Senior Program Officer, Conflict Management Training Peacekeepers (PM) – SENIO001973-00001

DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES:

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 worldwide. 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 a front-row seat on the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

JOB BRIEF

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) is responsible for managing the Institute’s Conflict Management Training for Peacekeepers (CMTP) Program. They will oversee day-to-day activities, coordinating across team efforts to implement new and existing programming, and manage partnership relationships. They should be an experienced trainer and have both strong program management experience and expertise in the field of conflict resolution and/or peace operations. The SPO cultivates, maintains, and grows relationships across the U.S. Government (USG) and international NGOs and organizations to advance programming of strategic interest to the Institute and the CMTP Program. The SPO leads the planning, design, and build-out of the Program’s projects and initiatives such as pre-deployment trainings and training-of-trainer processes. The SPO leads strategic and operational (annual) planning and complementary M&E processes for the portfolio in partnership with the CTD Director. The Senior Program Officer manages a team of staff and is responsible for reporting, budget management, and acquisition and financial processes.

This position is based in Washington, DC and reports to the Director of the Curriculum and Training Design Team (CTD). The CTD Team creates and implements rigorous and sustainable transformative learning processes that strengthen the capacity of individual and institutional partners to build peaceful, just, and equitable societies. CTD is part of the Gandhi-King Global Academy.

TARGET SALARY RANGE Grade 14 – $126,000 – $130,000

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

Program Management:

• Serve as the primary internal and external point of contact for the CMTP program.

• Manage the program’s day-to-day operations, including but not limited to training implementation, contract initiation and oversight, and partnership development.

• Develop planning, program design, and implementation processes and systems in collaboration with CMTP partner institutions, including establishing formal commitments, milestones, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, work plans, and achievable capacity strengthening outcomes.

• Negotiate and facilitate the program’s long-range planning, sustainability strategy, and geographic expansion with CMTP partner institutions.

• Supervise program and administrative staff, implement management processes, prioritize staff efforts, direct resources, and manage workflow to meet program implementation and reporting requirements.

• Manage English- and French-speaking cohorts of trainers based throughout the African continent as they complete a multi-phased training-of-trainers process.

• Work with CMTP’s program officers and trainers to ensure CMTP curriculum and materials are adaptive, current, and appropriately tailored to training participants and events.

• Strengthen collaborative relationships across USIP and proactively deepen relationships with other organizations and government entities that are actively engaged in peacekeeping and security sector training.

• Travel to CMTP partner countries to conduct and observe trainings, monitor program progress, and pursue new program refinements.

• Ensure CMTP curriculum and materials are adaptive, current, and appropriately tailored to training participants and events.

Financial Management:

• Manage the program budget in coordination with USIP’s internal resource managers and finance offices.

• Serve as CMTP’s primary contracting officer technical representative (COTR).

• Develop and submit financial and narrative reports to CMTP partner institutions ensuring that program activities are implemented within projected timelines and in a manner that meets program standards and objectives

• Lead proposal development and pursue funding opportunities for peacekeeping training-related programming and institutional capacity strengthening of peace support operations training centers.

Thought Leadership:

• Develop and lead research and learning efforts for CMTP on peacekeeping training and institutional capacity strengthening.

• Participate and present at workshops, conferences, and other related events as a thought leader on the topic of peacekeeping training and peace support operations training center institutional capacity strengthening.

• Contribute to USIP’s annual and strategic planning processes on behalf of CMPerforms other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in education, conflict management, public administration, security studies, or related field with eight (8) years of experience is required.

• Eight (8) or more years related experience in program management required.

• Must be fluent in spoken and written English, fluency in spoken and written French preferred.

• Experience working in the fields of peacekeeping/peace operations training and/or security sector capacity strengthening.

• Experience with training and facilitation required.

• Experience working with security sector personnel preferred.

• Experience working on the ground in Africa (required) and Asia (desired).

• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills.

• Financial management proficiency. Must have the ability to design and manage budgets.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

• Strong networking skills and capabilities.

• Ability to work under tight deadlines while maintaining a courteous and supportive demeanor.

• Ability to work well independently and as a member of a project team while prioritizing multiple objectives.

• Proven ability to lead and motivate others.

• Approaches work as a team player.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

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

As with many organizations, USIP follows specific guidelines related to COVID vaccinations. These guidelines align with the latest findings from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The overall intent is to ensure the safest possible workplace for USIP employees and contractors. In accordance with the guidelines, all USIP employees and contractors with building access are required to be fully vaccinated regardless of telework or remote status.

Upon acceptance of the position, you are required to submit proof of vaccination along with your signed offer letter to HR. If you require an exemption, either medical or religious, we will provide you with the exemption form for you to complete prior to your start date.

**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.