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About Communities in Transition (CIT)

CIT is a conflict management consulting firm that empowers communities to address conflict-related challenges in a collaborative and sustainable way. We do so by advancing the understanding of complex crisis through comprehensive conflict analysis and assessments; facilitating inclusive and sustainable conflict resolution dialogue processes; and ensuring knowledge transfer and ownership to empower local peacemakers.

In partnership with the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), CIT is launching a 1-year (January 2018-December 2018) emergency mediation program in the Central African Republic (CAR) entitled “Building Inclusive Security in CAR” in order to:

Objective 1: Build the capacity of local communities to resolve local security issues and enhance citizen participation in DDR/SSR.

Objective 2: Build the oversight capacity of national legislative representatives to consult with their constituencies and feed local perspectives into national level DDR/SSR processes creating 2-way communication mechanisms between national legislators and local communities on DDR/SSR and community security.

To achieve these objectives, CIT deploys mediation surge teams (MST) to conflict zones to help local mediators engage conflict parties (armed and non-armed) in dialogue to reduce insecurities and mass displacements and help community leaders feed local perspectives into the national policy-making process. 

Job Description

CIT is hiring a full-time Program Director to manage all aspects of the “Building Inclusive Security in CAR” program. After 4 years of providing conflict resolution consulting services, this is CIT's first program and will require building all policies, procedures, systems and incentives needed to ensure the long-term viability of CIT-CAR and CIT's emergency mediation program.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced mediator with an entrepreneurial, self-starting spirit with experience setting-up successful start-ups and new conflict resolution programs in conflict zones. The Program Director will be able to model and design policies that foster an organizational culture that applies principles of integrity, empowerment, impartiality, collaboration and inclusion in staff's daily work and in their interactions with others. The Program Director will spend 60% of their time in the field, some of which in insecure environments.

The Program Director reports to the CEO at CIT-HQ.

Management Skills

The Program Director will manage a team of 3 full-time staff (1 program assistant and 2 national mediators) and 6 part-time local mediators. The Program Director will be tasked to implement the following:

• Strategic vision: formulate, plan and communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete work plans and activities. Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve the program's and CIT's objectives.
• Organizational culture: model and design policies, procedures, systems and incentives that create an organizational culture that applies principles of integrity, empowerment, impartiality, collaboration and inclusion in staff's daily work practices and in their interactions with others. Will develop and apply CIT' equity, diversity and inclusion policies.
• Funding: explore, evaluate and apply for new funding opportunities that further CIT's objectives and activities. Develop material that describes CIT's work, impact and successes.
• Collaboration: work collaborative and transparently with the team, partners, other national and international stakeholders. Design and uphold collaborative decision-making processes that value the input of all CIT-CAR staff and deepens their analytical capacity.
• Team management: assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve their performance and reach their objectives. Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on one meetings and performance reviews. Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence. Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.
• Program operations: oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles and required M&E systems. Work closely with the CIT-CAR team and CIT-HQ to build and maintain operational structures that fully support field programs. Develop a gender policy, do no harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Finances and compliance: oversee all aspects of the budget and ensure the effective and transparent use of resources in compliance with donor policies/procedures. Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations. Ensure systems and monitoring are in place to prevent fraudulent activities.
• Representation: represent CIT and maintain productive relationships with national and international stakeholders, media and local communities. Build a strong relationship with our national counterparts ensuring that their priorities are at the center of our decision-making. Participate in community activities and social gatherings whenever possible and anticipate community needs. Ensure that communication with all involved is clear and professional.
• Security: liaise with security platforms in Bangui on crucial events and during high-risk periods. Report on all team incidents to CIT-HQ and develop a security policy for the MSTs
• Organizational learning: design and lead training opportunities that advance and develop the capacity of the team, deepens their understanding of their roles and assists with their career development. Maintain a database of program-related information that can benefit the growth of other CIT programs and the field of mediation in general
• Accountability to nationals: develop accountable and transparent relationships with nationals, engaging beneficiaries as equal partners in the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of all our projects. Ensure that strategies and activities reflect the priorities of nationals.

