Job Title: Programs Director
Reports To: Executive Director
Type: Regular, Full-Time

The Fund for Peace (FFP) seeks a dynamic, motivated, and collaborative individual to join its Washington, D.C.-based team as a full-time Programs Director in mid- January 2021. The role will encompass both programmatic and organizational responsibilities. On the programmatic side, the role will focus on the design, implementation and oversight of programs related to FFP’s conflict early warning, response, and resilience programming as well as FFP’s responsible business and human rights practice area. This will include research, data analytics, writing, training and mentorship, and relationship-building. On the organizational side, the role will entail personnel management and mentorship to junior staff, representing FFP in an array of domestic and international forums, and support to organizational business development.

The Programs Director will be based in Washington, D.C., with travel to specific FFP program locations expected, with a focus on the West Africa subregion. Thematically, this position will initially focus on FFP’s two key programmatic areas – business and human rights (with a specific focus on security, the Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights Initiative, and due diligence for multilateral financial institutions) and conflict early warning, response and resilience programming (within West Africa as well as globally). There will be room for growth and participation in FFP’s other programs, including but not limited to the annual Fragile States Index (FSI).

Specific Job Duties

80% Program Design, Implementation, and Oversight:

  • Perform program design, implementation and management functions as required, including liaising with FFP staff based in the field and local partners based in focus countries.
  • Responsible for the coordination, planning, execution, and delivery of program tasks and activities.
  • Supervise and coordinate staff to ensure fidelity to budgets, workflows, and deliverables.
  • Build and maintain relationships for FFP with government officials, multilateral organizations (including multinational development banks), corporate and busines sector representatives, local organizations and NGOs, and international organizations in target countries.
  • Provide expertise on relevant subject matter through briefings of key officials and other relevant actors, publications, and participation in working groups, conferences and roundtable events.
  • Perform program directorship functions as required, including coordinating requests for political risk analyses from various clients.
  • Design, implementation and delivery of analytical and training products.

20% Core Organizational Functions:

  • Represent FFP at internal and external events and disseminate information about FFP’s programs and research findings.
  • Spearhead and pursue opportunities for new business, including identifying opportunities and leading proposal design and execution.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
  • Direct management and supervision responsibility will include Programs Managers, Associates, consultants and sub-contractors.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Deep understanding of the dynamics of political transitions and programming to support them, strong research and analytical skills, and a minimum of ten years of professional experience and progressive responsibility working in and/or on conflict or post-conflict countries.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with key stakeholders, both internal and external.
  • Excellent representation and communication skills (oral and written), including cross-cultural skills, media skills, and the ability to deal with counterparts at all political, social and economic levels.
  • Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in written and spoken French is strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate virtually with team members deployed across multiple locations and time zones.
  • Ability and willingness to travel as required, particularly to transitioning environments.
  • Ability and willingness to relocate to Washington, D.C. at own expense is required, as this position will be based at FFP’s headquarters. (Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected that this position will be remote for the first quarter of 2021, with relocation to Washington, D.C. required thereafter)
  • U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or the ability to obtain work authorization in the U.S. is required. Costs associated with obtaining work authorization are the sole responsibility of the applicant.

Experience and Qualifications Required

  • A Master’s Degree in International Relations, International Development, Political Science, or a related field is required.
  • A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in one or more of the following areas: conflict early warning and response, responsible business practices, international security, conflict prevention, and general political risk analysis.
  • A minimum of seven (7) years graduated responsibility in program and personnel management.

Physical Demands

  • Travel in cross-cultural settings which may include limitations in electricity and communication and modest accommodations.
  • Periods of heightened work activity and protracted work hours related to pressures of proposal and report submissions.
  • Periods of travel to remote locations.

Work Environment

  • Work may occasionally take place in locations which can be volatile or lack formal infrastructure.
  • Modern amenities (electrical, plumbing, air cooling) may not always be available when deployed in the field.

Salary

$80,000 per annum. Access to FFP’s company health insurance and a competitive annual leave package are included with this position.
Interested candidates should send their CV, a list of three professional references, and professional writing sample (preferably published) to: [email protected]. *Please note we will only be accepting applications via email*
Deadline for applications: December 21, 2020 @ 11:59pm ET