Job Description
RESPONSIBILITIES
Department/Program Strategy and Management:
- Provides leadership, direction, and oversight to the Russia program, including fiscal/budget management, editorial oversight, staffing, outreach, and program management.
- Provides advice and guidance to executives and management officials on long range planning, development of strategies, coordination and use of resources, and tactics associated with implementation of new or revised programs and services.
- Directs activities to meet the mission, goals, objectives, and staffing/resource needs for the Russia program; evaluates and modifies the strategy and implementation plans as needed.
- Manages the scope, time, cost, and quality of each program and project undertaken.
- Develops, implements, and maintains policies and guidance for the Russia program.
Representation and Communications:
- Provides technical assistance and substantive input to policy makers, government practitioners, non-government organizations, and regional and international organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
- Builds and sustain networks of professionals in the public, private, and non-profit sectors who seek to plan, develop, and implement peacebuilding initiatives that will prevent and mitigate violent conflicts.
- Meets with foreign delegations to provide information on USIP and its work, expands institutional contacts and information-sharing, and explores potential collaboration.
- Organizes and chairs conferences, meetings, workshops, and study groups, including the following tasks: agenda design, participant selection usually including the appropriate legal, geographic, and policy experts.
- Supervises the outreach to partners, including invitation drafting, presenter selection, background material preparation, logistics, meeting moderation and facilitation, and summary report writing.
- Participates as appropriate in the planning and development of meetings organized by other Institute departments, recommending issues and participants.
- Writes both scholarly and policy-oriented reports and articles for USIP publication.
- Commissions and supervises research and writing, adapting and editing such work products for use in USIP programs or publications.
Resource, Grant, and Budget Management:
- Responsible for managing resources for the program, including identifying and pursuing program opportunities, planning, cultivating partnerships with US Government counterparts and drafting project concept notes, proposals, and next steps for project development.
- Works closely with the Executive Vice-President and other USIP colleagues to ensure policies and procedures are followed, and that all aspects of resource management are performed and financial reports are submitted in a timely manner.
- Manages all Russia projects, from conceptualization through implementation, making the appropriate mid-course corrections and keeping the USIP leadership updated.
- Ensures budget discipline and timely implementation of projects and activities.
Staff Management and Development:
- Oversees and provides guidance to external consultants and internal staff.
- Provides technical and administrative supervision to the Russia program staff; establishes long-range work plans and ensures that appropriate goals and objectives are implemented; determines overall resource needs, including staffing and budgetary requirements.
- Provides advice, counsel, and instruction to employees and evaluates employee performance; hears and resolves complaints; as necessary, takes disciplinary measures.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in international relations with an emphasis on Russian studies, and/or conflict management required.
- Minimum of 10 years of related experience required, especially in exchanges or dialogues with European or Russian think tanks.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of Russian political, social and economic issues and dynamics, especially in conflict zones (particularly Ukraine, Libya, Syria, Central Africa Republic, Venezuela, and other USIP-priority countries) required.
- Strong knowledge and experience in arms control and nonproliferation concepts and treaties.
- Significant previous experience living and working in conflict zones outside of Russia where Russian activities prevail.
- Strong connections to Russia-related policymakers and civil society leaders.
- Must have strong project management skills and experience managing complex projects.
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills and experience leading and managing employees with various levels of responsibility.
- Must be a sturdy collaborator with the ability to coordinate the input and priorities of multiple players.
- Strategic ability to effectively develop, communicate, and execute plans.
- Nimble problem-solver who enjoys taking ownership of complex challenges.
- Ability to design and manage budgets.
- Lead and motivate others to work as a team.
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be an exceptional communicator.
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Ability to write and speak Russian and other relevant regional languages (French, and/or Arabic) is highly desirable.
- Must be able to travel in both the United States and abroad.
Note: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
