United States of America: DIR, International Partnerships

DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES:

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. The Institute is headquartered in Washington DC with staff working in 22 different countries; at any given time up to 20% of the staff could be deployed working in the field.

The United States Institute of Peace seeks a leader for the Institute’s work in international cooperation and partnerships. The Director of International Partnerships provides strategic thought leadership and direction to guide USIP’s approach for informing and shaping policy discussions in several priority areas. Currently, these priorities include improving policy on addressing the causes of fragility and violent conflict, promoting action on Sustainable Development Goal 16, strengthening the effectiveness of foreign assistance to fragile and conflict-affected states, and reforming U.N. peacekeeping operations.

JOB BRIEF

USIP contributes to policy by convening diverse communities of policymakers for exchanges of knowledge, informing policy discussions with evidence and learning, and partnering with organizations (both governmental and non-governmental) to convert policy into meaningful action. In this role, the Director will lead the Institute’s international partnership engagement within the Institute’s Center for Policy, Learning and Strategy (PLS), which serves as the Institute’s hub for linking programmatic evidence and research to communities of policymakers and practitioners. Desirable applicants will be dynamic leaders who are creative thinkers with a track record of working on complex policy problems that incorporate diverse perspectives for success. Applicants should have experience building, expanding, and strengthening partnerships and networks of policymakers, practitioners, and experts to advance the development of coherent and effective policy on topics pertaining to USIP’s priorities.

ESTIMATED SALARY RANGE

Grade 15 - $134k - $148k

The Institute uses the General Schedule salary tables for administering compensation. Offers of employment are determined based upon candidate qualifications, related experience, internal equity and amount budgeted for the position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage, expand, and strengthen the relationships between USIP and global policy partners, including U.S. governmental organizations, inter-governmental organizations, multi-lateral, and non-governmental organizations.
• Serve as the leading authority within USIP for advising the Institute’s leadership and staff about opportunities for identifying and contributing to policy discussions on priority issues.
• Leverage USIP’s distinct expertise into relevant policy-shaping efforts both internally and with other key institutions as a means for enhancing the visibility and influence of the Institute’s experts and programs.
• Partner with USIP leaders to increase awareness of USIP’s expertise and program capacity among policy communities in the USG interagency, as well as other governmental and non-governmental organizations domestically and abroad.
• Plan and implement outreach strategies with key policymakers, officials, experts, and practitioners, to achieve objectives defined by agenda.
• Organize, support, and chair conferences, meetings, workshops, and study groups designed to draw on USIP’s convening power to enable exchanges of knowledge that inform more coherent policy.
• Coordinate with USIP’s Office of External Relations to ensure alignment of strategic priorities.
• Support, as appropriate, the planning of events organized by other Institute centers with recommendations about agenda, participants, and audience.
• Manage a program specialist, who reports to the Director and will work in a cross-cutting way throughout the Institute to support USIP centers to engage effectively with policymaker communities.
• Contribute actively to the PLS leadership team to advance the center’s mission to harness more rigorous learning to strengthen the effectiveness of USIP’s work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in peace building or related fields, including international development, human rights, national security, with direct experience working on policy advocacy and development strongly preferred.
• Master’s degree in political science, economics, security studies, conflict/peace studies, international development, or related social science discipline (PhD preferred).
• Deep understanding of international organizations, including multilateral development and finance organizations, as well as other inter-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.
• Experience with UN peacekeeping architecture highly desirable, as well as other like-minded global think tanks focused on peace and security issues.
• Ability to track global policy issues and distill externally written products into relevant information for USIP leadership and staff.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously, creatively problem-solve, prioritize effectively, and produce results under conditions of uncertainty.
• Ability to speak effectively at high-profile events and to represent the Institute publicly and in the media.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate others, and to work as a team player. Highly effective in working in a cooperative, collaborative manner to produce high-quality results across the Institute’s centers.
• Must be able to travel in both the United States and abroad.

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 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.

To apply for this position, please use the following URL:

https://ars2.equest.com/?response_id=407b844d2d03660210a2bc43f1b048f5