Program Director, Middle East & North Africa

The Program Director will lead research, analysis, policy prescription and advocacy activities of the MENA Program. The Program Director will have overall management responsibility for staff members located throughout Middle East and North Africa and will serve as an integral part of the overall management of the organisation through membership of the Senior Management Forum.

 

Responsibilities:

 

• Establish and implement a research agenda, in conjunction with relevant colleagues, designed to contribute to the objectives of conflict prevention, containment and resolution in the Middle East and North Africa;
• Coordinate and supervise the analysis and research necessary  to produce high-quality reports and briefings on crisis situations in MENA over the course of the year;
• Maintain and extend the advocacy program in MENA, optimising advocacy efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, especially in relation to the publication of Crisis Group reports, with the objective of promoting the adoption of Crisis Group’s policy recommendations by concerned actors;
• Work with the Communications Unit to maximize the MENA Program's public and private impact through writing and other communications means;
• Provide leadership, vision and direction to the work of the MENA Program, supervising staff and managing the Program’s budgetary and administrative matters in consultation with senior management at Headquarters and with supervisors within MENA;
• Work closely with representatives of governments and international and local organisations in gathering information, seeking input and feedback, and supporting the distribution of Crisis Group’s reports;
• Support fundraising efforts with selected governments, foundations and private donors through meetings and other outreach, with the assistance of the development team; and
• Serve as a member of Crisis Group’s Senior Management Forum (SMF).

 

Requirements:

 

• Excellent knowledge of Middle East and North Africa politics, conflicts and societies, and extensive contacts with governmental and non-governmental officials, the media, and local and international civil-society organisations working in the region;
• 10+ years professional experience in conflict analysis, journalism, NGO, international organisations or government work related to MENA with field experience in the region;
• Expertise covering governance issues, security-sector reform and institution-building;
• PhD or Master’s degree in international relations, political science, law, journalism, sociology or equivalent through experience;
• Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills, and ability to formulate well-targeted policy recommendations;
• Very strong interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent public presentation skills, a very strong capacity for effective teamwork and proven experience in a supervisory role; 
• Experience communicating with the public through speaking, writing and social media.
• Experience in overseeing budgetary and administrative matters, and management of a team;
• Fluency in English required; and
• Ideally based in the region, but with a willingness to undertake extensive travel throughout MENA, and to North America and Europe.

 

Application procedure:

 

Applications should be submitted in English and include a CV, cover letter and contact details of at least 3 referees. In the cover letter (of no more than two pages in length and which should be sent as an e-mail) the candidate should briefly describe his/her motivation and experience related to the post.

 

Please send applications by email to open.positions@crisisgroup.org, including "Program Director, MENA" in the subject line.