Senior Program Officer, Security Sector Governance and Reform - United States Institute of Peace

Who We Are

Peace is our commitment. The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people’s shared values and commitment to peace worldwide. 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 most challenging 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 (SPO) will support all components of the work undertaken by USIP’s Governance, Justice and Security (GJS) program to achieve strategic objectives in the field of Security Sector Governance and Reform (SSG/R).

The SPO will lead the GJS program in generating rigorous technical excellence and innovative thought leadership in the SSG/R field with an emphasis on the reform of state defense sectors and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) through a human security-centric approach. The SPO will also be leading GJS’s efforts to provide timely technical expertise to SSG/R reform needs emerging from USIP’s field presence(s) and operations.  The SPO will be, inter alia, interacting on a continuous basis with the relevant USIP program director(s), program coordinator(s) and programmatic staff based in Washington, D.C. and its field offices. The SPO will benefit from the guidance of USIP’s Director for Governance, Justice and Security, coordinator(s) and programmatic staff working on SSG/R, as well as that of USIP’s external advisory group on SSG/R.

The core components of the work of the SPO will primarily consist in helping USIP (a) to elevate its SSG/R thought leadership and technical excellence regarding issues pertaining to defense reform and DDR; (b) to support technical needs from the field in these areas. The position is based in Washinton, DC and the SPO will report to the Director for Governance, Justice and Security and is a member of the Center of Thematic Excellence. 

TARGET SALARY RANGE

Grade 14- $132,000-$136,000

The Institute uses the General Schedule salary tables for administering compensation. Contractor offers are determined based on candidate qualifications, related experience, internal equity, and the amount budgeted for the position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the defense sector reform components of USIP’s SSG/R strategy and vision with the overarching goal of shaping U.S. and international policy and practice in this field by generating rigorous technical excellence, innovative thought leadership, as well as providing technical support to USIP’s field operations in the areas of defense sector reform; transitions from military to civilian security; disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration; reform and drafting of national defense/security policies. This work will include, among others:

Thought Leadership and Development and Planning:

• Takes a lead role in generating innovative knowledge and content on SSG/R (defense sector reform) including;
  • Leading the defense sector reform components of USIP task forces, study groups or working groups, as well as the production of policy papers, technical notes, reports, publications (Special Reports, Peaceworks); web commentary and analysis; blogs, articles in current/foreign affairs journals; op-eds etc.
• Generate knowledge and content on best practices on defense sector reform) including;
  • Production of web based technical resources, best practice practitioner guides, toolkits, online courses and trainings.
• Develop and manage relevant rosters of SSG/R experts drawn from academia, think tanks, as well as bilateral & multilateral SSG/R organizations and agencies.
• Select and collaborate with USIP Senior Advisor(s) on defense sector reform to help elevate USIP’s technical excellence and thought leadership and provide effective field support.
• Engage with the relevant network(s) of SSG/R roster experts including;

Outreach and Engagement:

• Develop, organize, and coordinate public/private events and conferences on defense sector reform. Such events may include events held at USIP such as thematic discussions open to the public and private policy roundtables and tabletop exercises including;
  • USIP preparations to attend events hosted by other national or international platforms such as the Munich Security Conference, the United Nations, the World Bank, EU, NATO, as well as relevant international security policy groups and think tanks such as the Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).
• Engage with U.S. government and multilateral institutions including;
  • Managing the design and development of partnership agreements, such as inter agency agreements, and/or other collaboration instruments such as memoranda of understanding, as well as discreet support on complex defense sector reform and DDR matters
• Develop opportunities for USIP’s engagement on innovative research with academic institutions.
• Engage with media, as well as with the think tank and academic communities.

Field Support and Program Management:

• Lead the provision of SSG/R defense sector reform technical support to USG partners in conflict-affected environments with the objective of impacting national, regional and local reforms including;
  • Participation and coordination of multidisciplinary technical support groups for a specific country or national reform effort, coordination of research efforts in relation to relevant technical questions and the development of options paper, policy memos and technical notes.
• Oversee the programmatic efforts to provide technical support for USIP projects in the field with the objective of achieving technical excellence through coherent project design, coordination, and effective oversight.
• Lead coordination platform seeking to coordinate USIP’s thematic and geographic center work on defense sector reform.
• Take a lead role in the development of partnerships and common initiatives with external organizations involved with defense sector reform.
• Develop opportunities for the implementation of innovative projects in conflict-affected countries.

Financial Management:

• Manages the program budget to ensure that the program is operating within its budget limitations to meet its goals and objectives.
• Pursues external funding for project initiatives.
• Ensures policies and procedures are followed, and that all aspects of resource management are performed, and financial reports are submitted in a timely manner.
• Supervises the development of monthly, quarterly and annual reporting for both internal and external project stakeholders.
• Manages projects from conceptualization through implementation.    

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree with ten (10+) years of experience in international security, international relations or related field is required. Ph.D. holders  with eight (8) years of experience are also encouraged to apply.
• Eight (8) (or more) years of concrete technical SSG/R support to conflict affected environments; and of these, at least five (5) years of experience in security sector governance and reform within a governmental agency, multilateral organization, non-governmental organization, security related technical centers or institutes, with an emphasis on defense sector reform and DDR challenges.
• Extensive experience back-stopping 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.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously, creatively problem-solve, prioritize effectively, and produce results under conditions of uncertainty.
• Demonstrated program design and project management skills.
• A strong record of innovation, collaboration, project management, and partnership building.
• Excellent representation and communication skills (oral and written), including cross-cultural skills, media skills, and the ability to engage effectively with partners at all political, social, and economic levels;
• 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 SSG/R.
• Working proficiency in either French, Spanish, Ukrainian, or Russian are desirable and an advantage.

CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS Open Until Filled. 

All applicants must be US citizens to be considered for positions with USIP.

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

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 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, gender identity, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, political affiliations or belief, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.