Senior Program Officer for Security Sector Governance and Reform – SENIO001826-00001

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 around the world. 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 toughest 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
The Senior Program Officer for Security Sector Governance and Reform will coordinate and provide technical support for all human security and Security Sector Governance and Reform (SSG/R) requests at USIP. Such technical requests may cover concrete technical questions pertaining to police reform, defense reform, civilian oversight of armed forces, democratic accountability, democratic governance, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration strategies, corruption, organized crime, gang violence, financial sustainability of security sector reforms.

The Senior Program Officer for Security Sector Governance and Reform (SPO) will be assisting headquarters and field-based colleagues and/or other USIP partners on the design, development, and planning of high-quality strategic plans, programs, projects, as well as ensuring that the programs under their responsibility are implemented to a high standard. The SPO will be responsible for making sure that the Institute’s programs, projects, and other initiatives are aligned with and contribute to USIP’s vision and strategy on SSG/R. The SPO will also be responsible for the financial management and public outreach for programs undertaken in an efficient and effective way. The SPO will also be supporting the coordination of a technical community of practice on SSG/R composed of internal and external members.

The SPO will coordinate their work with USIP’s Security Governance Advisor (SGA). This position is based in Washington, DC, and reports to the Director for Governance, Justice, and Security.

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.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Field-oriented technical and programmatic support:
• Takes the lead in coordinating and providing technical advice to USIP’s programs and projects aimed at improving human security, with an emphasis on security sector governance and reform. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: advising on program design and implementation; providing field support, upon request from USIP thematic or regional center teams, or colleagues across the USG.
• Oversees the provision of technical support by short term technical experts and consultants;
• Provides advice and counsel across USIP and to USIP partner organizations;
• Conducts and/or oversees research and the development of technical publications, training courses, lectures, workshops, and educational programs and materials;
• Makes overseas trips to support programs and projects and meets with key stakeholders.

Support for Community of Practice on SSG/R:
• Collaborates with the Security Governance Advisor in coordinating a community of practice on SSG/R and the efforts to enhance USIP’s partnerships on human security with external partners in Washington DC or abroad, including by elevating the Institute’s position as a trusted and reliable U.S. Government partner on human security.
• Takes a lead role in providing technical support to the SGA’s coordination activities both within USIP and with U.S. government partners and other national and international stakeholders, as well as with U.S. embassies in the field, or other partners, as required by programmatic needs.
• Builds strategic partnerships and cultivates contacts with subject matter experts and a wide variety of external organizations to leverage resources and combine efforts to promote USIP program initiatives and goals.
• Convenes experts and strategic partners, and makes public presentations at conferences and workshops;
• Attends and participates in relevant conferences, events, and other external engagements to speak on behalf of USIP on issues relating to human security, with an emphasis on security sector governance and reform, and other subjects pertinent to the portfolio.
• Provides regular briefings to governmental or other organizations on key subject matter areas.

Financial Management:
• Implements relevant portions of the program budget, related to the functions of the position, to ensure that the program is operating optimally within its budget limitations in order to meet its goals and objectives.
• Pursues external funding for project initiatives.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
• J.D. and/or Master’s degree in international relations or in a related field with a minimum of eight (8) years of experience is required. Ph.D. holders are also encouraged to apply.
• Preferably twelve (12) to fifteen (15) years (or more) of concrete, field-based, technical SSG/R support experience in conflict-affected environments; and of these, at least five (5) years of combined programmatic and research experience in security sector governance and reform within a governmental agency, multilateral organization, non-governmental organization, security-related technical centers or institutes.
• Extensive technical practical expertise in one or more subject matter areas to include: police reform, defense reform, civilian oversight of armed forces, democratic accountability, democratic governance, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration strategies, corruption, organized crime, gang violence, financial sustainability of security sector reforms is required.
• Extensive experience back-stopping a wide variety of concrete technical requests on security sector governance and reform from the field.
• Exposure to academia and research is desirable and an advantage.
• Extensive knowledge of key principles of human security, with an emphasis on security sector governance and reform.
• Working proficiency in Spanish, French, or Arabic is desirable and an advantage.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Strong public-speaking and policy-convening skills.
• Strong partnership-building and coordination skills.
• Some experience with training programs, preferably in security sector governance and reform.

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

Following the Federal mandate, USIP will require USIP employees and contractors to be fully vaccinated (except for religious and health exemptions). The vaccine mandate applies to employees and contractors with building access regardless of telework or remote status.

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.