Sep 25, 2018

Conflict and security adviser

Location: London with frequent travel. 
Salary range: £35,666 -£41,500
Deadline: 9 October 2018


Job Purpose: 

The successful candidate will work within  Conflict Advisory Unit(CAU). The CAU provides high-quality advisory support to influential external actors, whilst working with programmes and other teams in organization to capture and promote learning and best practice on adopting conflict-sensitive approaches. By working closely with donors, INGOs, financial institutions and the private sector, the CAU team acts as a mechanism for amplifying organization’s expertise and impact across the development, humanitarian and peacebuilding sectors, with the objective of supporting the uptake of more conflict-sensitive practices. We work closely with country programmes to ensure our own practices and programmes meet the highest standards of conflict sensitivity, whilst building internal capacities to promote conflict-sensitive action in others.

Typical activities include designing and conducting conflict analyses, developing and delivering tailored capacity building programmes (including but not limited to training), facilitating lesson-sharing processes, reviewing donor strategies, programme
documents and operational guidelines from a conflict sensitivity perspective, and offering tailored, strategic advice aimed at maximising the potential positive impacts of interventions on peace, supporting programme development processes and mentoring colleagues to support internal capacity development on conflict sensitivity. organization’s advisers are expected to show considerable leadership within the organisation and the successful candidate will be asked to make a significant contribution to these objectives.

Summary:
Contribute to and lead aspects of organization advisory support, policy development, research and advocacy work, and provide mentoring and practical technical support to organization’s in-country teams and external partners
Deliver high-quality technical advice, analysis and research for donors, multi-laterals, INGOs, local civil society groups and/or private sector actors, focused primarily on building capacity to integrate conflict sensitivity into a wide array of initiatives, across a diverse range of sectors
Develop relationships and collaborate with civil society, governmental, multi-lateral and corporate actors as relevant.

Summary of key areas of responsibility: 
1.Provide high-quality and timely technical support to humanitarian and development agencies, multi-lateral organisations, local civil society and corporate actors on conflict sensitivity
2.Design and conduct field research and develop policy recommendations
3.Strategic planning and development of new and innovative policy agendas
4.Workwith  country teams to develop and implement integrated strategies
5.Developand maintainstrategic partnerships and coalitions
6.Organisational learning, monitoring and evaluation
7.Fundraising proposal development and donor relations.

Duties

1. Provide high-quality and timely technical support to humanitarian and development agencies, multi-lateral organisations, local civil society and corporate actors on conflict sensitivity

Provide high-quality advisory support to  external partners aimed at supporting the integration of conflict sensitivity into their work.
Design and deliver tailored capacity building programmes for external partners. This may include developing and facilitating training programmes, accompaniment support, mentoring support etc.


2.  Design and conduct research and analysis (desk-and field-based) and develop policy recommendations 

Design, manage and conduct research and analysis activities that advance organization’s and partners’ understanding of key conflict-related challenges and responses.
Write high quality research reports, briefings, policy papers and training materials aimed at donor governments, international institutions,parliamentarians and journalists
Promote organization’s priority issues through liaison with relevant officials in government, international institutions, parliaments, NGOs and the media and represent organization and partners in national and international events (in partnership with the Advocacy Team).
Deliver presentations and facilitate training sessions on the above issues, as appropriate.

3. Strategic planning and development of new and innovative policy agendas

Contribute to the implementation of  Strategic Plan 2017 –2021 and in particular to support the implementation of the Conflict Sensitivity Strategy, in close partnership with other parts of PAC and with the regional programmes
Support and contribute to the development and implementation of other PAC-led strategies and projects as appropriate
Identify and build synergies between policy plans/strategies and the plans and strategies of regional/country programmes
Contribute to the design, monitoring and evaluation of  policy, advocacy and communications work feedback relevant lessons into ongoing strategy development and programme design.

4. Develop and implement integrated strategies

Work with specific country teams to jointly develop and implement national-level strategies that reflect our global policy objectives
Provide capacity building to  staff and partners and support them in relation to relevant policy processes or thematic areas.

5. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships and coalitions

Initiate, develop and maintain positive working relations with strategic partners in the policy community, including humanitarian and development agencies, multilateral organisations, government departments, think-tanks, universities and private/ corporate actors.
Regularly assess the rationale and cost-benefit of these partnerships to ensure they continue to advance strategic objectives in an effective manner
Ensure that how we engage with partners is consistent with  principles and values.

6. Organisational learning, monitoring and evaluation 

Work with other members of the CAU, PAC, regional advisersand the Organisational Development Unit to further strengthen processes for cross-organisational learning on key policy processes and thematic issues
Participate actively in, and strengthen, internal M&E systems, including regular outcome harvesting.


7. Fundraising proposal development and donor relations 

In coordination with the Funding team, actively explore new funding opportunities for organization’s work
Play a lead role in drafting concept notes, funding proposals and budgets as well as reports to donorsEnsure accurate reporting and monitoring of project funds
Manage consultancies for relevant policy/technical work commissioned by PAC and deliver high quality advisory support to external partners/clients.

Person Specification:

Knowledge 

Ability to analyse problems, contexts and institutions, and develop practical recommendations to address or improve them. This might be demonstrated through attainment of a relevant post-graduate degree (e.g. in international relations, conflict/peace studies or a similar discipline), or through equivalent professional or life experience
Strong knowledge of conflict sensitivity methodologies, approaches and best practices, including conflict analysis and M&E processes
Knowledge of research methodologies would be desirable

Experience 
A minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience, and demonstrable knowledge and understanding of international development, peace-building and conflict prevention, with particular expertise in supporting the integration of conflict sensitivity into development, humanitarian, peace-building or commercial programmes, initiatives or institutions
Experience of working in at least two of the following regions: Horn/East Africa, South and South-east Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia, and/or the Middle East/North Africa
Experience of designing and implementing capacity building programmes, including workshop design, facilitation, training and accompaniment processes
Particular skills and experience working with humanitarian actors, including supporting the integration of conflict-sensitive approaches into humanitarian action /reform processes would be an added advantage, and/or experience supporting local-level governance reform processes in conflict-affected contexts
Experience in providing professional advice, including on a consultancy basis, to the private sector, multilateral bodies and/or governments would be an advantage
Solid understanding of key concepts and principles behind gender sensitivity, and experience of integrating gender-sensitive approaches into humanitarian, development and security interventions is desirable.


Skills 

Rigorous analytical and research skills
Demonstrable ability to write research reports, policy papers, briefings and articles
Excellent written and oral communication skillsand fluency in written and spoken English.  Fluency in either Frenchor Arabicor one other language would be desirable
Proven ability to work alongside, and to learn from, a wide range of people and organisations, including Southern partners (governments and civil society organisations)
Creativity, flexibility, self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines
Commitment to improving international engagement in conflict-affected contexts and experience-based ideas as to how this can be achieved.

Other 
Willingness to travel overseas (for up to approximately three months in the year, typically not for more than1-2 weeks per trip)

Terms and Conditions

Probation:There will be a probationary period of three months 
Holidays: There are 28 days holiday a year (Jan-Dec) in addition to relevant public holidays 
Salary range:  The salary range for this post is £35,666 -£41,500 gross per annum
Pension:9% contribution to a personal pension fund (with 2% contribution from employee). 
Hours:Standard working week is 37.5 hours a week

Location:The position is based in London
Travel:Up to 3 months overseas travel per year.

How To Apply:
Submit application to:  xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com
Deadline for applications:  9 October 2018

(Email available to members ONLY)