Program Officer

Who We Are

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 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 on the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

 

JOB BRIEF

The Program Officer (PO) for the Iraq, Gulf, Yemen (IGY) Program (Program) will manage projects and initiatives and provide management support to the USIP IGY Program. The PO will manage monitoring and evaluation and day-to-day programmatic and administrative support for the Program. The Program Officer leads business development processes, manages budgets and contracts, develops reports and other informational material, oversees and/or conducts research, and ensures program databases are maintained. This position is full-time, based in Washington D.C., requires travel to the field, reports to the Director of IGY Program, and is a member of the Middle East North Africa Center.

CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT -  01/05/2025

TARGET SALARY

Grade 12 - $99,200 - $102,500

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.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management and Support:

• Under the leadership of the Director, manage program strategy and annual planning development processes and assist with overall program management and implementation.
• Develop, oversee, and monitor program and project level work plans, monitoring and evaluation, and budgeting for all activities in collaboration with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead business development and content production processes, including developing, editing, and updating concept notes, proposals, program and project reports, and informational items for internal USIP staff members and external audiences (e.g., progress reports, web content, project pages, special reports, fact sheets, etc.).
• Monitor conflict and peace developments in and related to the IGY countries and identify opportunities, risks, and challenges to the Program and provides recommendations to IGY Director on response.
• Coordinate IGY activities with USIP departments (e.g. Office of Finance, Learning and Evaluation, Public Affairs and Communications, and Congressional Affairs), Headquarters, the field teams, and with other partners.
• Build partnerships and cultivate relationships with program stakeholders, including, but not limited to, U.S. Government funding partners and interlocutors, embassies, country and regional experts, and international organizations.
• Represent the program at internal and external meetings and events.
• Manage, and where applicable, conduct program-related research and writing as needed.
• Oversee, mentor, and assist the program staff, including meeting requirements and setting up administrative procedures for projects by establishing filing systems, logs, mailing lists, etc.
• Respond to questions regarding general programmatic procedures and standards.
• Update program policies and procedures for compliance.

 

Procurement, Finance, Budget and Travel Support:

• Ensure compliance with USIP’s procurement and contracting regulations.
• Prepare program and project budgets to be approved by the IGY leadership.
• Generate routine budget and financial reports, and analyze the program budget (e.g., monitors expenditures, schedules payments, and reviews budget reports) to develop recommendations for the program leadership on budget-related matters.
• Oversee reconciliation of program budget through guiding junior staff to input transactions correctly, obligate funds, process travel vouchers and reimbursements, and track the budget using financial software.
• Manage contracting activities, including drafting contract proposal language, completing the USIP contract template, processing invoices, and monitoring payment of contractor services. Provide technical advice to program staff on project and contract related requirements.

 

Events and Publications Support:

• Manage the development and execution of event and publication strategies.
• Oversee, mentor, and ensure junior staff is performing all logistical arrangements for program events, including reserving rooms, developing invitations, monitoring RSVPs, ordering food and supplies, arranging room set-up, and serving as the main point-of-contact for attendees.
• Develop promotional and informative descriptions of events for internal USIP staff members and external guests.

 

Knowledge Management:

• Develop knowledge management guidance for the program and overseas staff and partners’ compliance, e.g. maintaining project databases with after action reporting, quarterly and final reporting, tracking of programmatic decision-making, correspondence with U.S. Government partners, and capturing lessons learned.

Performs other duties as assigned. – Italicized

 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (Masters preferred) in peace/conflict, international relations or related field.
• Six or more years (4+ with MA) experience in conflict management, peacebuilding, international development, or business administration.
• Knowledge of Middle Eastern history, culture and politics, especially Iraq, Gulf and Yemen is strongly preferred.
• Excellent representation and communication skills (oral and written), including cross-cultural, media, interpersonal skills; proven ability to deal with internal and external stakeholders and communities of interest from the lowest and highest political, social, cultural, and economic levels.

• Ability to think strategically and effectively develop, communicate, and execute plans.

• Demonstrated experience coordinating with officials in government, international organizations, and national partners, to include relevant grant management experience in drafting and negotiating proposals, writing reports, and financial management and budgets for USG agencies such as USAID, INL, DRL, etc.

• Demonstrated ability to gather data, compile information, prepare reports and perform complex tasks; adaptability to meet changing demands.

• Demonstrated experience in project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation is desirable.
• Demonstrated management, research, writing, and editing skills. Ability to effectively write in a variety of formats and for a variety of audiences.
• Positive work attitude and teamwork, including knowledge of the goals, objectives, structure, and operations of a major public institution, and willing to help colleagues even outside of prescribed responsibilities.
• Experience with budgets and cost management is required.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams) are required. Previous experience with databases and/or data management tools, including financial management software, is preferred and QuickBase/Salesforce is strongly desired.
• Fluency in English required, fluency in Arabic strongly preferred.
• Ability to travel to Iraq and the Middle East region is required.

The Iraq, Gulf, Yemen (IGY) program of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) seeks a Program Officer to work at the Institute’s Headquarters in Washington, DC. IGY informs policy and the public through research and conflict analysis, builds conflict resolution and peacebuilding capacity especially that of civil society, and supports field-based program initiatives such as problem-solving dialogues that foster social cohesion. These objectives are met through a dynamic operation that spans multiple locations in-country and Headquarters office, involving different departments and partners. Successful performance in this environment requires being vision oriented; leading but also substantively contributing to analysis, projects, and events; bringing different teams and elements of the program and Institute together for effective design and implementation; and a positive attitude and support to team-members and partners.

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.
2.  Cover letter
3.  Resume 

Note: Only those applicants that are selected for further discussions will be contacted.  

USIP is an equal opportunity employer. USIP does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.”