Deputy Head, The International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT)

Switzerland - Geneva, with a requirement for some overseas travel

Background: The post holder will form part of the core International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). The ISSAT provides a deployable capacity to support its 20 members (which include 14 bilateral donors, the UN, EC and OECD Secretariat) in creating strategic, successful and sustainable Security and Justice Sector Reform interventions in developing and transitional countries.

This is a demanding and high profile management and representational role requiring overseas travel and with wide-ranging high-level departmental contacts within donor states, their staff overseas, international organisations and partner nations. The ISSAT may operate in post-conflict contexts, so the post-holder will have to demonstrate an ability to work in harsh conditions.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

With delegated authority from the Head of ISSAT, the post holder will:
 manage all ISSAT activities, providing advice and guidance in the area of SSR, to both ISSAT’s core team and Members undertaking SSR programming design, assessment and monitoring and evaluation missions;
 coordinate the development and execution of ISSAT Work Plans;
 supervise the organisation of all ISSAT events;
 represent the Head of ISSAT when Head of ISSAT is not in house;
 prepare periodic plans and reports of ISSAT activities as delegated by Head of ISSAT
 lead the development of a ISSAT staff and performance management system;
 lead or support overseas SSR missions as directed by the Head of ISSAT, resulting in reports and practical recommendations for change and improvement of security and justice sector reform programmes;
 maintain effective liaison with partner and donor organisations and present findings from missions at conferences/seminars/training courses as required;
 extract lessons learned from engagements to feed into ISSAT and wider multilateral SSR policy development and implementation;
 maintain effective and productive relationships with other DCAF sections and other international SSR actors;
 maintain the innovation of ISSAT activities through a substantive commitment to ongoing personal and professional training and development;
 effectively contribute to ongoing ISSAT development and evolution;
 undertake other tasks as may, from time to time, be required by the Head of ISSAT.

Competences: The post holder must be a proactive person with strong leadership skills and have demonstrated an ability to work as part of a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary team. For specified tasking, s/he must have extensive management experience and be prepared to represent the Head of ISSAT in official functions or as required, and to act as the lead for particular programme activities. S/he must have experience working in politically sensitive situations and have strong diplomatic skills. S/he must have good communication (verbal and written), drafting and presentational skills, and the ability to network and liaise effectively with a wide range of potential stakeholders at all levels both within governments and non-governmental and multinational organisations. S/he must have outstanding management, organisational and planning skills and have the ability to analyse situations quickly, handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships, and to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances and produce workable solutions to meet customer requirements. SSR is a fast developing field and it will be necessary to retain currency in the latest thinking and developments.

Qualifications: For this post, a Masters degree in law, international relations, political science, or a related field is required. The post holder must have wide-ranging managerial experience in the areas of planning, organising, leading, coordinating and staffing, and a minimum of 10 years of work experience in security sector and justice reform, including extensive field experience. Relevant experience includes designing and implementing security sector and justice reform processes or programmes, and structuring and delivering trainings. Knowledge of the UN approach to SSR, and of latest developments in the fields of rule of law and justice reform, as well as familiarity with the OECD DAC Handbook on Security System Reform (OECD 2007) is highly desirable. The team’s operating language is English. In addition, the post holder fluency in either French, Spanish or Portuguese is an advantage.
Candidates meeting the requirements are invited to email (to a.buchanan@dcaf.ch ) or post their CV with a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to:
Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF)
Ms. Aji Buchanan
P.O. Box 1360
Rue de Chantepoulet 11
1211 Genève 1
Please remember to state which position you are applying for.
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2011

Selection process: Short listed candidates only will be contacted in May to participate in the assessment process. ISSAT uses standard assessment methods, which may include a written test and a structured interview.

ISSAT is committed to geographical and gender diversity.

How to apply

http://issat.dcaf.ch/

Candidates meeting the requirements are invited to email (to a.buchanan@dcaf.ch ) or post their CV with a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to:
Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF)
Ms. Aji Buchanan
P.O. Box 1360
Rue de Chantepoulet 11
1211 Genève 1
Please remember to state which position you are applying for.
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2011