Senior Peace Technology Programmes Officer (Consultant)

Senior Peace Technology Programmes Officer (Consultancy)

Remote working 3 days/week for an initial period of 12 months, with the potential to renew. Candidates can work from any global location with reliable internet service.

Consultancy contract [12 months].

Who we are 

Peace Direct is an international charity with a big mission: to work with local people to stop violence and build sustainable peace in some of the world's most conflict affected countries. More than that, we want to change the international system so that it better supports the role that local people and communities play in preventing violence and building and sustaining peace.

This consultancy position is designed for remote working and will form part of our Research Team who are based in our small, friendly Central London office.

The Role 

Are you someone with a knack for technology and a passion for peace? Peace Direct is recruiting a Senior Peace Technology Programmes Officer Consultant to join our dynamic team at the intersection of technology and peacebuilding. As a Senior Peace Technology Programmes Officer you will join the Research Team, playing a crucial role in managing and optimising our internal platforms such as the Platform 4 Dialogue (P4D) platform, facilitating communication among peacebuilders, and leveraging technology, including anticipating the possibilities and challenges of AI in peacebuilding, to enhance our peacebuilding efforts.

Working with a committed and talented team of researchers and the Research Manager, the Senior Peace Technology Programmes Officer will be responsible for helping Peace Direct to design, implement and evaluate technology-driven initiatives supporting Peace Direct’s research and programmes. This will include developing new approaches to the use of technology across our work, supporting our local peacebuilding partners in enhancing their tech utilisation, and leading innovation in our products and services including our online training courses, digital platforms and digital analytics.

This is a role for someone with a robust background in technology and international development or humanitarian assistance, coupled with a nuanced understanding of their convergence in peacebuilding contexts. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proficiency in optimising complex online platforms, identifying areas of improvement and implementing effective solutions. You will also have in-depth knowledge in designing and implementing innovative tech-driven initiatives, optimising online platforms and fostering collaboration through excellent communication and interpersonal skills with non-technical users.

All candidates with the skills and knowledge listed below are welcome to apply.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will carry out the following activities as part of the Research Team:

i)      Manage the development and optimisation of Peace Direct’s online research platforms, including the strategic development of Platform4Dialogue and Peace Insight;

ii)     Lead the exploration, development and use of new online mapping initiatives to support and enhance Peace Direct’s work with partners;

iii)   Support the implementation of Peace Direct services, notably our online training courses, digital platforms and digital events;

iv)   Research new approaches to the use of technology, including anticipating the possibilities and challenges of AI in peacebuilding and how this might inform the work of Peace Direct and our partners.

Closing deadline for CV and cover letter is midnight on Sunday 3^rd March 2024.   

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short supplementary information form.
 
Interviews will be held online during the week of 11^th and 18^th March.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Peace Direct is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual

harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed

to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults with whom Peace Direct engages. We expect all those that act in our name to uphold our approach to doing no harm and to sign up to our Safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment – including long-term consultancies - will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which includes criminal records (DBS) checks (for UK based candidates only). Peace Direct also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (Misconduct Disclosure Scheme). In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

About You: To join us, some of the skills you will need are:  

•         A relevant degree (such as Computer Science, Web Design, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Development or related subject); or equivalent professional experience.   
•          Minimum of two years in a digital technology-related role, ideally with a research focus.
•          Knowledge and/or experience of peacebuilding and peace technologies.
•          Demonstrable experience in designing and/or managing digital tools and/or online platforms.
•          Understanding and knowledge of ethical and secure data collection.
•          Fluency in written and spoken English.
•          Strong project management and organisational skills.
•          Excellent information management skills with high level of proficiency in MS office packages and familiarity with programming languages
•          Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to people from a broad range of backgrounds, culture and influence, and an appreciation and respect for different cultures, worldviews and ways of knowing.
•          Willingness to travel overseas and to perform well in challenging and sometimes difficult areas, conditions and situations. During periods spent abroad, the post-holder will expect to work unsocial hours from time to time.
•          Thrives in a remote work environment, exhibiting excellent time management skills fostering seamless collaboration across time zones.

Still interested? Take a look at the job description to see full details about the role and whether it matches your skills and experience.

Peace Direct strives to be a diverse and inclusive employer, with equality of opportunities regardless of personal identity, and we are committed to improving our systems and ways of working to support this, including creating a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) working group, DEI strategy and recruitment guidelines. We strongly encourage individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to apply, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and people with mental health challenges.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and strongly advocate our DEI policy and commitment to maintain an inclusive workplace culture; we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent. What’s important isn’t your level of education or the opportunities which you have had, it’s about you and how you seize the opportunities ahead of you.