Program Director - Middle East

This position is based in Jerusalem

The Organization
Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 350 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 28 offices in 18 countries. SFCG’s programs are in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and the United States.

Since 1991, Search for Common Ground has conducted a multi-track program to promote peace, cooperation, and security in the Middle East. We sponsor activities both among Israelis and Palestinians, and to promote regional cooperation. We currently work in areas of security, media, conflict resolution, and political dialogue.

Summary of Position
The Program Director will direct and manage a complex series of projects designed to build bridges across ethnic and national boundaries in the Middle East and will be a key player in transforming attitudes in the region. The key qualities needed in this position are a profound knowledge of the Middle East, and the ability to function as both a conflict resolver and social entrepreneur, who is able to make concrete things happen in a very difficult environment. The Director will be based in Jerusalem. S/he will coordinate regularly with SFCG staff in both Brussels and Washington. S/he will report to the President of SFCG, based in Washington, DC, and will work closely under his direct supervision. The President of SFCG, who previously served as Co-Director of the Middle East Program in Jerusalem, will continue to play an active role in the program.

Responsibilities

• Manage existing projects and develop new projects, in collaboration with the President, key participants, staff, and the advisory team, that address the region’s conflicts in innovative and constructive ways (Many of these projects are related to TV and radio production, and prior experience in these fields definitely would be a plus.)
• Develop and maintain relationships with international trainers, partner organizations, other NGOS, donors, clients, key government officials, etc.
• Serve as the program’s principal fundraiser, working in close collaboration with headquarters in Washington, DC, and Brussels and ensuring compliance with donors’ rules and requirements
• Manage a diverse team of Israeli and Palestinian staff and partners, modelling the kind of inter-ethnic and multi-stakeholder cooperation that SFCG aims to bring about more broadly
• Provide day-to-day management and leadership for program staff
• Work with all relevant stakeholders including media, civil society and grassroots organizations, on institutionalizing conflict transformation and collaborative approaches to the process of finding common ground
• Oversee the development and management of grants and budgets
• Maintain local administrative policies and procedures, ensuring that they comply with SFCG policies
• Revise and maintain security and evacuation policy
• Maintain regular reporting to Washington and Brussels
• Stay abreast of the international conflict resolution field
• Be directly engaged in the continuing development of the organization, its mission and its staff, through the sharing of experience and knowledge, particularly contributing to its Institutional Learning efforts

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Qualifications (should include as many of the following as possible):

• At least five years of experience in peace-building, development and/or related fields, including democracy and governance issues such as civil society strengthening
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related area required
• Extensive knowledge of and experience in the Middle East and the various issues affecting the region
• Knowledge of and experience in conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation
• Ability to function as a social entrepreneur
• Project management at a high level in a non-profit environment
• Effective communicator at all levels and in all media
• Proven ability in cultivating and maintaining constructive relationships across the region, particularly in difficult circumstances
• Proven ability in convening and facilitating multi-party meetings and on-going dialogues
• Experience in successfully managing and inspiring staff, particularly in multiple locations
• Experience in successful fundraising and proposal writing
• Knowledge of major donor rules and regulations, and the ability to manage multi-donor funding
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a difficult environment
• Demonstrated technical capacity in program design tools (e.g. logical frameworks), developing and implementing monitoring systems; familiarity with evaluation methodologies
• Media background
• Spoken and written fluency in English. Proficiency in Arabic and/or Hebrew would be a plus.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively in Palestinian territories, Israel, and around the Middle East
• Ability to work equally and without prejudice with Israelis and Palestinians

How to Apply
Please send a cover letter / letter of application, resume, salary requirements (or current salary), and projected start date by Monday, June 30th to employment (at) sfcg (dot) org with the subject heading: Program Director - Middle East. Please be sure to mention that you found this position on the Jobs in Israel job blog. No phone calls please.

See our web site www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.