Back Head of Professional Development and Training (ISSAT)

Head of Professional Development and Training in DCAF’s International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT)

DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance is dedicated to improving the security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. DCAF contributes to making peace and development more sustainable by assisting partner states and international actors supporting these states, to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms. It creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, provides legal and policy advice and supports capacity-building of both state and non-state security sector stakeholders.

DCAF's Foundation Council brings together representatives of around 60 states. Active in over 70 countries, DCAF is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading centres of excellence for security sector governance (SSG) and security sector reform (SSR). DCAF is guided by the operational principles of impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality. DCAF embraces and promotes values of accountability, excellence, inclusivity, integrity and respect. For more information please visit www.dcaf.ch

DCAF’s International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) is one of DCAF’s three operational departments. It supports the 16 donor countries and seven multilateral organisations that make up its Governing Board by reinforcing and improving the way in which they individually and collectively support security and justice development. Further details can be found here: https://issat.dcaf.ch/ISSAT/Mission.

Within ISSAT, the Professional Development and Training (PDT) Service Line enhances capacities to deploy security & justice advisors through high-quality training and strengthening donor and multilateral systems for deployment.

For our department, we are looking for a dynamic and experienced individual to be our next

Head of Professional Development and Training – (100 %)

Location: Geneva

Starting date: as soon as possible

Duration: unlimited

Reporting to Head of ISSAT, the Head of Professional Development and Training (PDT) will contribute to ISSAT’s mission and overall performance as a member of the Management Team and enhance ISSAT’s multilateral and bilateral Governing Board Members’ (GBMs) ability to identify, develop and globally deploy Security and Justice advisors by helping them to strengthen their systems and providing them with high-quality training opportunities.

The role:

· Lead responsibility for implementing ISSAT’s strategic objective to enhance GBMs’ capacities to deploy strategic S&J advisors, specifically:

o Overseeing the current portfolio of ISSAT’s in-person and virtual trainings in security and justice reform, leadership and effective advising; including by contributing to conceptual development, coordination of facilitation team and provision of inputs on training methodology and technical implementation;

o Further developing and overseeing the portfolio of institutional projects that support ISSAT’s Governing Board Members’ ability to deploy and retain international Security and Justice advisors by strengthening their systems, policies and practices;

· Identify professional development and training needs of SSG/R practitioners and develop training offers tailored to these needs, including e-learning and blended training;

· Manage the ISSAT team members and additional experts from ISSAT’s roster working on PDT projects;

· Quality assure ISSAT’s professional development and training materials and approaches; strengthen the facilitation and training delivery skills of ISSAT course providers;

· Strengthen ISSAT’s ability to capture and report on results of its PDT line of work;

· Build and maintain effective liaison with ISSAT’s Governing Board Members, the wider SSR community, and other actors working on linked thematic areas;

· Input to ISSAT strategic planning and prioritisation, as part of the ISSAT Management Team, and contribute to a knowledge management and learning opportunities within ISSAT and DCAF more broadly;

· Contribute to ISSAT’s development and dissemination of knowledge products based on good practice and lessons identified from the field.

Your experience and expertise

· Over 15 years of experience in the context of peace and development work, with a minimum of seven years specifically in training and professional development

· Background and experience in one or more of the following: security sector governance and reform, conflict management and peacebuilding, capacity and leadership development, organisational change;

· Significant experience in needs assessments, training and project design, training delivery – virtual, in-person and blended approaches – and implementation of institutional strengthening projects; monitoring and evaluation;

· Project management skills and experience in overseeing and further developing project portfolios;

· Strong communication capacities (oral and written), highly developed presentation, coaching and mentoring skills;

· Recognised training qualification or ability to demonstrate knowledge of adult learning theory and practice;

· Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships in a multi-cultural environment. Client-oriented and flexible; Team player with great emotional intelligence;

· Advanced University degree in political science, international relations, security studies, development studies, conflict studies, or a related field.

· Fluent in English and French. Other languages desirable, particularly German or Arabic.