Institute for peace and common ground is seeking for Project coordinator

Project “Countering polarisation and conflict in Ukraine”

Job Description/Announcement

1.       BACKGROUND

The “Countering polarisation and conflict in Ukraine” project seeks to prevent further polarization in Ukraine and to help overcome divisions within society through bottom up civil society peacebuilding initiatives coupled with advisory assistance to top down government devolution packages to ensure they are more inclusively designed and implemented. The initiative involves a range of activities in the East, West and South working through Government bodies, national and regional civil society groups and engaged individuals at two levels: At the community level, it will initiate and build the capacity of regionally based groups and individuals throughout the country to help them develop and implement peacebuilding activities. The project will mobilise comparative experiences and strategic advice through international and national experts in support of these initiatives. In Kyiv, a consultative group composed of representatives from key Ministries, members of Parliament as well as a cross section of regional leaders will be convened monthly to strategize, initiate and identify activities, share ideas and liaise with the Government particularly on its decentralization plans. This consultative group will be a strategic link to ensure relevance, to target initiatives and to feed insights from the community initiatives to the political level and vice versa. The project will be jointly implemented by The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (Geneva) and the Institute for Peace and Common Ground (Kiev).

The Institute for Peace and Common Ground (IPCG) is a Ukrainian non-governmental, non-profit organization that facilitates the development of groups and communities through dialogue to achieve positive and sustainable change. Since the time of it’s creation under the name of Ukrainian Centre for Common Ground it has almost 15 years of experience introducing and promoting various participatory practices (such as the community-based juvenile crime prevention model), diverse restorative practices (mediation, family group conferences and decision-making circles) in communities and schools (covering 14 regions of Ukraine and 120 schools). IPCG experts work with various groups and organizations mediating community-based multi-party negotiations in cross-cultural contexts; facilitating different organizational development processes (strategic planning, organizational capacity assessment etc.); providing education and skills-training on a variety of themes (conflict competencies, basic (and advanced level) mediation skills and process, negotiation skills and strategies).

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (the HD Centre) is a private diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality and independence. Its mission is to help prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation. The HD Centre pursues its objectives with a commitment to new approaches, to learning, and to collaboration, working with others across borders, beliefs and professions. Since the organisation began operations in 1999, it has established itself as an institution that is reliable, discreet and astute.

The Project Coordinator works full time in close coordination with IPCG Head of Board and provides timely accomplishment of the project implementation including all related project activities. This includes ensuring and keeping agreed deadlines, including reporting and general financial management. He/she performs the responsibilities and tasks in accordance with the objectives and activities outlined in the project document and in accordance with the agreed project plan. Overall, the right candidate for this role is someone who has superior organizational and management skills, as well as the demonstrated ability to accomplish complex tasks in tight deadlines. Since the project is in it’s initial stage major task of the Project Coordinator will be to assist the project team in a strategic planning of further development of the project and expanding it’s objectives country-wide.

The Project Director will be based in IPCG's Kyiv office and reports to IPCG Head of Board.

This position is currently funded until March 2014, with very likely extension based on the results of this project stage.

1.     KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
2.    REQUIRED SKILLS & KNOWLEGE

• provision of  timely accomplishment of the project implementation plan and all related project activities
• maintaining contacts and smooth communication with the project major stakeholders, including The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the funders The British Embassy in Ukraine;
• developing and supporting regular and transparent communication with key project partners (regional facilitators and coordinators);
• establishing and maintaining communication and other operational requirements for the effective work of the project team;
• monitor the performance under contractual obligations of implementing partners in the regions and respective payments, timelines etc (together with the project finance manager);
• liaison with international experts for their visits to Ukraine
• ensuring both financial and progress reports development according to the donor’s requirements.

•   Graduate in Project Management, Social Work or Public Administration or related fields of studies…
•   Proficiency in Ukrainian, Russian and English (good spoken level)
•   Previous successful working experience as a project coordinator or project manager
•   Proven experience of work in non-profit sector, donors or civil society organizations
•   Highly organized with excellent attention to details, good ability to combine prompt and accurate performance
•   Ability to handle multiple tasks and competing demands in tight deadlines
•   Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills, good understanding of cooperative approach to management and problem solving
•   Creative problem solving skills, ability to identify and solve problems on an immediate basis
•   Open-minded, positive thinker, highly motivated and energetic.
•   Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

1.   REMUNERATION

IPCG offers:

•         A competitive salary commensurate;
•         An interesting, intensive and innovative job in a friendly environment;
•         Self-fulfilling opportunities.

1.     SELECTION PROCESS AND EVELUATION CRITERIA

Only short-listed candidates in whom there is further interest will be contacted and invited for personal interview. No telephone inquiries will be entertained.

Please send your resume (or curriculum vitae) and cover letter in English, plus full contact details of two referees by September 5, 2014 to the:

Institute for Peace and Common Ground

E-mail: ipcg@ukr.net

Subject line: Project Coordinator vacancy.

See our web sites for more details about IPCG’s work:

«Інститут миру і порозуміння»	ipcg.org.ua
«Практика вирішення конфліктів»	commonground.org.ua
«Відновні практики у школах»	safeschool.org.ua

 Visit our Facebook page (Institute for Peace and Common Ground): https://www.facebook.com/NGO.IPCG