Senior Expert, Mediation

Who We Are

H3: 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 USIP 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.

Summary

H3: The Senior Expert position will serve as program lead on promoting and enhancing mediation as a core peacebuilding method for the Inclusive Peace Processes & Reconciliation (IPPR) Team. The Senior Expert will develop practice, provide direct support to peace processes, and oversee USIP’s thought leadership on mediation. This position will provide strategic guidance, support design and operationalization of mediation, and serve as a comparative analyst on international mediation issues.

The Inclusive Peace Processes & Reconciliation Team provides support to a range of internal and external stakeholders working at various stages of peace processes. The Team provides capacity-building support as well as technical expertise on issues such as power-sharing, ceasefires, peace process design, and mediation support. The Senior Expert position is full-time, based in Washington DC, will report to the Director, Inclusive Peace Processes & Reconciliation, and is a member of USIP’s Gandhi-King Global Academy.

TARGET SALARY

H3: Grade 14 – $139,000 – 144,000

The Institute uses the General Schedule salary tables for administering compensation. Offers are determined based upon candidate qualifications, related experience, internal equity, and the amount budgeted for the position.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitates mediation among conflict or political actors as part of USIP’s peace process support activities.
• Serves as the primary advisor for USIP efforts on mediation processes within peace processes and peacebuilding more broadly.
• Spearheads the creation of, or improves and adapts effective, innovative approaches, and best practices related to mediation processes.
• Advises on designing mediation processes by applying the latest academic, field, and evaluative research, as well as field-based experience. This includes providing support to USIP’s in-country teams or external actors on best practices or comparative analysis on various mediation processes.
• Collaborates and pursues coherence across the institute on work being carried out on mediation processes with in-country teams.
• Plays a lead role in the development and planning for projects that include mediation components (e.g., developing project’s strategic plan, goals, objectives, and operating plan; designing appropriate resources required to support project goals and objectives, etc.)
• Works closely with the senior experts on dialogue, negotiation, and reconciliation to develop clarity across USIP in effective use of these peacebuilding measures and develop means to incorporate continuous learning regarding these measures with USIP in-country teams.
• Demonstrates USIP’s thought leadership on mediation processes by participating in various conferences, events, briefings to government officials, and other programs to speak on behalf of USIP.
• Builds strategic partnerships and cultivates contacts with subject matter experts and a wide variety of external organizations to leverage resources and combine efforts to promote USIP program initiatives and goals.
• Strengthens training content, particularly for officials of governments and international and regional organizations, with a strong focus on mediation support.
• Travels domestically and internationally.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree with ten (10) + years of experience in international relations, conflict management, or management or a related field is required. Masters, with eight (8) years or Ph.D., or JD with six (6) years of related work experience in the field of mediation, conflict resolution, political affairs, or policymaking is strongly preferred.
• Extensive field experience is required, including experience supporting institutions or state actors with mediation.
• Demonstrated experience in and/or coordinating with a government department, multilateral institution, or international non-governmental organization strongly preferred, including engaging practitioners, policymakers, and civil society members on issues related to political or armed conflict.
• Education and training experience related to mediation, negotiation, or dialogue skills preferred.
• Research and scholarship related to mediation (as well as negotiation and dialogue) preferred.
• Strong familiarity with current research on mediation as part of inclusive peace processes preferred.
• Experience overseeing and coordinating fieldwork preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience in developing monitoring and evaluation tools preferred.
• The ability to work in another language (e.g. French, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic) strongly preferred.
• Ability to write funding proposals and after-action reports preferred.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills required.
• Demonstrated program management and teamwork skills are required.

CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS 03/22/24.

All applicants must be US citizens to be considered for positions with USIP.

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. It is the policy and practice of USIP to offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, political affiliations or belief, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.