Career Opportunities at Pact World

The Conflict Specialist will provide technical input, guidance and leadership on conflict management and peace-building components of the proposed European Union-funded three year Collaboration in Cross-Border Areas of the Horn of Africa Region: Southwest Ethiopia – Northwest Kenya border or the Kenya-Ethiopia-Somalia border.

He/she will be responsible for bringing best available practices and innovative approaches to bear in implementing the proposed project in accordance with the EUTF agreement, under the direction of the Team Leader.
(This position is contingent upon award).

Conflict Specialist Job Responsibilities

• Lead in the design and delivery of training curricula on conflict and peace-building themes including: conflict prevention and management; conflict transformation, and understanding cross-border governance systems and dynamics;
• Design, in close collaboration with project partner agencies, focused capacity-building plans for peace structures and state agencies around peace building and conflict management;
• Propose and implement, in conjunction with partner agencies, programming strategies to include women, youth and other minority and marginalized groups and individuals into peace-building processes;
• Lead the partner agencies in working with communities to identify the root causes of conflicts in the conflict systems;
• Design in consultation with the partner agencies and the communities’ suitable innovative interventions that are culturally appropriate to address the root causes of conflicts identified in the conflict systems;
• Provide technical advice and input on monitoring strategies around peacebuilding.

Requirements for the Conflict Specialist Job

• Advanced degree in peace-building and conflict management, social sciences, peace building, international development, political science, or related field;
• Demonstrate more than five (5) years of relevant professional experience managing and implementing peace-building and conflict management projects with experience in the Horn of Africa strongly preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to provide actionable, practical technical advice to a range of stakeholders or partner agencies;
• Demonstrated exemplary diplomatic and interpersonal skills;
• Previous experience of EU programs preferred;
• Strong track record in working in partnership with diverse organizational stakeholders, developing and implementing appropriate and targeted learning and capacity development activities in support of programmatic partnerships

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The Team Leader will be responsible for the overall management and operations of the proposed European Union-funded three-year Collaboration in Cross-Border Areas of the Horn of Africa Region: Southwest Ethiopia – Northwest Kenya border or the Kenya-Ethiopia-Somalia border to prevent local conflict and mitigate its impact.

She/he will supervise project implementation and ensure the project meets stated goals and reporting requirements. The Team Leader will take a leadership role in coordination among the European Commission and key stakeholders and other implementing partners.

The position requires political knowledge and diplomacy, as she/he will interact at a high level with numerous Government institutions and senior government officials as well as European Union agents. (This position is contingent upon award).

Responsibilities for the Team Leader Job

• The Team Leader will ensure appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as engagement with senior management on the strategic direction of the overall program.
• Oversee program start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Ability to engage with various partners and stakeholders at different levels, to establish and maintain contacts with senior-level officials of the host government in the three represented countries.
• Evaluate, interpret and analyze information and data to prepare accurate reports and to realign if necessary.
• Capacity to implement the strategic vision and programmatic goals as laid down in the Project Document.
• Ensure program implementation is responsive to communities and partners.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted.
• Support and guide program managers to develop partners’ memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and contracts & oversee a training program for program partners.
• Develop, oversee and ensure joint work planning and program implementation strategies, including frameworks, beneficiary targeting, distribution process as well as capacity building of partners as needed.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies
• Ensure coordinated efforts with other Pact conflict and peace building programs
• Provide training and mentoring to partners to strengthen capacity for technical service delivery and compliance with donor rules and regulations
• Recruit and directly supervise local project staff in line with Pact human resources policies;
• Oversee the management and development of project office human resources to ensure a diverse, skilled and productive workforce, an effective leadership team, and an organizational culture where Pact’s values are practiced.
• Ensure high-quality strategic oversight, direction and technical programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the program’s strategic objectives and adhering to expected technical quality and reporting requirements.
• Participate in the technical and programmatic design of award and partner programs; represent Pact in negotiating with donors and partners.
• Manage all project planning responsibilities, including the production of annual work-plans; guide and oversee the alignment of the budget to expected results, and review and approve annual budgets and quarterly reports.
• Ensure the cost-effective use of Pact resources
• Ensure compliance with Pact and European Commission requirements, policies and regulations.
• As relevant, manage all local grant making mechanisms, ensuring compliance with donor regulations and Pact policy; coordinate and/or conduct monitoring visits to grantee programs.
• Other work related duties as assigned

Team Leader Job Qualifications

• Master’s Degree with 8 years’ experience or Bachelor’s Degree with 10 years of experience in Conflict, CVE, Peace Building, Migration or a related field.
• Ten years’ experience in managing complex peace building programs, cross border programs, CVE and/or migration programs of similar scope and size is desired;
• Eight years of experience in program management and administration, financial management, award cooperative agreement compliance, sub award management, and tracking project performance and costs;
• Five years’ international experience in development, managing, overseeing, or evaluating comprehensive CVE, conflict and/or peace building programs of similar size and complexity, with European Commission experience preferred;
• Five years demonstrated skills and experience in building and strengthening partnerships donors, private sector, NGO and local community organizations relations; and engagement with the Government of Kenya, Somalia and/or Ethiopia.

Skills:

• Strong strategic and creative thinker
• Ability to work in partnership with team members, partner agencies and community members of both the international and national communities
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Adapts flexibly to changing situations, overcomes obstacles and recovers quickly from set-backs
• Proven performance in organizing and coordinating major initiatives, events or challenging inter-organizational activities
• Excellent leadership, organization and problem solving/decision making skills as well as cultural sensitivity.
• Intelligent, motivated self-starter with strong interpersonal skills and work ethic
• Proficiency in using computer software
• English and at least one local language (Somali, Amharic, Kiswahili)