About CIVIC
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is a neutral, impartial, and independent international humanitarian organization, working to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict zones. CIVIC envisions a world in which no civilian is harmed in armed conflict. Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and work with armed actors and relevant institutions to strengthen their resolve and capacity to prevent and respond to civilian harm. We are advocates who believe no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored and we are advisors who provide practical solutions to prevent and respond to civilian harm. Learn more at civiliansinconflict.org.
About the Position
The Director of Global and Field Programs (DGP), reporting to the Executive Director, is a member of the Senior Management Team and ensures that CIVIC is continuously innovating programmatic interventions and delivering high quality results for the protection of civilians in conflict. The DGP is responsible for CIVIC’s program cycle management (including the design, implementation, review, and evaluation of global and field programs); CIVIC program quality and impact; adapting CIVIC’s programmatic tools and methodologies to respond to existing and emerging protection risks and opportunities; and expanding the reach of CIVIC’s programs to more civilians in more conflict-affected environments. The DGP will oversee CIVIC’s regional and thematic managers to deepen its work and its impact within civilian communities.
A key part of this role, at the outset, will be improving the cost effectiveness and sustainability of CIVIC’s programs and program structure. The DGP will build and maintain a relationship with key stakeholders, including governments and institutions; military and security actors; donors; the media; civil society; community leaders; and the humanitarian community for program-related and thematic issues. The DGP works closely with the Executive Director to ensure high visibility and positioning of CIVIC, as well as a high standard of CIVIC interventions and better integration and collaboration between program and operations.
Profile and Skills
- Leadership: A proven track record of effectively leading and providing strategic direction and guidance to global and field programs with humanitarian organizations with clarity of purpose and strategic vision.
- Operational Management: Strong operational management skills and demonstrated capacity to lead programs and transformation processes within dynamic and conflict affected environments. Oversee and be accountable for the effective implementation of CIVIC’s programs/projects. Ensure program teams have adequate resources and tools to deliver programs on time, within budget, and with quality.
- Financial Oversight and Budget Management: Demonstrated expertise in closely monitoring program budgets to prevent financial challenges that could impact project completion. Proven ability to track expenditures, compare them against budget projections, and promptly investigate discrepancies to prevent overspending. Skilled in ensuring that funds are allocated effectively towards achieving project goals, rather than solely sustaining organizational operations.
- Humanitarian and Protection Sector Expertise: Extensive experience in the humanitarian sector with a focus on protection of civilians and engagement with armed actors, including a deep understanding of the challenges and complexities of operating in conflict zones.
- Global Relations: Demonstrated experience operating in a multi-stakeholder environment, including states, donors, peer organizations, and other strategic partners. Experience engaging with global powers, platforms, and institutions such as the UN, World Bank, BRICS countries, the AU, the EU, the GC, and ASEAN. Ability to interact with diverse type of actors. Proven track record of engaging with wide range of donors with successful results.
- Program Management Expertise: Expertise in building and overseeing sound and sustainable programs using adaptive programming with a robust learning component. Certification in Project Management is an asset. Strong knowledge and understanding of program monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.
- Culture of Safety and Security: Significant experience managing safety and security in conflict- affected countries and understanding how security and context affect programs and projects in order to adapt. Understanding of safety and security processes and tools. First-hand experience successfully managing crisis and security incidents is desirable.
Key Functions
Lead Global and Field Programs at CIVIC:
- Support Regional and Country Directors in developing field programs and strategic vision, planning, tools, and outreach and supervise the program division with a team of subject matter experts (POC, Military Engagement, Thematic experts, Gender, Policy, MEAL, and Research professionals).
- Lead CIVIC’s vision to “where it needs to be” by guiding the sustainable development of innovative programs, tools, and outreach in armed conflict-affected countries.
- Position CIVIC’s programming at the global level with a particular focus on BRICS and other emerging powers.
Sustainable Program Design, Development, and Adaptation:
- Promote programmatic adaptation and innovation to ensure that CIVIC stays on the cutting edge of policy and practice and is delivering results for conflict-affected civilians.
- Hold program staff accountable for delivering programs and projects on budget, on time, on target, and of high quality.
- Work with MEL team to strengthen the use of qualitative and quantitative data to inform program learning and contribute to adaptive and innovative program management.
- Lead the development of clear and adapted program guidelines, policies, SoPs, and tools to ensure strict compliance of program activities with CIVIC’s policies and procedures as well as relevant donor regulations and agreements, SPHERE guidelines, and the NGO code of conduct.
Global Management and Field Engagement:
- Lead a team of senior experts and managers using an inclusive and supportive leadership style, fostering a working environment that promotes transparency, professionalism, ethics, accountability, excellence, and care.
- Build the capacity of program teams to design and deliver innovative and effective programs, maximizing impact and accountability to CIVIC’s beneficiaries and donors.
- Oversee programmatic budgets and manage finances with care and responsibility, ensuring programmatic and financial compliance, program quality, and impact.
- In close collaboration with Development team, support revenue generation strategies and development efforts to ensure that CIVIC’s programs the necessary funding to carry out and deliver activities on time and with quality.
- Ensure that CIVIC’s work considers the evolving humanitarian and protection context, using evidence-informed approaches and fostering innovation.
Cross Cultural Competency and Communication:
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of cultural differences and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively across cultures, fostering collaboration among diverse teams across multiple countries to ensure inclusive and impactful program implementation.
- Lead by example in fostering an organizational culture of respect, empathy, and open communication, embracing cultural diversity, and building trust with both internal teams and external stakeholders from various backgrounds.
Safety and Security:
- Ensure that field programming is carried out safely, using innovative and fit-for-purpose tools and processes in close collaboration with the Global Security Advisor.
- Keep abreast of CIVIC’s safety and security status in countries and regions of operation and adapt staff safety and security procedures accordingly in collaboration with the Global Security Advisor and Country or Regional Director.
Requirements and Qualifications
- Master’s degree in political or social sciences, humanitarian affairs, international relations, International Humanitarian Law, or a related field from an accredited academic institution.
- Minimum 15 years of experience, including 10 years of management experience in conflict settings in the field and at HQ.
- Relevant professional experience in humanitarian settings with a focus on protection of civilians is required.
- Project management certification (PMP, Prince 2, etc.) is desired.
- Strong experience with humanitarian engagement of armed actors and communities in conflict settings.
- Experience liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities and international institutions.
- Sound knowledge of financial and business administration and the principles and practices of management.
- Strong understanding of the humanitarian sector with a focus on protection of civilians, and experience engaging with the broader humanitarian and security sector reform communities.
- Proven experience in resource mobilization with government and private donors.
- Previous experience engaging in operational partnerships with a strong knowledge of the localization agenda.
- Outstanding interpersonal communication skills and demonstrated cultural competency with experience working on a team and across departments to ensure an inclusive, respectful, and safe working environment.
Additional Details
CIVIC seeks to recruit, develop, and retain top talent with diverse backgrounds, in the belief that this is critical to achieving our goals. We encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
This position will be based in Geneva, Switzerland with frequent travel (30-40%).
CIVIC is offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package.
CIVIC is not able to sponsor employees at this time, therefore, please ensure that you are able to legally work in this location when applying.
Note to Recruiters and Placement Agencies: CIVIC does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. CIVIC does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.
How to apply
Please click here to apply through CIVIC’s Careers page.