Head of Division - External Relations, Policy & Cooperation Programmes

Location

Geneva, Switzerland, with some travel, including to explosive ordnance-affected countries

Duration

Open-Ended contract

Full/part-time

100 %

Start date

As soon as possible

Closing date for applications

Jan 21, 2024

Job Purpose

Lead the division that oversees External relations, Policy, Communications and Cooperation Programmes. The incumbent will also lead GICHD contribution to relevant international political and normative processes, and, as a member of the Management Board, will take part in the executive management and institutional development of the Centre, including leading the process to develop GICHD’s overall strategies.

Main Responsibilities

- Attend and represent the GICHD at relevant national and international conferences, giving presentations on behalf of the GICHD.

- Liaise with relevant diplomatic missions and organizations in Geneva and coordinate and manage the relationship with the Swiss authorities (DFAE, DDPS).

- Develop and coordinate GICHD’s role in International Disarmament, Humanitarian Law, as well as in relevant political and normative processes, with a focus on the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

- Lead GICHD contribution to the international governance of standards in the field of conventional disarmament.

- Lead GICHD thought leadership and stimulating reflections and influence the sector's response to a constantly changing policy and operational landscape.

- Promote the GICHD as a leading centre of expertise in explosive ordnance risk reduction and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and expertise through a range of public relations and outreach activities.

- Provide substantive support to the Director’s visits to explosive ordnance-affected and donor countries, international organizations and other partners.

- Lead the organization of the Council of Foundation and the Advisory Board meetings.

- Advise the President of the Council of Foundation, the Bureau, the Director and the Management Board on external relations and policy matters.

- As a member of the Management Board, take part in the executive management and institutional development of the Centre, including leading the process to develop GICHD’s overall strategies and monitoring/reviewing the relevant outcome of the Division.

- Lead, coach and develop the staff of the division, striving for an entrepreneurial culture, cost-effectiveness by fostering a collaborative, respectful and enabling work environment through diversity and inclusiveness and the achievement of results.

- Manage the financial resources and activities including financial planning, resource mobilization, cost recovery and donor liaison.

Operating Network

- Diplomats
- Policy makers
- International organisations
- Journalists

Profile requirements

Essential requirements 
- Minimum 10 years’ experience leading and coaching multicultural teams in international settings
- 10 years’ experience contributing to strategic development preferably in humanitarian and/or development settings
- Good knowledge of Swiss Foreign policy and Swiss administration
- Solid experience negotiating with national and international authorities
- Good knowledge of international multilateral, political and normative processes
- Excellent writing skills in English and French, ability to write and synthesize strategic information in both languages
- Ability to travel, up to 25%, including to donor and mine affected countries
- Master’s degree in international relations or a related field
- Strong political acumen
 
Desirable characteristics

- Competence in the application of Results-based management, Theories of change, strategic and programme planning/monitoring/ reporting
- Applied practice or an understanding of gender and diversity mainstreaming in strategic planning and programming
- Ability to leverage a wide network throughout the Humanitarian/Development sector
- Experience in states diplomacy

Applications

If you feel you have the right profile to take this challenge, kindly register your application on-line, including a CV in English of maximum 2 pages, a letter of motivation and your earliest date of availability.

The GICHD implements a Gender and Diversity policy and is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are encouraged from women and men, nationals of mine-affected countries and individuals with a disability or special needs, who meet the above profile requirements.

About us

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) works towards reducing risks to communities stemming from explosive ordnance, with a particular focus on mines, cluster munitions, other explosive remnants of war and ammunition storages. The Centre helps develop and professionalise the sector for the benefits of its partners: National and local authorities, donors, the United Nations, other international and regional organisations, non-governmental organisations, commercial companies and academia. It does so by combining three distinct lines of service: field support focused on capacity development and advice, multilateral work focused on norms and standards, and research and development focused on cutting-edge solutions. These efforts are facilitated from the GICHD's location within the Maison de la Paix in Geneva.

GICHD website www.gichd.org

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For further information please contact us by e-mail at hr@gichd.org>