Project Manager / Assessment Researcher

About the role

The Project Manager / Assessment Researcher will lead Development Gateway’s Iraq Higher Education AI Workforce Readiness Program in Baghdad, managing delivery of workstreams and conducting baseline AI readiness research across Iraqi universities.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day management of program activities, workplans, budgets and reporting in coordination with IREX and partners.
• Conduct AI ecosystem mapping, virtual surveys, and 20‑30 stakeholder interviews to produce a visual baseline report and university factsheets.
• Provide strategic advisory on emerging political, institutional and technical risks and guide the design of AI workforce convenings and readiness roadmaps.
• Build and maintain relationships with government bodies, university leaders, U.S. technology firms and the funder, and mentor the AI Technical Specialist and other technical staff.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, education, information systems, STEM or related field; 7+ years experience managing complex, multi‑stakeholder projects, preferably donor‑funded.
• Proven ability to develop strategic relationships with Iraqi government and higher‑education institutions.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English.
• Existing work authorization in Iraq.

Required skills

• Survey design and adaptation
• Mixed‑methods data analysis
• Stakeholder interview techniques