goal setting and performance review processes for all administrative employees and support a culture of constant feedback and learning through targeted coaching and mentoring organization-wide

• Support visits from international staff, Board members and volunteers

4) Oversee Country-level Finances and Operations (20%)

• Develop and manage organizational country budget and finances as well as program budgets for specific projects

• Work with bookkeeper to manage administration of expenses, handling of cash and procurement processes, and accounts payable and receivable

• Prepare timely, high-quality financial and narrative reports

• Ensure financial compliance with national and local laws, as well as Free to Run’s finance policies

• Ensure all office operations are functional, with support from Finance and Operations Officer

• Liaise with Executive Director on a regular basis to ensure financial cohesion 

• Confirm all registrations and permits to operate as an NGO are up to date, secure licenses to operate in new geographies as needed

5) Build Support for Free to Run in Iraq (20%)

• Identify, cultivate and follow through on funding opportunities across sectors, including mapping potential funding opportunities, meeting with potential and current partners and developing funding proposals (with support from the Executive Director)

• Use strong storytelling and persuasion skills to build individual and community support for Free to Run in Iraq amongst key stakeholders

• Compile and prepare Iraq case studies and stories, provide regular input to Free to Run’s social media channels

• Communicate regularly with Free to Run’s community partners and coordinating their participation in events

• Represent Free to Run at influential events and speaking engagements locally, regionally and internationally

• Write press releases and editorial content for website and earned media opportunities

LOCATION

The Country Director position is based in Erbil (KRI) with an expectation of travel to other parts of Iraq regularly and international travel on occasion. Must have a passport and/or residency permit that allows for travel throughout (federal) Iraq and KRI.

WORKING HOURS

The Country Director position is a full-time role, estimated at 40 hours per week. Due to the nature of the organization’s business, hours may fluctuate outside regular core hours (Sunday–Thursday; 9AM-5PM), with the possibility of some nights or weekends, depending on the needs of the organization.

COMPENSATION

Based on experience. Aligned with market rate for a Country Director in Iraq. (Free to Run uses MSF Salary Survey as one of a handful of benchmarks for salary calculations in Iraq).

EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

Below is what we are looking for as we evaluate applications.  Candidates don’t need to have all these experiences and competencies but should be able to display strengths across multiple areas. 

Free to Run seeks an experienced, values-driven leader with a demonstrated ability to mobilize resources, build strategic partnerships, and lead high-performing teams. The successful candidate will combine strong knowledge of Iraq's civil society and development landscape with a commitment to feminist leadership, human rights, and locally-led development. We recognize that strong leaders bring diverse professional and educational experiences.

Education and Language:

• Bachelor's degree in international development, human rights, women’s/gender studies, public health or MHPSS, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field required. An advanced degree is preferred; equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English is required.

• Professional fluency in Kurdish (Sorani or Kurmanji/Badini) or Arabic required; proficiency in both is strongly preferred.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international development, humanitarian assistance, human rights, civil society, or related sectors, including at least three years in a senior management or leadership role.

• Demonstrated track record of successful fundraising and resource mobilization in Iraq and/or the wider Middle East region, including personally cultivating donor relationships, securing institutional or private funding, and developing successful funding proposals or partnerships.

• Established relationships with, and strong understanding of, the regional donor landscape, including bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, international NGOs, and private-sector funding partners.

• Proven experience leading, managing, and developing diverse teams, including responsibility for staff performance, professional development, organizational culture, and effective team collaboration.

• Experience managing organizational budgets, operational systems, and financial accountability, including compliance with donor requirements and applicable national regulations.

• Deep understanding of Iraq's political, social, cultural, and operating environment, including the Kurdistan Region, and demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.

• Experience engaging with government authorities, civil society organizations, institutional donors, and community-based partners.

• Experience working in women's rights, gender equity, youth leadership, refugee and displacement, or community-based development programming strongly preferred.

• Experience managing institutional grants and working within international NGO accountability, safeguarding, and compliance frameworks preferred.

• Experience working in collaboration with a global headquarters and other country-teams strongly preferred

Skills, Leadership Approach and Competencies:

Feminist and Rights-Based Leadership

• Demonstrated commitment to feminist principles, gender equality, and human rights, with the ability to translate these values into everyday leadership, management practices, and organizational decision-making.

• Proven ability to lead through an empowering, inclusive, and participatory management approach that shares power appropriately, encourages staff agency and ownership, values diverse perspectives, and creates opportunities for individual and collective leadership.

• Ability to foster a respectful, psychologically safe, and accountable working environment in which team members feel empowered to raise concerns, challenge ideas constructively, and contribute meaningfully to decisions.

• Strong understanding of power dynamics, discrimination, and structural inequalities, with the ability to apply intersectional and culturally responsive approaches to staff management, partnerships, and programming.

• Commitment to safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), non-discrimination, and the dignity and rights of staff, participants, and communities.

Fundraising and External Relations

• Excellent relationship-building, networking, and negotiation skills, with the confidence and credibility to engage senior government officials, institutional donors, private-sector partners, and civil society leaders.

• Strong fundraising and business development capabilities, including donor cultivation, strategic positioning, proposal development, and negotiation of funding partnerships.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including persuasive writing, public speaking, and the ability to represent Free to Run effectively with diverse audiences.

• Ability to identify and pursue strategic opportunities that strengthen Free to Run's financial sustainability, institutional credibility, and influence.

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to translate organizational priorities into achievable country-level objectives, operational plans, and measurable results.

• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with sound financial management, operational oversight, and organizational accountability.

• Strong judgment, integrity, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to make sound decisions in complex, politically sensitive, and rapidly changing environments.

• Ability to lead organizational change constructively, foster innovation, and build a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

• Strong cross-cultural communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict-resolution skills, including the ability to provide constructive feedback, address performance challenges fairly, and navigate difficult conversations with professionalism.

• Ability to collaborate effectively within a globally distributed organization, maintaining clear communication, mutual accountability, and alignment between country-level and global teams.

• Proficiency with standard digital collaboration, communication, and financial management tools, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will demonstrate integrity, humility, resilience, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to Free to Run's mission. They will be a confident external representative and an empowering internal leader who understands that effective leadership is measured not only by organizational results, but also by the capacity, confidence, and agency developed in others.

Free to Run is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We don’t just accept differences — we celebrate, support and thrive on them for the benefit of our team, our programs, and our organizational strength. We are proud to be an affirmative action employer, committed to diversity, equity and inclusion of ALL people in our hiring and employment practices. We encourage applications from people who have non-dominant identities based on race, ethnicity, migration status, ability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, etc.

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

Prepare a cover letter expressing your interest and CV/resume in PDF form and upload them as separate documents using the form below. The deadline for submission of applications is November 30, 2026.