Search for Common Ground
In a divided world, Search for Common Ground champions the principle of bringing diverse people together to find solutions. By joining Search, you will join a powerful global peace movement that believes in the great impact of multi-partiality: all voices must be heard and respected to bring to life a better, more connected world, and that the vision Collaboration is essential for lasting peace.
Search for Common Ground takes a dynamic approach by creating solutions based on the needs of communities. We engage with leaders and elected officials to foster dialogue and collaboration. We are community leaders. We are young activists. We are women. We are builders of peace. We have been doing this work for more than 40 years, we have developed our conception of what peace is, being able to quantify our impact and design more effective programming. Peace moves at the speed of trust, so we invest for the long term. When we are no longer needed, we leave, leaving behind people and institutions with the capacity to manage future conflicts.
Position Summary
Search seeks an expert in violence prevention and coalition building to lead the coordination of stakeholders to prevent violence.
This position will act as Collaboration Lead for a multi-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the goal of reducing violence in 5 municipalities in Guatemala. The Collaboration Leader will facilitate engagement and cooperative problem-solving between different actors in the public and private sectors to prevent urban violence. Initially, he will supervise a three-person team in Guatemala City, which will expand to other municipalities as the project progresses. He will work closely with the national team implementing the different pillars of work, as well as with Search’s headquarters in Washington DC.
The Collaboration Lead will be responsible for overseeing the project’s multi-sector collaboration efforts, providing overall management, technical expertise, and oversight to ensure success in achieving project objectives. She will work closely with other members of the senior management team and other component heads to ensure that project activities are executed consistent with designed objectives and targets, as well as USAID and consortium standards. Its main objective will be to promote the implementation of the activities of Component 1.1, maintain the quality of the program and provide technical knowledge in the areas of multi-stakeholder dialogue, conflict transformation and the prevention of crime and violence.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design and execution of multi-stakeholder dialogue processes to create collaborative systems for violence prevention, leveraging technical knowledge in conflict transformation and peacebuilding methodologies.
- Direct the execution of Search activities within the broader project, ensuring that project activities are executed effectively and efficiently and in coordination with other project components.
- Ensure that learning from previous programming on violence prevention in Guatemala is incorporated into the design and execution of activities.
- Provide technical expertise in the area of crime and violence prevention, guiding the team in the development and implementation of strategies to address complex issues.
- Work closely with other members of the management team to ensure alignment with project objectives and goals.
- Supervise project staff and consultants.
- Coordinate mapping analysis to identify critical stakeholders and collaborate on shared concerns, leading to the identification of key points of political influence.
- Facilitate collaboration between various stakeholders, including youth, religious actors, police and national and municipal government agencies to address crime and violence.
- Use community dialogue approaches to facilitate long-term dialogue processes and change attitudes and perceptions among stakeholders.
- Build stakeholder capacity to prioritize collaboration through training programs and use of the Search for Common Ground Approach curriculum.
- Create working forums and relationships between stakeholders to institutionalize collaborative approaches.
- Support the integration of local youth violence prevention partners and work-based approaches to reduce social unrest among young people.
Contributions
- Program Execution : Supports quality project work plan execution, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, compliance, partnership and sub-agreement, and stakeholder engagement.
- Reporting : Contributes to the preparation of quality reports in accordance with donor rules and regulations, led by the main project manager.
- Compliance : Ensures compliance, training and coaching of staff and partners.
- External Engagement : Contributes to communication with government, media and partner organizations as agreed with the consortium leader.
- Program management, quality and project design : Collaboration with the institutional learning team to help relevant project staff understand and use the logical framework and monitoring and evaluation tools required for the project.
- Operations : Support staff and partner compliance with Search, donor and country rules and regulations.
- Infuse the organization’s values into all work
- Other duties consistent with the above key contributions, as assigned.
Competence Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
- Works collaboratively with senior managers and colleagues who share expertise; Builds teams for the successful execution of projects and programs.
- Efficiently influences suppliers, organizations, professional associations and partners.
- Make decisions based on existing information even when it is not complete.
- Adapts to personal style and preferences of colleagues to assess their needs and preferences; tolerates ambiguity.
- Articulates the goals and objectives of the Search program/project/function within and outside of Search; develops program objectives, indicators and results; and participates in developing strategies for the team.
- Provides contributions to global standards within Shared Services teams taking into account international standards and compliance, while supporting an organizational culture for work.
- Overcome obstacles, including personal biases, by following Search’s code of ethics in complex situations; demonstrating ethical principles and values that guide professional interactions in activities.
- Assesses risks and opportunities in a complex environment and convenes discussions to lead to a favorable outcome.
- Establishes tools to monitor the quality of work and verification of information.
- Learn project management tools, using technology as a resource, and use delegation to support the development of others, as well as increasing effectiveness and reducing stress.
- Supports employees in their efforts to achieve work goals (e.g., providing resources, removing obstacles).
- Collaborate with Shared Services teams, cross-functional teams and colleagues to produce innovative solutions.
- Uses analysis (costs, benefits, risks) to manage within a global framework of standards and best practices.
- Guides colleagues, Shared Services team, cross-functional teams, and direct reports to learning resources to expand skill set and understanding for continued growth in both breadth and depth of knowledge of roles, standards, and objectives of the organization.
- You are alert and responsive to any safeguarding risk, acquire the relevant knowledge and skills that will enable you to promote sound safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures and behave in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.
Type and nature of contacts
- Regularly coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and tactfully resolves problematic situations.
- Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including international and local donors, suppliers, and partners.
- Interacts with national office and regional staff.
- He works directly with stakeholders, including government, civil society leaders, youth activists and educators.
Required competencies
- University degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development, Political Science, International Affairs, Sociology, Project Management, Law, Urban Planning, Psychology or other relevant subjects.
- Demonstrated experience in fostering collaboration between various stakeholders in Guatemala.
- Knowledge of youth violence prevention strategies and experience working with youth organizations will be valued.
- Knowledge of urban planning will be an advantage.
- Written and oral fluency in Spanish and English is required; Knowledge of other languages spoken in Guatemala is an advantage.
Training and experience
Typically BS/BA with a minimum of 9 years of experience.
Working conditions and physical requirements
Usual office work conditions; ability to travel abroad at least 20%.
Oversight and budget responsibility
May supervise one or more staff members