Program Manager - War Legacies and Reconciliation

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a nonpartisan, independent public institution based in Washington, DC, is seeking to recruit a Program Manager for our Vietnam War Legacies and Reconciliation Initiative, based either in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Please apply at this link:

https://recruiting.ultipro.com/UNI1083USIOP/JobBoard/14900d11-c546-42ff-ab52-7bbbfa78cb97/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=bbbfbe4d-24d0-470f-b4ce-662823536f63.

Summary

The Program Manager will oversee and provide management support to USIP’s programmatic activities in Vietnam, including the War Legacies and Reconciliation Initiative as well as other dialogues, exchanges, workshops and in country activities. The PM will be responsible for program planning, implementation, and reporting. The PM will lead engagement with program partners and stakeholders in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as infrequent visits to Cambodia and/or Laos. The position reports to the Senior Expert on Mainland Southeast Asia in Washington, DC.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Project Operations and Development:

• Serves as the primary point of contact with Vietnamese partner institutions working on the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative, youth dialogues, and US-Vietnam strategic relations.
• Represents USIP on visits to Vietnam when the Senior Expert is absent, including contacts with key Vietnamese Government, U.S. Embassy, USAID, and non-governmental counterparts.
• Organizes events, workshops, dialogues, and other activities with Vietnamese partner institutions, including developing agenda, content, and all logistics.
• Arranges invitations for Vietnamese participants in in-person or virtual dialogues and for U.S. delegations and visitors to Vietnam.
• Sets up mechanisms for virtual meetings; takes notes and distributes to the Southeast Asia team.
• Supports USIP research initiatives through identifying Vietnamese sources and partners, reviewing and editing submitted research by consultants and partners.
• Coordinates Vietnam activities of the regional project on transnational criminal networks and contributes to project activities in Cambodia and Laos, reporting to the Burma country director / project director while keeping the Senior Expert for Mainland Southeast Asia informed.
• Contributes to program development on war legacies, transnational justice, and/or bilateral dialogue in Cambodia and Laos.
• Builds relationships and liaises with new partners, as needed.
• Assists the Senior Expert for Mainland Southeast Asia and other members of the Southeast Asia team in identifying new programming opportunities; assists in the development of concept notes and proposals.
• Completes special assignments and other tasks as assigned.

Media and Communications:

• Develops, edits, translates, and updates program informational items for internal USIP staff members and external audiences (e.g., quarterly reports, web content, Vietnamese language Facebook page, project pages, event pages, etc.).
• Monitors current events and Vietnamese/international media reports relevant to U.S.-Vietnam relations, war legacies, and regional cooperation; maintains contact with key media and communications stakeholders.
• Writes reports, commentaries, and blogs relevant to USIP program activities and ongoing developments pertaining to Vietnam.

Budget and Contract Support:

• Supports the Vietnam team in contract management, tracking, and developing funding concept notes and proposals, as needed.
• Communicates with Vietnamese partners regarding compliance of USIP contractual policies and procedures including but not limited to monitoring of budgets, deliverables, and key program activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or humanities; master’s or PhD preferred.
• Three (3) or more years of relevant work experience in a similar position related to program management in the public sector and/or peacebuilding in an NGO, donor agency, university, think tank, or government agency.
• Understanding of governance and war legacy issues in Vietnam, particularly relating to U.S.-Vietnam relations.
• Experience in project management is desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of conflict-sensitivity, gender-sensitivity and do-no-harm principles and practice.
• Excellent English communication skills (written and spoken) as well as fluency in Vietnamese. Ability to translate written documents effectively.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong judgement and discretion in complex environments.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly MS Word, MS Outlook, and MS Excel. Previous experience with database usage is preferred.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Experience organizing conferences and meetings and making domestic and international travel arrangements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships and strong interpersonal skills, including cross-cultural communication.