THE ORGANIZATION
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is an independent, non-partisan, federally funded organization established and funded by the U.S. Congress to increase the nation’s capacity to manage international conflict without violence. USIP was founded in 1984 to:
- Prevent, mitigate and resolve violent international conflict;
- Provide analysis on the root causes of conflict;
- Increase peacebuilding capacity, education, tools, and intellectual capital among practitioners and the American public.
SUMMARY
The Afghanistan and Central Asia Program is located within USIP’s Asia Center, which also has programs covering South Asia, Myanmar (Burma), and China. Afghanistan is USIP’s largest country program and includes an office in Kabul with some 40 program and support staff, in addition to a seven-member DC-based Afghanistan team. The Afghanistan program works in three main areas: programing in Afghanistan including grants to civil society organizations, research on conflict-related issues, and informing policy in both Kabul and Washington, DC through publications, briefings and convening public and private events.
The director for Afghanistan and Central Asia is responsible for overseeing the strategic development and overall management of the existing Afghanistan program as well as continuing to build a Central Asia program. The director also represents USIP in a wide range of public and private events, media interviews and briefings for USG officials, conducts research and writes policy-relevant reports, and participates as required in overall USIP management and strategic direction. The position is based in USIP’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, but the director is expected to travel regularly to the region.
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:
- Cover letter
- Resume
If a link does not appear on your screen to “Complete your Application”, please go to www.usip.org/work-us to submit your cover letter and resume.
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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. !
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Planning, and Program Design, Development and Management:
- Help lead and participate in USIP-wide as well as Asia Center strategic planning exercises.
- Oversee the design and development of USIP’s programs in Afghanistan and Central Asia in line with the strategic and operational plans, and be responsible for overseeing and coordinating all USIP activities in these geographic locations.
- Maintain regular contact with intergovernmental partners who support USIP’s programs, ensuring regular reporting, briefing as required, and prompt responses to questions.
- Oversee the program’s budget, and take strategic decisions regarding future funding allocations.
- Help ensure effective communication and coordination between the field-based staff and the DC headquarters.
- Work closely with the Afghanistan country director to manage the security policies and profile of the Institute in the field and maintain a high level of security awareness/preparedness.
- In collaboration with relevant offices and projects, the director will ensure effective M&E systems are in place and organize independent evaluations of USIP’s programs on a regular basis.
- Make 2-3 trips/year to the field to visit and support programs and meet with key stakeholders (if applicable).
Representation and Fundraising:
- Provide regular briefings to USG officials, testify at congressional hearings, and be available for media interviews as an expert on Afghanistan/Central Asia.
- Represent the Afghanistan/Central Asia programs before the USIP Board, International Advisory Board, and other such bodies.
- Participate in panels/events of USIP and other think tanks and institutes in DC and elsewhere.
- Identify appropriate funding sources and coordinate the development of concept notes and funding proposals, and negotiate Inter-agency agreements for that purpose as agreed with the Asia Center’s vice president and in accordance with the Asia Center’s strategic plan.
*Personnel Management***:**
- Supervise directly or indirectly the work of Afghanistan/Central Asia team employees, contractors and consultants, based in DC as well as in the field.
- Work with direct reports to develop performance objectives, and according to USIP’s HR policies conduct annual performance evaluations.
- Ensure compliance with USIP’s HR policies and procedures.
Research, Learning and Informing Policy:
- Help develop and oversee the implementation of a research agenda, including anticipating issues of policy interest, and commissioning research that furthers understanding of Afghan conflict dynamics and is relevant to policymakers.
- Contribute directly to USIP’s research/policy output by researching and writing policy-relevant reports, briefing paper, op-eds/blogs, etc.
- Ensure USIP’s Afghanistan and Central Asia programs have strong monitoring, evaluation and learning components, and ensure that program learning is documented and used to inform the work of USIP and others.
- Conceive, form, organize and implement policy-oriented working groups.
- Ensure effective communication strategies and systems are in place so that USIP’s Afghanistan/Central Asia publications, program learning and expertise are disseminated in ways that have the most impact in terms of informing policy.
Central Asia-related Functions:
- Further develop a strategic plan to guide USIP’s work in Central Asia.
- Based on the strategy, identify interagency funding opportunities and oversee the drafting of project concept notes and proposals.
- Identify and develop research priorities based on the Central Asia strategy; directly conduct research and support and oversee research initiatives by others; write and review policy-oriented publications; and disseminate research findings.
- If funding permits, recruit and manage a Central Asia expert in residence.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals of countries listed in a U.S. Collective Defense Arrangement per the Department of State. To see a list of those countries, go to http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/collectivedefense/index.htm.
- A Master’s degree (PhD preferred) or equivalent experience in social sciences, humanities, or international relations/conflict management.
- Minimum of ten (10) years of experience, with a strong focus on Afghanistan in at least two of the following areas: regional political/economic analysis; international development, peacebuilding/conflict resolution, democracy and governance, international law, human rights. Some experience in Central Asia highly desirable.
- Demonstrated expertise on Afghanistan and Central Asia; strong research and analytical skills.
- 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 grant management experience, including drafting and negotiating proposals and writing reports for USG agencies.
PI92812675
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