Environmental Peacebuilding Association

USA: Senior Program Officer (Climate, Environment, and Conflict)

Sep 17, 2023 | United States Institute of Peace
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Peace is its commitment. The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people’s shared values and commitment to peace worldwide. USIP knows that Peace is Security – it advances both U.S. and international security by preventing, managing, and mitigating violent conflict.

USIP is an independent, non-partisan institution and are actively engaged with peacebuilding efforts worldwide. Together it tackles 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.

Job Brief

USIP’s Program on Climate, Environment, and Conflict (CEC) was launched in the beginning of FY2022. Its initial focus has been on four key policy-relevant themes: understanding and mitigating the risks of conflict in the global transition to sustainable economies; addressing the impacts of migration and displacement linked to climate and environmental change; managing conflict around transboundary water resources in a changing climate; and deepening an understanding of climate security issues and their strategic implications for the U.S. and its partners. More recently, the CEC team has begun designing a study group to look at viable alternative diplomatic pathways that support the goals of the Paris Agreement and help reduce the future risk of climate-related conflict.

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) is expected to play a critical role in advancing strategic priorities for USIP’s CEC Program, leading at least one technical theme. Given the current team composition, it is likely that the SPO will be asked to play a substantial leadership role either on the theme around economic transitions and/or on developing and managing a study group related to international climate policy and alternative diplomatic pathways. However, candidates should be prepared to take on any of the team’s themes in consultation with the CEC Director. The successful candidate will take a lead role in convening and leading policy conversations, overseeing applied research and USIP publications, cultivating partner relationships, and supporting the formulation of new thematic focus areas. In addition, the successful candidate will provide technical support for environmental peacebuilding programs led by USIP’s regional teams and advise on program concepts that integrate climate and environment issues into USIP’s core practice areas.

This position is based in Washington, D.C., and reports to the CEC Director.

Target Salary

Grade 14 - $132,000

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.

Responsibilities

Development and Planning:

Lead in developing, planning, and executing activities of at least one theme and supports additional themes; identifies the most critical policy issues; identifies appropriate resources and partners required to support program goals and objectives; designs and implements annual workplans around engagement on that issue(s).
Serve in a leadership role in building strategic partnerships with experts and a wide variety of policy and programmatic organizations, as well as internal partners, to advance the CEC team’s agenda.
Design and manage applied research and lead policy papers to completion as USIP publications, using expert knowledge of policy and implementation experience.
Help organize and lead an internal USIP community of practice on climate, environment, and conflict, bringing together USIP stakeholders to learn about and discuss relevant research and policy, exchange updates, and share ideas about programming or research.
Provide subject matter expertise and guidance to USIP country teams on programming pertaining to climate, environment, and conflict.
Stay up to date on new research and programs as they relate to the intersection of climate and environment issues, and conflict, fragility, and peacebuilding.

Public Outreach:

Serve as a subject matter expert speaker in both public and closed-door seminars, write commentary and analysis pieces for USIP’s website on policy-relevant topics, and engage in media and Congressional briefings on the CEC portfolio themes.
Organize and serve as chair of conferences, meetings, and workshops designed to draw on USIP's convening power to enable exchanges of knowledge and policy options.
Build strategic partnerships and cultivate contacts with subject matter experts and a wide variety of external organizations, including U.S. Government agencies, UN organizations, think tanks, and implementing organizations to leverage resources and combine efforts to promote USIP program initiatives and goals.
Attend and participate in various conferences, events, and other programs to speak on behalf of USIP on a specific subject matter area of expertise.
Take a lead role in responding to the public or media regarding specific program area.
Provide regular briefings to governmental or other organizations on key subject matter areas.

Financial Management:

Support the Director on strategic planning, budgeting, communications, and program management across the CEC portfolio.
Oversee management of thematic budget(s) to ensure that the program is operating within its budget limitations in order to meet its goals and objectives.
Pursue external funding for project initiatives.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a related field is required.
Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in climate or environmental studies, conflict/peace studies, international development, or related social science discipline required.
Ph.D. with six (6) years of relevant experience is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously, creatively problem-solve, prioritize effectively, and produce results under conditions of uncertainty.
Demonstrated program design and project management skills.
Demonstrated experience with managing USG interagency processes and/or designing and managing projects funded by the USG.
Excellent research, analytic, and writing skills and deep knowledge of climate and environmental issues, including the ability to translate research results into policy and practice.
A strong record of innovation, collaboration, project management, and partnership building.
Excellent representation and communication skills (oral and written), including cross-cultural skills, media skills, and the ability to engage effectively with partners at all political, social, and economic levels.
Willingness to travel internationally.

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.