Private Sector Engagement Specialist (National Position)

About the role

The Private Sector Engagement Specialist will lead a comprehensive mapping of Iraq's private‑sector ecosystem, focusing on construction, agro‑industry, services and emerging sectors with employment potential. The role involves analysing labour‑market dynamics and providing evidence‑based recommendations to shape vocational training and employment linkage programmes.

Key responsibilities

• Map private‑sector actors, SMEs and stakeholders across priority sectors in target governorates.
• Review secondary data and literature on local economic trends and labour‑market dynamics.
• Design and implement mixed‑methods data collection (KIIs, FGDs) with employers, training providers, authorities and other stakeholders.
• Produce three analytical reports (one per governorate) with sector mapping, gender‑age‑vulnerability disaggregated labour‑force analysis, and SME employment opportunity assessments.
• Deliver recommendations for vocational‑training course design and employment‑linkage activities.
• Coordinate with the project team and AVSI Iraq’s MEAL department to ensure methodological coherence and continuous labour‑market monitoring.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required profile

• University degree in Economics, Business Administration, Labour Economics, Development Studies, Statistics, Social Sciences or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in labour‑market assessments, market research, private‑sector development or socio‑economic analysis.
• Proven experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research (surveys, KIIs, FGDs).
• Demonstrated ability to analyse skills demand, private‑sector dynamics and produce high‑quality analytical reports.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation experience with government and private‑sector entities.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Required skills