Sports Facilitator

Qualification, Education, Experience, Skills 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.

Qualifications requirements

Education: Current university student or recent university graduate of either a Masters or Bachelors in a Physical Education and Sport Sciences or relevant field. 

Experience

• Keen knowledge of running and athletic training. This position is ideal for track or cross-country runners and coaches or anyone who has experience training themselves or others for preparing for a running race
• Passion for Free to Run’s mission, including the power of sport, working with women and girls, and youth-led projects
• 2-5 years of experience working with girls and young women directly (ideally in a sport setting but others considered acceptable as well)
• Ability to manage priorities, work independently and collaboratively, and accept constructive feedback
• Familiarity with social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
• Knowledge of Iraq/Arab culture or NGO sector preferred
• Knowledge of and ability to teach basic nutrition for athletes
• Knowledge of and ability to teach basic injury prevention

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to run with participants at moderate distances
• Ability to travel internationally (unless based currently in Iraq), this includes having a valid passport
• Ability to endure extreme heat
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated intercultural communication and negotiation skills
• Results orientation; ability to organize self under the pressure of a dynamic and quickly changing environment
• Ability to perform in a office environment with professional respect for colleagues 
• Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace to manage documents, spreadsheets, scheduling, etc.
• Solid understanding of women’s/girls’/human rights in Iraq and the region preferred
• Ability to assimilate and analyze information to identify what is important to achieve goals and provide effective solutions
• Ability to display a sense of calmness and control over difficult or unforeseen situations in self and the team. Ability to cope with your own emotional demands while encouraging teamwork and constructive collaboration. While Erbil (Kurdistan) is a generally peaceful and autonomous region of Iraq, it is a post-conflict area that still experiences occasional violence, generally not directed towards NGO staff or foreigners. 

Language: Proficiency in written and spoken command of Kurdish and in Arabic is required and knowledge English is preferred.

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: Interested applicants can apply for the position by completing the form on our website, providing required information and uploading cover letters and CV/resume in PDF. The deadline for submission of application is 22 of January 2026.

Please Note: 

• Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and suitable candidates may be shortlisted before the application deadline. The Positions will remain open until filled by a qualified candidate.