Program Manager, Religion and Inclusive Societies

Who We Are

Peace is our commitment.  The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people’s shared values and commitment to peace around the world.  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 around the world.  Together we tackle the toughest problems and hold fast to the possibility of a more peaceful world.  (To learn more about USIP programs and job openings, go to https://www.usip.org/about/careers.

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and want to have a front row seat to the world stage, USIP is the place for you. 

JOB BRIEF

The Program Manager will serve as the lead for the project, “Psychosocial Support for Displaced Trauma Survivors: Latin America Pilot Project.” The Program Manager will oversee the development and implementation of all project activities, including in partner and internal and external stakeholder engagement, as well as contract management, ensuring that project components are implemented thoughtfully, carefully, and with a trauma-sensitive approach to meet the project objectives. The Program Manager will have demonstrated experience in trauma healing, particularly with displaced populations from conflict-affected communities, demonstrated comfort engaging with and understanding religious actors in peace and conflict settings, and demonstrated experience managing an international research project. The Program Manager will have relevant experience in or knowledge of the regional context (Latin America).

This position is full-time based in Washington, DC. This position will report to the Director of Religion & Inclusive Societies. The duration of this project is 12 months. 

This project seeks to bridge a gap between religious actors and mental health professionals who support the trauma needs of people who have been displaced by violent conflict. Over the course of 12 months, USIP will pilot a project that looks at this gap in the Latin American context, specifically in Colombia and Venezuela, to 1. build better understanding by conducting and disseminating research to map and identify current efforts, resources, and best practices to inform policy and practice, and 2. foster collaboration between religious and traditional actors and mental health professionals, ultimately to encourage more effective psychosocial support from both religious actors and mental health professionals for survivors of conflict-related trauma.

TARGET SALARY RANGE

Grade 12 – $86,000 – $89,000

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

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Planning and Development:

• Manages all components of project, including leading small team of staff working on project implementation, responsible for meeting project goals and objectives, developing and presenting on the status of project goals and objectives.
• Takes the lead role in developing, planning, and executing project within given framework and identifies appropriate resources and partners required to support program goals and objectives.
• Conducts robust desk research to inform field research;
• Develops proposed research plan and methodology;
• Designs and implements monitoring & evaluation strategy;
• Develops criteria for, manages request for proposal process of, and oversees local research partners in stakeholder mapping process;
• Through regional stakeholder mapping process, identifies activities, gaps, opportunities, and key actors to inform road map to implement recommendations and a potential next phase of the project;
• In consultation with USIP Global Campus, develops and pilots virtual platform for continued cross-sectoral engagement, including networking and resource-sharing;
• Selects and oversees small, local research projects and their dissemination;
• As determined with director, authors or co-authors and disseminates written reports to targeted audiences, such as: USIP report, blog pieces, and/or policy briefs.

Financial Management:

• Manages and tracks project activities to meet goals and objectives;
• Writes quarterly reports with updates on project activities;
• Oversees development of financial quarterly reports to present to funding partner;
• Manages components of the project budget to ensure that the project is operating within its budget limitations in order to meet its goals and objectives;
• Manages contracts relevant to the project, including to oversee all phases of contracting process;
• Coordinates regularly with program director, program officer, and program assistant. Oversees and delegates to project research assistant.

Public Outreach:

• Develops and manages relationships with partner organizations and advisory team, including regular communications, convening and leading meetings to solicit feedback;
• After identifying research process key actors, convene virtual consultations in participatory learning virtual platform;
• Builds strategic partnerships (in Washington, DC and in relevant countries) and cultivates contacts with subject matter experts and a wide variety of external organizations to leverage resources and combine efforts to promote project initiatives and goals;
• Fosters the development of a community of practice through USIP’s Global Campus virtual platform;
• Liaises with USIP colleagues, including consulting regularly with USIP’s Latin America Program;
• If or as determined with director, attends and participates in various conferences, events, and other programs to speak on behalf of USIP on a specific subject matter area of expertise;
• May brief U.S. governmental partner on key subject matter areas and project updates and findings;
• At conclusion of project, convenes series of events and consultations to share findings.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in mental health or psychology, theological studies, peace and conflict studies, political science, international relations, or related field is required.
• Four (4) or more years related experience managing research initiatives or project from development through implementation, preferably with field implementation experience in a post-conflict setting is required.
• Strong understanding of best practices in trauma care for people displaced by violent conflict is required.
• Familiarity with religious studies and/or religious peacebuilding is required.
• Familiarity with peace, migration, displacement and conflict dynamics in Latin America, especially Colombia and Venezuela.
• Strong project management and research skills with demonstrated experience managing international research projects.
• Strong communication skills (including written and presentation) in both English and Spanish and ability to translate research findings to policymaker and practitioner audiences.
• Demonstrated intercultural skills.
• Fluency in Spanish (spoken and written) is required.
• Proven ability to work independently and effectively, as well as work well as part of a team.
• Experience working closely with local communities and community-based organizations in Colombia.
• Demonstrated experience in project management and project implementation and financial oversight and reporting and monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong interest in innovative and adaptive programming.

All USIP contract and employee positions are contingent upon the favorable completion of a suitability background investigation.

Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

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

For questions about this position please email recruitment@usip.org. Do not send resumes or attachments to this email address.

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.