The British Embassy in Beirut has a vacancy for a Conflict Advisor, job grade Senior Executive Officer (SEO), under the UK Office for Syria (UKOS) on a fixed term contract of 12 months, with a possibility of renewal.

The Conflict Advisor will be responsible for understanding conflict and violence in Syria and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention in order to support conditions for peace, development, stability and growth. It is a fascinating work with real opportunities to make a difference and be involved in fast-moving events.

This is an exciting and challenging role, which offers the opportunity to inform and shape the UK Government’s efforts to deliver security and stability in Syria. The jobholder will ensure a conflict sensitive approach across all of the UK’s work in Syria, both policy and programme. The role will include provision of advice, analysis and reporting on conflict and stabilisation, and conflict resolution issues. It will also help to shape the increasing efforts on early recovery, based on a robust understanding of conflict dynamics and risk management. They will play a key role in the design of new programmes, including those funded by the Conflict Stabilisation and Security Fund (CSSF).

The Syria Conflict Advisor will report to the Head of the CSSF and Accountability Team but provide support across all teams to ensure clear linkages and conflict sensitivity across wider UK strategy and programming. The jobholder will demonstrate excellent communication skills in both Arabic and English, and an ability to draw upon a network of contacts with expertise and local understanding of different Syrian contexts.

Although the role is primarily a technical advisory role, the job holder may also have some programme oversight responsibility (working closely with Programme Managers) and will be the lead for coordinating the commissioning and distribution of analysis, including that produced by partners. They will also support the political team in influencing and informing a wide range of international and national stakeholders. And they will be expected to play an active corporate role in the wider UKOS and Embassy in Beirut.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Conflict analysis and reporting to inform UKOS policy and programmes. This will include longer term analysis and advice on the drivers of instability in Syria, as well as faster paced analysis such as short and longer term scenario planning in the event of new military incursions and regional conflict dynamics.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of key programmes in conflict prevention and stabilisation, security and accountability. Supporting all Teams Leaders and Programme Managers (CSSF and non CSSF) in ensuring programmes are conflict sensitive and supporting the development of new workstreams.
• Work with the political team, technical advisors and FCDO Research Analysts to coordinate the commissioning and distribution of research and analysis produced across the Syria portfolio, ensuring research informs wider UK political strategy and engagement in Syria; this may, for example, include sharpening UK policy and strategy through a revised Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) analysis to understand conflict drivers related to Syria’s narcotics trade;  reporting on national and local peace and reconciliation processes, especially on how they relate to UK interests and our business plan; and reporting on armed groups and militia and their allegiances.
• Lead on provision of technical Syria stabilisation orientated engagement with key actors, including regional stakeholders, working closely with the British Technical Adviser/Deployable Civilian Expert.
• Support capacity building activities to improve conflict sensitive approaches including managing trade offs and tensions across UKOS.
• Demonstrate consideration for gender equality by working closely wiht UKOS gender leadsto help achieve the UK’s Women, Peace and Security objectives.
• Support the wider FCDO Conflict Cadre through participation in annual professional conferences, as well as providing support to advisers in other offices as part of the conflict cadre (up to 10%).

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key Behaviours required:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
• Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

The Conflict Technical Competencies:

Applications must demonstrate the required competencies. This is a specialist role and there is a requirement for applicants to assess themselves against the Conflict Adviser technical competencies as part of the process. It is expected that if the successful applicant will work towards gaining formal accreditation of HMG’s Conflict Cadre, with the support of UKOS, FCDO colleagues in the UK, and the Conflict Cadre.

Core Conflict Competencies:

• Applied Conflict and Political Analysis and Strategy Development. Strong analytical skills, with experience of delivering, leading and coordinating conflict analysis and actionable recommendations;
• Conflict Sensitivity. Knowledge of conflict sensitivity principles and processes, with experience of developing practical measures to deliver conflict sensitivity in practice;
• Conflict Response. Addressing Conflict, Building Peace, Stability and Security.

For more information see: Conflict Technical Competency Framework (publishing.service.gov.uk)

• Fluent communication skills in English and Arabic (both spoken and written) including report writing.  Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely;
• A bachelor’s degree (Master’s level is highly desirable) or equivalent relevant expertise in peacebuilding, development, political science, social sciences or a related field;
• Strong contacts and networks amongst organisations working on/in Syria and detailed knowledge of the Syria context;
• Significant experience of working on conflict, peacebuilding or stabilisation activities in fragile or conflict affected states;
• Proven cultural, social and political sensitivity for working on Syria;
• Strong and flexible team player and excellent communicator;
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.

In addition, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Integrity
• Honesty
• Objectivity
• Impartiality