Rule of Law and Security Dialogues Project Officer – RULEO002384-00001

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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.

In April 2024, USIP’s Latin America Project (LAP) will launch the “Fostering Citizen Support for the Rule of Law” project in San Salvador, El Salvador under an Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) with the United States Department of State – Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs- for a period of three years to increase public support for the rule of law by building stakeholder networks, facilitating dialogues between citizens and authorities, engaging the public on rule of law issues, and equipping local youth with peacebuilding and leadership skills.

The Project Officer (PO), based in San Salvador, serves as coordinator for the dialogues and rule of law components of the IAA. The Project Officer will support Project Component 1: Research and Consultations, to ensure effective gathering of information, mapping and relationship building, and will provide both strategic and technical expertise in the design and implementation of Project Component 2: Building Public Support for Rule of Law through Multi-stakeholder Dialogues.

Project component 2 will include developing projects that promote the rule of law and build relationships between civil society and local authorities in three municipalities. Activities will include building coalitions of civil society, designing and facilitating exchanges to learn best practices from other cities in the region, developing and sustaining dialogue processes between civil society and local authorities and/or police forces, and supporting the creation of local projects to enhance a culture of lawfulness.

The PO will oversee the implementation of the project components and work closely with the Senior Project Director to ensure alignment with the project’s overall mission. The Project Officer position is based in San Salvador greater area and will report to the Senior Project Director and will work alongside the Municipal Coordinators and Operations and Finance Specialist (OFS) in the implementation of projects on the ground.

This is a Personal Services Contractor position for a host-country contractor (Salvadorean National).

JOB BRIEF

Program Development and Implementation:
* Manages effective design and implementation of rule of law and dialogue activities, including curriculum development, partner capacity building workshops, community-led activities, international exchanges, events, and roundtables;
* Facilitates community dialogues between the municipal government, government security services, and civil society.
* Develops relationships in the municipalities, including with local government, police force, and civil society.
* Coordinates and oversees Municipal Coordinators’ activities in the development and sustainment of civil society coalitions.
* Authors reports on the outcomes of program convenings, dialogues, and consultations.
* Supports the Senior Project Director in writing and presenting policy options papers based on the findings of project activities.
* Coordinates with relevant colleagues in Washington DC for the creation of contracts, development and review of project plans and curricula
* Hires effective contractors and, with HQ support, oversees the development of deliverables.
* Collaborates with monitoring and evaluation colleagues to ensure that projects include important metrics and that findings from M&E processes are used to inform programming.
* Provides regular written updates on implementation progress for program and USIP leadership as well as project stakeholders.
* Identifies and maintains critical relationships for the project.

Budget and Contract Management:
* Works closely with the OFS on all financial and budgetary management and tracking to include providing all budget reporting requirements for monthly reconciliation.
* Manages project funds, tracks project component budget, and serves as Contracting Technical Representative (COTR) on project contracts to manage and monitor contract activities related to Project Component 2. Manages the invoices and disbursements of open contracts.
* Ensures policies and procedures are followed and that financial resources are used effectively and efficiently.
* Develops scope of work documents and supports El Salvador IAA project in managing partners/vendors’ contract life cycles including tracking deliverable due dates, payments, and responding to routine partner inquiries.
* Ensures all project activities are implemented within project timelines and in a manner that meets project standards and objectives.
* Assists Project Director in drafting monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting for both international and external project stakeholders.

Administration and Logistics
* Plans and manages public and private events corresponding to portfolio.
* Leads internal and external meetings with USIP staff and external partners to ensure the timely and effective execution of Project Component 1 and 2.
* Manages exchange trips and works with the OFS to coordinate and develop travel agendas, process travel vouchers, and facilitate any additional services or needs.
* Develops and manages Project Component 2 implementation schedule with the municipal coordinators.
* Ensures the organization of and document retention for Project Component 2 in the Project SharePoint.

Other:
* Frequently travels to municipalities. Some international travel might be required.

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

* Bachelor’s degree in international relations, political science, conflict resolution, peace studies or relevant field.
* Master’s degree in political science, international affairs, or related field preferred.
* At least four (4) years of relevant work experience on issues related to rule of law, dialogue processes, culture of lawfulness, or civic engagement.
* Demonstrated experience in project design and implementation, including budget management.
* Demonstrated experience building stakeholder coalitions including local government, civil society organizations, religious actors, and the business sector.
* Demonstrated management and problem-solving skills.
* Experience in dialogue facilitation and curriculum design preferred.
* Ability to work closely with the Government of El Salvador at the national and local levels.
* Ability to write effectively in a variety of formats and for a variety of audiences.
* Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
* Written and spoken fluency in Spanish. English fluency preferred but not required.

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 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.