Head of the International Peacebuilding Advisory Team (IPAT)

Job title: Head of the International Peacebuilding Advisory Team (IPAT)

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland (with travel required)

Deadline for applications: April 20, 2014

Interpeace is a Swiss non-profit organisation that works in close partnership with national partner organizations and the UN. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion. Interpeace also strives to assist the international community (and in particular the United Nations) to play a more effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world through better understanding and response to the challenges of creating local capacities that enhance social and political cohesion.

Chaired by former President John Kufuor and headquartered in Geneva, Interpeace is supported by bilateral and multilateral donors as well as private funding. The organization is currently active in Africa, Central America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

With the growing recognition of its 20 years of experience as a leading peacebuilding organisation operating in fragile and conflict-affected countries and regions around the world, Interpeace created in 2013 the International Peacebuilding Advisory Team (IPAT) to respond to increasing demands by national and international stakeholders for assistance on the process aspects of building peace.

IPAT is a select group of experts that can be called upon by national and international actors. IPAT advisers provide tailored advice, capacity-development support and training in different aspects of peacebuilding with a focus on process design and fostering local ownership.

Technical assistance is offered in the areas of conflict-sensitive and peacebuilding-oriented programming and analysis, multi-stakeholder dialogue processes, constitution-making, participatory polling and reconciliation.

IPAT is a mechanism that works through a

• Team that is a standing capacity that delivers technical assistance

• Consultative Committee, made up of donors, which advise IPAT in the consideration of requests for assistance

• Roster that is composed of consultants with specific complementary skills and capacities that are engaged in technical assistance missions on an ad-hoc basis

Reporting lines and general summary position:

The Head of IPAT reports to the Deputy Director-General of Development and Learning, and is responsible for ensuring the overall functioning of IPAT’s operations, fundraising and administration, and to further extend its capacities and activities, in key areas:

• manage the processing of technical assistance requests, approval and delivery – deployment and reporting- with the Consultative Group and the Team;

• supervise and support the development of IPAT’s capacity through the development of its Roster, and of its conceptual and operational frameworks;

• supervise and support the implementation of IPAT’s learning strategy, including the development of training and guidance materials;

• in close collaboration with Interpeace’s External Relations unit, expand IPAT’s clientele and funding base;

• liaise with Interpeace’s Policy and Learning and Programme Development Units, and with the Operations division, to avoid duplication or confusion of mandates and engagements by other Interpeace units, and to facilitate horizontal learning and synergies.

Specific tasks:

As directed by and under the supervision of the Deputy Director-General, Development and Learning, the Head of IPAT will:

• Conduct the daily management of IPAT, including the design of its operational plans, field deployment of experts and the monitoring of their implementation

• Manage relationships with potential clients and oversee the assignment of dossiers for technical assistance requests for its consideration by the Consultative Committee

• Oversee the IPAT website development and maintenance and IPAT communications strategy

• Oversee the implementation of responses to requests for technical assistance as per the guidance of the Consultative Group, and develop each mission’s operational plan and budget

• Oversee the careful management of the overall finances of IPAT and its budget in accordance with Interpeace regulations and practices

• Participate as required in technical assistance missions

• Oversee the smooth running of missions: logistics, reporting, post-mission debriefs and provide quality control for final reporting to clients

• Facilitation of periodic Consultative Group meetings and ongoing communications, regular updates on achievements in collaboration with External Relations.

• In collaboration with External Relations, maintain existing relationships with entities which provide core funding to IPAT and expand its membership base by engaging proactively in fundraising

• Promote IPAT’s services and expand its client basis

• Monitor developments in the field of peacebuilding advisory to keep understanding of  IPAT’s strategic environment up-to-date

• Supervise IPAT team members

• Supervise and support the development of the Roster of deployable experts, ensuring careful recruitment, adequate training and its sound maintenance;

• Undertake periodic reviews of the learning and guidance material to assess what needs to be modified or updated;

• Oversee the fostering of in-house exchange of experience and oversee the identification and systematization of lessons learned that can add value to Interpeace’s conceptual and operational frameworks;

• Liaise with the Policy and Learning Unit and other relevant units in the organization for all operational coordination, learning and sharing purposes;

• Perform other related tasks and related responsibilities as assigned by the Deputy Director-General for Development and Learning.
 
Requirements:

• At least 10-15 years of relevant professional experience including hands-on experience in the design and implementation of peacebuilding strategies using Participatory Dialogue and Research methodologies

• Masters’ degree in social or political sciences, or other relevant fields

• Proven capacity and experience in project management and program development

• Financial management experience and familiarity with programme budgeting

• Fundraising experience and familiarity with managing relationships with United Nations and government counterparts

• Excellent report writing and communication skills in English

• Ability to work under pressure and deliver by deadlines

• Strong commitment to supporting the values and working principles of Interpeace

• Good Microsoft Office skills

• Organizational and planning skills

Desirable requirements:

• Previous experience with setting-up and management of rosters

• Proven facilitation skills

• Fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to the Administrative Officer at: recruitment@interpeace.org. Please indicate Head of IPAT in the subject lin