Program Officer, Executive Office Strategic Partnerships – PROGR002026-00001

Who We Are

Peace is our commitment. The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people’s shared values and commitment to peace worldwide. We know that Peace is Security – it advances both U.S. and international security by preventing, managing, and mitigating violent conflict.

We are an independent, non-partisan institution and are actively engaged with peacebuilding efforts around the world. Together we tackle the most challenging problems and hold fast to the possibility of a more peaceful world. To learn more about USIP programs and job openings, go to https://www.usip.org/about/careers.

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and want to have a front-row seat on the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

JOB BRIEF

Situated on the Strategic Partnerships (SP) team and reporting to the Director, the Program Officer (PO) for Executive Branch Partnerships helps lead the Institute’s efforts to engage and forge partnerships with the Administration and U.S. Interagency. The focus is principally on leveraging these partnerships to advance USIP’s key priorities and relevance under its mission to prevent, mitigate, and help resolve violent international conflict. Other key objectives include harnessing USIP expertise to inform better policy and practice in the global conflict prevention and peacebuilding spheres and supporting funded partnerships with the U.S. Government (USG). The SP team operates in close cooperation with Institute leadership, the Congressional Relations team, and the geographic and thematic programs. On the SP team, the PO for Executive Branch Partnerships also collaborates closely with Senior Program Officer for International Partnerships.

TARGET SALARY RANGE

Grade 12- $89,000-$95,000

The Institute uses the General Schedule salary tables for administering compensation. Contractor offers are determined based on candidate qualifications, related experience, internal equity, and the amount budgeted for the position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnerships and External Engagement
* In collaboration with the Director, the SP team, and USIP programmatic staff – design and implement a strategy for strategic engagement with the Executive Branch and its agencies focused on driving USIP institutional and programmatic priorities.
* Manage, expand, and strengthen relations between USIP and key partners, including the Executive Branch, U.S. Interagency, and DC-based think tanks.
* Serve as liaison to USG partners on behalf of Institute centers and programs as required.
+ Develop and support opportunities for USIP programs to meet with and brief senior officials within the Executive Branch and across its agencies.
+ Identify substantive programmatic or policy synergies between USG priorities and USIP programs to support partnership development.
* Represent USIP at external events and engagements where appropriate.
* Support cross-Institute collaboration, especially on funded partnerships, while also providing counsel on challenges that arise.

Policy and Analysis
* Serve as an expert analyst on the federal budget, specifically the Foreign Operations Account and foreign assistance funding implications.
* Provide USIP leadership with reporting and analysis pertaining to ongoing partnerships with USG entities to support strategic decision-making as well as talking points and briefing data as appropriate.
* Advise programs and Institute leadership on policy developments emanating from the Executive Branch and agencies related to their work as well as that of the Institute writ large.
* Organize and manage working groups, roundtables, and strategic events relevant to USIP’s programs and its USG partners through leveraging USIP’s convening power and understanding of key policy issues where the Institute can have an impact

Internal Program Development
* Provide strategic internal direction and support to programs on IAA negotiation and development, including programmatic and procurement-related matters.
* Support, as appropriate, the planning of events organized by other Institute centers with recommendations about agenda, participants, and audience.
* Oversee and mentor any Research Assistants assigned to SP.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
* Master’s degree with four (4) or more years of experience in political science, economics, security studies, conflict/peace studies, international development, international business or related field is required.
* Six (6) or more years of experience in peacebuilding or related fields, including international development, human rights, national security, or international business with direct experience working on policy advocacy and development strongly preferred.
* Understanding of and experience with building foreign affairs, national security and intergovernmental communities.
* Knowledge of the federal budget process and foreign assistance.
* Knowledge of interagency collaboration and coordination processes.
* Ability to represent the Institute publicly in a variety of settings levels of authority.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
* Strong organizational style and detail-oriented with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

All USIP contract and employee positions are contingent upon the favorable completion of a suitability background investigation.

HOW TO APPLY
To be considered for this position, please submit a complete application package consisting of:

1. Completed employment application including titles, dates of hire and salary requirements.
2. Cover letter
3. Resume

For questions about this position, please email [email protected]. Do not send resumes or attachments to this email address.

Only those applicants that are selected for further discussions will be contacted.

No Phone Calls. Interviews will be scheduled by appointment only.

USIP is an equal-opportunity employer. It is the policy and practice of USIP to offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, political affiliations or belief, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.