Programme Coordinator, Finance Management, Sahel and West Africa Programme

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute whose core mission is to undertake research and activities on security, conflict and peace. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. SIPRI provides excellent opportunities for scientific and personal development. SIPRI is an equal opportunity employer.

SIPRI is seeking a Programme Coordinator for the Building Sustainable Peace in the Sahel and West Africa Programme (Sahel and West Africa Programme). The Programme Coordinator will monitor the overall budget of the programme in close cooperation with the Programme Director, set up the financial and administration systems and procedures adapted to a growing regional programme, be responsible for the financial reporting and administrative routines, supervise the work of research assistants involved in finance and budget activities, and support the development of the programme by taking an active part in the acquisition strategy.

The Sahel and West Africa Programme is a part of the Conflict and Peace research cluster alongside SIPRI’s other regional security programmes and the Peace Operations and Conflict Management Programme. The Sahel and West Africa Programme conducts analyses of the key conflict, security and peace-building issues affecting the contemporary Sahel—with a particular focus on the relationship between security and development—in cooperation with African civil society organizations and research centres.

In relevant instances, research work is undertaken in cooperation with other programmes within SIPRI.

The Programme Coordinator will work together with partner organizations in the Sahel and West Africa under the guidance of the Programme Director. The main tasks of this position are the following:

• Monitor the overall budget of the projects including drafting budget proposals, preparing financial reports and explanatory notes for sponsors and partners, and coordinating administrative activities of the Sahel and West Africa Programme;
• Work effectively across multiple projects, budgets and timelines, coordinating with relevant finance and research staff;
• Establish financial and administrative procedures for successful strategy and implementation of the projects of the Sahel and West Africa Programme with the Programme Director;
• Support the development of acquisition and fundraising with the Programme Director, the Senior Researchers and the Grants Manager; and
• Work with the Programme Director, the Senior Researchers, the SIPRI communications team and project partners and sponsors on the programme’s activities and other events designed to increase the visibility of SIPRI and to build capacity and knowledge exchange with partners.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Coordinate the financial and administrative work of the programme;
• Monitor and draft the overall budgets and financial reports of the programme’s projects;
• Ensure the projects are operating within a sound financial and administrative environment that meet donor requirements by designing or revising procedures, reporting on activities and budgets and liaising with SIPRI’s financial and administrative staff;
• Report to the programme’s sponsors by liaising with partner organizations on project activities and reporting regularly to donors on budget spending and funds transfers;
• Support the fundraising efforts of the programme by drafting budget proposals;
• Support visibility of the programme, the partners and the Institute by organizing events and monitoring budgets;
• Further capacity building and knowledge exchange of partners in the Sahel by supporting financial and organizational audits, training partner staff on budget and accounting procedures, and reviewing and validating planning documents, requests for funds and budgetary reports; and
• Manage 1–2 research assistants on financial and organizational matters.

The role requires fluency in written and spoken English and French. The position is based in Stockholm and might involve travel to West Africa or the Sahel on occasion.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have the following experience and skills:

• A university degree or degrees at Master level in disciplines and topics relevant to this post (accounting, finance etc.)
• Five years of project/programme coordination;
• A past solid experience in elaborating budgets and a proven knowledge of international procedures (accounting, monitoring, reporting);
• Fluency, both spoken and written, in English and French;
• Attention to detail; and
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Previous staff supervision experience and previous working experience in Africa and/or with African civil society organizations will be considered an asset.

Contract period

The contract period will start from 1 February 2018, or as soon as possible thereafter. The appointment will be, initially, for a one-year period and renewable. The post is full-time, and the successful applicant will be expected to reside in Stockholm and be able to travel to West Africa. The salary package will be negotiated individually.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a one-page letter, both in English and French, detailing your qualifications and interests in the subject area, and a full CV in English with information about your educational background, relevant experience and skills. Applications should be sent via email to: progcoordwestafrica@sipri.org. Please state ‘Sahel and West Africa Programme Coordinator’ as a reference in the subject line of your email with the application materials.

The initial closing date for applications is 30 November 2017.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For enquiries regarding the vacant position, contact SIPRI Mali Project Head, Dr Gregory Chauzal, gregory.chauzal@sipri.org.

The trade union contacts at SIPRI are Pieter Wezeman for ST (pwezeman@sipri.org) and Jiayi Zhou for Saco-S (zhou@sipri.org).