Youth Project Officer – YOUTH002385-00001

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.

In April 2024, USIP’s Latin America Project 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 US 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 Youth Project Officer (PO), based in San Salvador, serves as the coordinator for the youth component of the IAA. The Project Officer provides both strategic and technical expertise in the design and implementation of Project Component 3: Empowering Youth. S/he will also support Project Component 1: Research and Consultations, to ensure effective gathering of information, mapping and relationship building.

The PO will be responsible for developing projects that empower youth in three municipalities to affect change in their communities, initiate and sustain dialogues, and become better leaders and peacebuilders. The Project Officer will work closely with cohorts of young people over the course of the activity, developing and facilitating dynamic trainings, facilitating mentorship and exchange opportunities, and supporting the design of youth-led initiatives that contribute to young peoples’ professional and personal growth and help them engage positively in their communities.

The PO will oversee the implementation of the youth portfolio and work closely with the Senior Project Director to ensure alignment with the Project’s overall mission. The PO will be supervised by the Senior Project Director and will work alongside the Municipal Coordinators and the 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 (Salvadoran national).

JOB BRIEF

Project Development and Implementation:
* Manages effective design and implementation of youth activities, including curriculum development, applied peacebuilding projects, mentorship activities and dialogue trainings.
* Conducts and facilitates trainings on youth peacebuilding activities and dialogue design and management.
* Develops relationships in the municipalities, including with local government, youth organizations, and relevant civil society.
* Identifies and maintain critical relationships for the project.
* Authors reports on the outcomes of project convenings, dialogues, and consultations.
* Supports the Project Director in writing and presenting policy options papers based on the findings of project activities.
* Works closely with Municipal Coordinators to engage young people in activities.
* Collaborates with monitoring and evaluation colleagues to ensure that projects include important metrics and that findings from M&E processes are used to inform the project.
* Hires effective contractors and, with OFS and HQ support, oversees the development of deliverables.
* Coordinate with the OFS and relevant colleagues in Washington DC for the creation of contracts, development and review of project plans and curricula.
* Provides regular written updates on project progress for project and USIP leadership as well as project stakeholders.

Budget and Implementation Schedule 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 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 3.
* Develops and manages Project Component 3 schedule with the municipal coordinators and oversees implementation in conjunction with municipal coordinators
* Ensures the organization of and document retention for Project Component 3 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, sociology, peace studies or related field preferred.
* At least three (3) years of relevant work experience on issues related to youth empowerment, dialogue processes, culture of lawfulness, violence prevention, or civic engagement.
* Demonstrated experience in project design and implementation, including budget management.
* Ability to work closely with the Government of El Salvador at the national and local levels.
* Relevant connections and experience in the youth empowerment space in El Salvador.
* Demonstrated experience engaging a range of stakeholders including youth, local government, and civil society organizations.
* Demonstrated management and problem-solving skills.
* Experience in curriculum design and training and dialogue facilitation preferred.
* Able to write effectively in a variety of formats and for a diversity 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.