Program Director/Peacebuilding Advisor at International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

Job Responsibilities

Technical Direction and Program Implementation

• Serve as IFES’ senior peacebuilding technical advisor in Kenya, providing strategic vision and technical advice to both IFES program staff and other stakeholders;
• Oversee the implementation and evaluation of civil society and community-based initiatives for peacebuilding and conflict mitigation in the electoral cycle;
• Shape Kenya specific messaging in lines with general IFES messaging aimed at reducing conflict and promoting peaceful elections;
• Ensure project employs strategies for engaging youth and other marginalized communities in all activities and messaging;
• Lead and facilitate trainings and associated activities;
• Provide overall program oversight, including management of sub-award partner(s);
• Prepare and manage the implementation of project work plans in fulfillment of the project’s strategic objectives and goals;
• Lead the drafting and submission of detailed quarterly and final reports;
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with local government and non-government stakeholders, especially in support of ongoing program activities, and provide advice on issues related to political and electoral conflict and security;
• Liaise with media representatives regarding IFES peacebuilding conflict mitigation messaging and programming;
• Other duties as assigned.

Management

• With IFES HQ, ensure compliance with IFES and donor rules and regulations, particularly with respect to fiscal management;
• Establish strong working relationships with the field staff to facilitate the completion of program tasks in a timely manner and within the allocated budget;
• Provide general supervision and mentoring of local and international field staff, including performance appraisals, staff development and other management issues;
• In coordination with IFES HQ, assist in the identification, recruitment, and hiring of in-country office staff, as well as local and international technical consultants;
• Provide oversight and management of technical consultants, including review of all consultant reports and deliverables;
• Assist in program development for IFES by identifying additional technical needs in-country, contributing to the development of project proposals and reaching out to the international donor community in an effort to diversify IFES funding sources;
• Serve as the ‘Lead Coordinator’ (LC) for assigned project. The LC will have primary responsibility for the overall success and implementation of the project, including but not limited to, effective coordination of the partners’ joint activities, regular reporting and meeting with local donor representatives and proper sharing of programming information and among project partners;
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Regional Director or IFES senior management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, peace and conflict studies, international relations, international development or related field;l master’s degree preferred;
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in peacebuilding, conflict mitigation, and international program management, at least five of which are in Kenya;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with donor-funded activities in the democracy and governance sector;
• Solid experience working with electoral security stakeholders in Kenya, including civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, and government institutions;
• Demonstrated expertise in the political, economic, and social contexts in Kenya;
• Deep knowledge of triggers for election-related violence and drivers of ethnic and political violence in Kenya;
• Experience implementing programs with a focus on marginalized youth demographics in Kenya;
• Demonstrated experience developing and conducting peacebuilding trainings;
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills;
• Technical expertise in multiple areas of media project management such as skills building for media professionals, media messaging, media management, etc.;
• Fluency in English, both written and oral;
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills to meet the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the program and to effectively coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders.