Program Manager, Peace Process

Job Description

Title: Program Manager, Peace Process

Organization: United States Institute of Peace

Location: Kabul, Afghanistan

Contractor position

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

We are a nonpartisan institute chartered by Congress to tackle the world’s toughest problems. Working in conflict zones around the world, our staff advise and support the military, government officials and community leaders – to promote knowledge and practices that prevent, mitigate and resolve violent conflict. To learn more about USIP programs and job openings go to https://www.usip.org/about/careers.

JOB BRIEF

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) seeks a Program Manager to provide in country management support for researching, analyzing, and organizing activities and conducting research and analysis aimed at advancing a peace process among diverse Afghan parties including the Taliban. USIP’s peace process programs are focused on policy analysis, research, dialogues, community engagement, training and other programmatic activities. USIP also strengthens governance and rule of law, and builds understanding of and capacity in conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution for Afghan individuals and institutions. USIP inform United States, Afghan and international policy and practice about ways to reduce violent conflict in Afghanistan.

Candidates for this position must be an Afghan national. This position reports to the Country Director based at USIP’s Kabul Office (KBO) and will work closely with other members of the KBO team, as well as other staff based in USIP’s headquarters.

*This is a Personal Services Contractor position.*

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research, Analysis, and Thought Leadership:

• Researches and writes and analyzes ways to achieve a political settlement of the Afghanistan conflict and comparative examples of similar processes elsewhere.
• In collaboration with the USIP peace process team, develop project briefings to governmental or other organizations on Afghanistan’s peace process.
• Supports efforts to represent the program in internal and external events and to disseminate information about USIP’s programs and research findings.

Development, Planning and Execution:

• Develops a workplan for implementing subnational dialogues on achieving an inclusive and sustainable peace for Afghanistan in the context of the current peace talks with the Taliban.
• In close coordination and consultation with the USIP team, identifies appropriate partners for executing bottom-up peacebuilding activities.
• Organizes and prepares reporting to funding partners on program activities.
• Supervises subordinate team members to execute project objectives.
• Identifies and advises on additional peacebuilding needs and prepares proposals for relevant funding partners.
• Develops and maintains a network of contacts relevant to discussions of a peace process in Afghanistan.
• Structures, organizes, and oversees events related to achieving a political settlement to the Afghanistan conflict in Afghanistan to include workshops, trainings, and intra-Afghan dialogues.
• Identifies and maintains critical stakeholder relationships related to the program in Afghanistan.
• Ensures the highest level of communication and cooperation with relevant USIP departments/divisions/teams and external partners.
• As needed, participates in strategic planning sessions with regional and thematic teams and with wider KBO engagements.
• Keeps up-to-date on other work on a political settlement in Afghanistan as they relate to USIP’s work.
• Works as a team member, coordinating and collaborating with the rest of Kabul team closely on all the above.

Financial Management:

• Manages the project budget to ensure the project is operating within its budget limitations while meeting goals and objectives.
• Ensures all program activities are implemented within program timelines and in a manner that meets program standards and objectives.
• Develops regular reporting for both internal and external project stakeholders, including responsibility for the development, editing and timely submission of any progress reports that may be required.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Candidates must be an Afghan national
• A Masters degree, or equivalent experience, in social sciences, humanities, conflict management, or international relations.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience working with civil society organizations to develop and manage joint activities.
• Excellent representation and communication skills (oral and written), including cross-cultural skills, media skills, and the ability to deal with counterparts on both the lowest and highest political, social and economic levels;
• Relevant management experience, including drafting and negotiating proposals and writing donor reports (preferably for USG agencies such as USAID, INL).
• In addition to fluency in the Afghan national languages (Pashtu and Dari), strong verbal and written English fluency is required; applicants with language abilities should indicate their fluency levels.
• Demonstrated experience working with different cross-sections of Afghan society: a diversity of ethnic and societal groups.

This position is subject to the availability of funds. Salary is commensurate with experience. Immediate or very near-term availability will be an important factor in candidate selection.

Employment with the U.S. Institute of Peace is not employment with the U.S. government. The U.S. Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan, national institution which aims to prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and increase conflict management capacity by empowering others with knowledge, skills and resources, as well as by directly engaging in peacebuilding efforts around the globe.

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

Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

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 history.
2. Cover letter
3. Resume

For questions about this position please email recruitment@usip.org. 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, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, political affiliations or belief, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.