Senior Program Specialist – SENIO002346-00001

DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES:
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 worldwide. 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 Guinea Senior Program Specialist (SPS) position is based in USIP’s Washington D.C. office and supports the implementation and management of USIP’s Political Transitions project. The SPS provides daily programmatic and administrative support, including assistance with general coordination of program activities, liaising with program partners, developing, and updating informational material, maintaining program databases, supporting budget and contract management activities, and meeting and event planning. This position works closely with and reports to the Political Transitions Program Manager. This is a part-time Personal Services Contractor position based in Washington D.C. and is open to US citizens and legal residents in the United States.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
Project support
• Coordinates with Program Manager, local partners, and other staff to design and implement the project activities.
• Develops and maintains stakeholder relationships critical to the successful implementation of all activities.
• Coordinates daily and weekly interactions and planning with local partners in consultation with the Program Manager.
• Contributes to planning meetings, setting of agendas and documents, tracking next steps, decisions, and follow-up tasks.
• Contributes to drafting of annual and quarterly project workplans and arranges relevant planning meetings within the office and with counterparts.
• Provides translation and interpretation support as needed in English and French.
• Collaborates with HQ Office and Conakry based staff to ensure timely preparation of programmatic and financial reports to the program manager and to other entities as appropriate.
• Follows up with partners, attends meetings, and takes notes as needed.
• Provides security and political updates as needed and maintains a high level of security awareness.
• Represents USIP when/where necessary.

Reporting and M&E:
• Supports drafting weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting on project activities and outcomes.
• Supports the design of the M&E work plan and tools.
• Supports project data collection and analysis in collaboration with MEL Officer.

Admin and logistical support:
• Works with program manager to provide technical and administrative assistance to implementing partners.
• Assists in managing logistical and administrative requirements for the successful project implementation including contract submission, document preparation for payments, vendors contracts, events coordination, and budget projections.
• Supports team members to ensure all staff follow USIP’s policies and procedures: security, finance, administration, and operations.

Performs other duties as needed.

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, public administration, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field.
• Three (3) or more years of relevant professional work experience.
• Knowledge of Guinean political dynamics required; peacebuilding, post-conflict setting, thematic expertise preferred.
• Track record of working in countries with complex environments, integrated policy and program activities, and in programs of comparable size to the Political Transitions project.
• Strong interest and experience with innovative and adaptive programming.
• Prior experience working with civil societies is preferred.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated analytic and writing skills. Able to write effectively in a variety of formats and for a variety of audiences in English.
• Demonstrated ability to design and manage budgets.
• Strong collaboration skills; must have the ability to coordinate the input and priorities of multiple players.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in French and English, both written and oral required.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office, particularly MS Word, MS Outlook, and MS Excel is required.

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

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. USIP does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.