Vacancies
Senior Peace, Security & Conflict Adviser **closed**
Job title: | Senior Peace, Security & Conflict Adviser |
Salary range: | £80,000-90,000 |
Job Location: | London N4, with extensive travel likely to fragile/ conflict locations, especially in Middle East/ North Africa |
Reports to: | John Morgan |
Anticipated Start Date: | Winter 2018 |
General Summary
Montenero Consulting Limited (MCL) is a niche consultancy that supports the delivery of high-quality development outcomes, both directly and by building the delivery capacity of other small firms. MCL works with partner governments, donors, NGOs and other firms to provide the best possible technical advice and operational support for developing and fragile countries. MCL often works at the highest levels of government and with a wide range of public, private and civil society development partners.
As well as core DFID programming, we anticipate a significant flow of future work to arise through the Conflict, Stability, Security Fund (CSSF) Framework, both directly and through the innovative Montenero Development Hub, which provides an array of technical and operational support to small contractors.
To underpin this work, Montenero wishes to recruit a senior Peace, Security & Conflict (PSC) Adviser. This is a senior level position responsible for high level policy engagement and influencing, utilising extensive experience with policy and conflict analysis to contribute to Montenero products in the conflict and stabilisation sector, with particular emphasis on the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region.
The Adviser will be responsible for representing MCL to HMG and academic and policy stakeholder counterparts, leading partnerships with research institutes and developing new models and methodologies for technical engagement with peace, security and conflict in the development community. The Adviser will develop well-researched input to industry discourse on PSC issues in the UK, the US and in the MENA region. The Adviser will:
- provide senior technical strategy and methodology input to new business proposal teams, and to project teams,
- make decisions that further MCL’s business goal as a thought leader in PSC programming.
- operate at advanced levels of authority and accountability for achieving results;
- provide staff development and supervision, operate in leadership roles and provide technical direction for one or more projects, new business development, and/or technical assignments.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Lead technical development and presentation of MCL’s technical capabilities and track record in PSC implementation to current and prospective clients, consultants and partners.
- Develop effective and collaborative working relationships with key clients, including the Department for International Development (DFID), the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), strategic partners, and stakeholders, and continually promote outstanding client service and technical leadership, including the introduction and sharing of new and innovative interventions.
- Lead market positioning for funding opportunities, including through senior engagement with research and academic partners and actively leading the development of MCL’s track record in the PSC sector.
- Apply in-depth technical expertise to new business efforts and the MCL knowledge base. Conceptualise and lead, or supervise, proposals, marketing visits and other relevant technical assignments for projects funded by UK- or US-based agencies, including for MDH partners.
- Lead technical writing on bids and proposals and research reports in relevant technical areas, act as quality control reviewer of others’ work.
- Lead engagement with HMG and international best practice literature and approaches to the PSC technical sector – reading and summarising key documents, preparing training packs and briefing notes for the wider MCL and MDH technical teams, about HMG development trends and methodologies in the sector.
- Lead development of technical abstracts, articles, primers, tools, and summaries of MCL’s approaches and best practices in the PSC sector.
- Track, analyse, and share development trends and priorities within the technical sector, indicating their relative importance to HMG and/or other clients when appropriate.
- Disseminate client initiatives, strategies, and approaches for consideration and integration into proposals and projects.
- Take a senior contributing role to industry forums, such as technical working groups, conferences, learning events, and blogs.
- Formulate strategies, new directions, and techniques to grow the company, and utilise networks with clients, consultants, and counterparts to advance successful new business opportunities.
- Support identification and recruitment of individuals with technical expertise who may be available for short- and long-term assignments.
- Participate, as needed, on corporate new business task forces with special emphasis on technical approach strategy and proposal team management.
- Travel periodically to explore new business opportunities, represent MCL, or gather information to write a technical proposal or research report.
- Cultivate partnerships with international firms/organisations as well as local, in-country partners.
Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.
- PhD in international affairs or a related field, or exceptionally Masters and significant qualification by experience.
- Substantial experience of technically relevant work, in the field of security or intelligence, and in the field of international development.
- Substantial experience of working at the highest levels of government, with preference given to experience at centre of government.
- Experience in foreign policy strategic planning and the management of government policy implementation in highly politicised and conflict-affected environments.
- Recognised thought leadership, including extensive experience conducting research and analysis and presenting policy recommendations to senior government officials and international counterparts on topics concerning highly politicised and conflict-affected environments.
- Demonstrated knowledge of trends in USA and UK relevant areas, donor initiatives and programmes, including UK thinking on stabilisation (e.g. DFID’s Building Stability Framework), conflict sensitivity (e.g. JACS), conflict resolution, peacebuilding and gender sensitivity. Knowledge of national and sub-national governance, security and justice, and corruption and inclusion issues in fragile and conflict environments would be a distinct asset.
- Strong existing relationships with a wide existing network of industry organisations (large and small businesses), including non-UK organisations and especially in the MENA region.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. This includes public presentations and contribution to publications.
- Demonstrated ability to build and manage working relationships with clients, partners, and technical experts across a diverse range of organisations (NGOs, private sector, think tanks, and academia etc.).
- Willingness to travel and work abroad a minimum of 4-8 weeks per year; experience working on technical programmes in conflict-affected areas preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and supervise department staff, multiple project teams, remote staff and other initiatives.
- Ability to solve complex technical, managerial, or operational problems and evaluation options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge.
- Strong knowledge of MS Office applications.
- Business fluency in Arabic is essential. Fluency in Hebrew is desirable.
- Existing or recent security clearance to minimum of UK SC level or ‘Five Eyes’ equivalent.
Physical Requirements
- Regular attendance and availability during normal business hours are required.
- Ability to work in a normal office environment.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10kg with ease.
- Deployment capable to hostile environments. This includes the ability to complete Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) or equivalent and may require a pre-deployment medical.
Work Conditions
- Normal office environment; usually moderate noise level.
- Ability to work in a normal office environment.
- Ability to travel and work abroad in less developed countries for extended periods, including in fragile and conflict environments.
What We Offer
We’ve built a culture to reflect our principles, working with like-minded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do. We offer a highly competitive salary.
We would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV (no more than 3 pages) and a short cover letter to angie.kikkides@montenero.co.uk, with the subject line of ‘Senior Peace. Security & Conflict Adviser’. Shortlisted applicants only will be contacted.
** This Position is now CLOSED **