Technical Skills

The Program Director will deploy with the mediation surge team to support the implementation of the following activities in Bangui and 3 provinces in CAR:

• Conflict analysis: compile map micro-level conflict dynamics and identify entry-points for mediation to address DDR/SSR and community security issues;
• Training: provide community members with on-going conflict assessment, stakeholder mapping and conflict resolution skills training, coaching and monitoring and prepare local advocates to elevate issues that need national-level attention. Train parliamentarians in constituent engagement, interest-based negotiation, strategic communication, and principles of diversity, inclusion and equity to help them understand and respond to their constituents’ priorities.
• Mediate: facilitate the resolution of local grievances and coach and support local mediators as they facilitate problem-solving dialogues around security concerns;
• Integrate: dialogue processes into the local peace architecture, such as existing government, NGO or CSOs working on resolving conflict, to ensure the sustainability of the conflict resolution processes.
• Constituent engagement: support parliamentarians as they conduct field visits and engage in dialogue with constituents, local government officials and the international community to address DDR/SSR and community security issues.
• Vertical communication mechanisms: track community SSR/DDR recommendations and support regular 2-way communication between national legislative representatives and local communities on DDR/SSR and community security and systematize these exchanges to establish a sustainable communication mechanism.
• Coordinate: with CIT-HQ, national mediators, local mediators, USIP and other national and international stakeholders and participate in meetings in Bangui and in the provinces as required.
• Report: compile thorough and timely reports of all activities.

Candidate Profile

In addition to having demonstrated experience in the above listed managerial and technical areas, CIT is looking for an entrepreneurial and innovative Program Director with the following profile:

• Integrity: keeps their word and conducts themselves with impeccable integrity toward all stakeholders and partners, even when others do not.
• Empowerment: is able to see and enhance the skills, talents and gifts in all individuals and treat everyone with dignity and respect.
• Impartiality: does not take side in a conflict and is able to hear all sides without expressing judgement, irrespective of a person's point of view.
• Collaborative and inclusive: draws in diverse voices and promotes collaborative decision-making with stakeholders, colleagues, and partners. 
• Strategic thinker: must have a keen analytical sense and understanding of regional, national and local conflict dynamics and able to “read” changing dynamics so as to adapt their strategy to reflect changes in the context.
• Leadership skills: must be willing to take charge and show initiative, while demonstrating a servant-leadership style. Must also be able to work well as part of a team and with people of different worldviews and practices, while remaining true to CIT’s organizational values and principles.
• Training and coaching skills: energetic trainer able to contextualize the material to the needs of the participants and have strong coaching abilities that draws out the best out of participants.
• Bold: calculated risk taker with a proven ability to assess and manage risk responsibly. Functions well in an unstable and restricted environment.
• Innovative and creative thinker: out of the box thinker, willing to challenge assumptions and try new ideas.
• Positive: able to handle difficult and physically challenging environments with limited recreational and social activities without complaining.
• Communicator: good communicator in times of crisis, focused on understanding the other while able to set boundaries for themselves. Demonstrates flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure even when others do not.
• Open to learning: must be willing to learn new perspectives, try out new approaches, learn new methodologies and exhibit awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Educational Background

To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will have the following educational background:

• University Degree, preferably Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conflict Management, Social work, Anthropology, Sociology, Pedagogy or other relevant fields.
• Proven experience in curriculum design and leading training in participatory third-party mediation, restorative justice and large group facilitation processes and approaches.
• Demonstrated experience starting businesses and/or programs.
• Demonstrated ability to write policies and procedures, develop structures and incentives that reflect the organizational culture and creates a high-level of adherence amongst all employees.
• 6 years of progressively more important senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience working with INGOs or UN agencies.
• 3 years of experience writing proposals, managing grants and tracking budgets.
• 4 years of field experience managing and facilitating community-based mediation, restorative justice and/or dialogue processes.
• Proven track record of completing risk assessments and conflict analysis.
• 5 years of field experience working in conflict-affected areas.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country governments, parliamentarians and other stakeholders in complex environments.
• Previous experience in psychosocial and/or trauma support programming preferred.
• Experience working with armed groups, the military, police and/or government officials.
• High degree of computer literacy and attention to detail.
• Excellent writer and highly organized.
• Fluent in French and English (oral and written).

Application Process

Applicants who meet the above criteria will be interviewed on a rolling bases and the position will stay open until filled. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. The ideal candidate must be available to start in January 2018. Salary is commensurate with experience.

To apply for the position, please send a cover letter, updated CV, university degree and mediation training certificate to Mrs. Nathalie Al-Zyoud (nalzyoud@communitiesintransition.com), including in the subject line the title of the position you are applying for. Please also include the following in your cover letter:

• Where you found this job posting.
• Minimum salary requirements (or current salary).
• 3 professional references with their contact information.

All new employees must successfully complete a three-month probationary period before being offered a project-long contract.

Communities in Transition (CIT) team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and as such staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and CIT policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.