Head of Peacebuilding – Central African Region of CAR/Cameroon/Chad

Concordis International seeks an experienced Peacebuilder and technical lead for a growing programme in the borderlands of Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad. The Head of Peacebuilding is a member of the Central African Region Senior Leadership team.

After six years of impactful work, promoting peaceful transhumance to mutual economic benefit in the borderlands of the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad, the donor has invited Concordis to scale up this programme. The Head ofPeacebuilding will lead the Peacebuilding teams in three countries and at least six local hubs, investing in their growth, both numerically and developmentally, over the coming four years and beyond.

Applicants will only be considered if they have professional level verbal and written English and French, and have significant experience of designing and managing peacebuilding interventions in the Central African Region.

Job Title: Head ofPeacebuilding

Location: Probablyinaregional capital (Bangui, Yaoundé or Ndjamena)with extensive travel

Duration: Full time, subject to probationary period and 3 months’ notice

Reporting to: Director of Central African Region

Supervising Line management of three Country Peacebuilding Managers (CAR, Chad and Cameroon)

Responsible for overseeing the peacebuilding team, including at least six Hub Peacebuilding Managers in local offices in the borderlands, twelve Programme Officers and six volunteer Advisory Groups.

Hours: Full time. Official working days and hours vary between countries. This is a professional role that requires flexibility, commitment and willingness and ability to work longer hours when necessary.

Salary: €56,000

Primary Objectives

1. Responsible for all technical peacebuilding aspects of Concordis’ strategic direction in the region, supporting the Regional Director both in delivering the programme as currently funded and working with the team to design, develop and source funding for additional programming that will a deliver measurable change for peace.
2. Represent Concordis in the region, supporting the Regional Director with high-level engagement with local, national, regional and international decision makers, using evidence from the programmes to influence policymaking, including at regional and cross-border peace conferences.
3. Collaborative leadership as part of the Central African Regional Leadership team, responsible for line managing Country Peacebuilding Managers and for giving coaching and technical support to all peacebuilding staff.

Sub-objectives

1. Responsible for all technical peacebuilding aspects of Concordis’ strategic direction in the region, supporting the Regional Director both in delivering the programme as currently funded and working with the team to design, develop and source funding for additional programming that will a deliver measurable change for peace.
   1. Responsible for leading on all technical aspects in delivering an ambitious but realistic regional programme to time and to budget, meeting all contractual requirements of the donor.
   2. As head of the peacebuilding team, responsible for providing managerial oversight in developing and delivering strategic work plans in accordance with donor log frames to achieve delivery of all activities and outcomes, reporting on these to the donor.
   3. Develop opportunities to use the significant flexibility built into this contract to maximise impacts for peace, beyond pure contractual terms, negotiating these with the donor.
   4. Inspire the team of staff and community volunteers to a vision that is deeper than delivery of activities, and translates into measurable attitudinal and behavioural change.
   5. Visionary leadership with the staff team, key stakeholders and international donors to identify gaps in peacebuilding provision and to develop opportunities for future work that will meet identified needs, be locally owned and deliver measurable impact.
   6. Provide quality technical guidance and advice to local partners on the design, implementation and monitoring of project activities.
2. Represent Concordis in the region, supporting the Regional Director with high-level engagement with local, national, regional and international decision makers, using evidence from the programmes to influence policymaking, including at regional and cross-border peace conferences.
   1. Build and maintain relationships with key decision makers, then use this access to amplify voices that are often ignored, engaging with:
   2. Government officials, supporting them with locally owned policy recommendations that will promote effective governance and address root causes of conflict.
   3. Diplomatic staff, supporting them with analysis and evidence-based programme design that will meet local needs.
   4. Regional bodies that support Central African countries (eg COMIFAC, ECCAS, CEMAC, OFAC etc)
   5. UN and multilateral agencies
   6. Humanitarian and developmental staff, building consortia and promoting collaboration to yield multi-disciplinary approaches to complex problems.
   7. Participate actively in regional conferences and negotiations to ensure that the voices of people in the borderlands are heard at the highest level, and that locally-led and conflict sensitive solutions are reflected in strategic decision-making.
3. Collaborative leadership as part of the Central African Regional Leadership team, responsible for line managing Country Peacebuilding Managers and for giving coaching and technical support to all peacebuilding staff.
   1. Support the Regional Director in the collaborative leadership of the programme, as a key member of the Central Africa Regional Leadership Team alongside the Head of Operations, Head of MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) and the Research Manager.
   2. Line management of the Country Peacebuilding Managers, responsible for coaching and giving technical support to staff working in the borderlands, including at least six Peacebuilding Managers, a team of at least twelve Programme Officers and the members of six Advisory Groups, directing resources where needed for programme delivery.
   3. Mentor, support, supervise and manage the peacebuilding team, inspiring them in their roles and focusing their efforts to deliver rapid and sustainable results, whilst ensuring that staff development needs are met. Create and sustain an organisational culture of mutual respect and accountability, where team members strive to achieve excellence.
   4. Promote clear lines of communication between staff members and offices, both across the Central African Regional programme and with other regional programmes (eg in Sudan and South Sudan) and with staff in the UK. Lead or participate in a system of team meetings, one-to-ones, appraisals and informal gatherings, avoiding silos, generating synergies and leading to 360 degree sharing of information, analysis and technical expertise.
   5. Ensure that project staff understand and adhere to staff safety and security policies and plans and that these plans are kept up to date. Closely monitor the security dynamics in target areas and report to the Regional Director on significant changes in the security context.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

1. At least 5 years in a senior management role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, managing programmes and budgets in excess of $½m per year.
2. 5 years of leading, managing and inspiring culturally diverse teams in complex and challenging environments.
3. Demonstrable personal experience of dialogue facilitation, mediation and conflict analysis.
4. Proven track record of securing and successfully delivering grants from institutional donors for peacebuilding or development programming.
5. Demonstrable knowledge of the Central African context, including history, geography, legal frameworks etc. with >3 years’ work in the region.
6. Professional level written and spoken English and French, with experience of making presentations and drafting technical documents in both languages.
7. Willing, able and available to spend extended periods of time in the region, both in the capitals and in towns and villages in the borderlands.
8. Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and negotiate patiently and effectively with potentially suspicious / hostile actors.
9. Excellent IT skills.
10. Resourceful, proactive, flexible and kind, able to manage and prioritise competing tasks.
11. Commitment to Concordis’ mission, principles, values (available at http://concordis.international/our-mission-and-values/.

Desirable:

1. Fluency in Arabic, Sango, Fulfulde etc.
2. Experience of monitoring and evaluation of peacebuilding processes.
3. Practical experience and/or training in NGO Security Management.
4. Masters degree in international relations, development studies, conflict resolution or a related discipline.