Senior Researcher and Programme Director, Sahel-West Africa Programme

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is seeking a Senior Researcher and Programme Director for its Sahel and West Africa programme. The SIPRI Sahel West Africa programme is a part of SIPRI’s Conflict, Peace and Security research area. The programme conducts analyses of the key conflicts, security and peace-building issues affecting the contemporary Sahel and West Africa region.

 

Context

SIPRI is an independent international institute whose core mission is to undertake research and activities on security, conflict and peace. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. SIPRI provides excellent opportunities for scientific and personal development. SIPRI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

 

Main tasks and responsibilities

The successful candidate will develop, manage and run a thriving programme on peace, security and conflict issues in the Sahel and West Africa. The candidate will also conduct cutting-edge research on related topics, and disseminate research analysis, findings and recommendations in a variety of forms to SIPRI’s diverse audiences.

To implement the programme strategy, the post holder’s main responsibilities are to:


• Ensure overall SIPRI Sahel-West Africa programme design and strategy including the research direction, budget, fundraising strategy, staffing targets and outreach;
• Develop, raise funds for, and implement externally funded projects that support the goals and objectives of the SIPRI Sahel-West Africa programme;
• Ensure the SIPRI Sahel-West Africa programme strategy is implemented, including its adequate resourcing;
• Liaise with sponsors and identify project partnership and funding opportunities in accordance with the programme strategy for development;
• Manage and mentor staff in line with the SIPRI Sahel-West Africa programme’s strategy and SIPRI’s strategy and policy;
• Maintain a steady pace of high-quality publications and other forms of outreach;
• Disseminate research results in a variety of ways;
• Foster a positive team spirit and create an engaging work environment;
• Be productive in a variety of ways—by writing regularly, through seminar presentations and panel discussions, and by being available for interviews whether to the news media or through social media.

 

Requirements

The Senior Researcher & Programme Director should be a world-class researcher on the Sahel region and West-African conflict, security and peacebuilding, possess a deep understanding of African civil society organizations and other international players, a strong track record in publications and fundraising. The candidate should possess a strong track record of publications and maintain a high performance as a fundraiser, with a strong network in the Sahel and West Africa. The candidate should have the ability to respect deadlines and work within budgets. The post also requires a talent for communication and collaboration combined with the ability to manage staff. Further qualities are intellectual curiosity and an entrepreneurial spirit that can transform initial ideas into fully fledged research projects.

The successful candidate should have the following qualifications:


• A university degree or degrees, in disciplines and topics relevant to this post, at a Master’s or Doctoral level, or research experience and publications to a Doctoral degree standard;
• A strong experience in managing and mentoring staff;
• Oral and written proficiency in French and English.

 

Travel

The position is based in Stockholm and requires willingness and availability to travel for the purposes of, inter alia, research, fundraising and disseminating research findings.

 

Contract period

Starting from 1 March 2021. The appointment will initially be for two years, renewable. The post is full-time and the successful applicant will be expected to reside in Stockholm. The salary package will be negotiated individually.

 

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit:


• A one-page cover letter in English and French, detailing your qualifications and interests in the subject area;
• A full CV in English with information about your educational background, relevant experience, skills, acquisition record, major publications;
• Two writing samples (article, book chapter or substantial piece of writing up to 8 000 words), preferably one in French.

 

We welcome international applications. 

In order to be considered in the recruitment process, the application must be made via the form that is reached on SIPRI's website under vacancies and not through any other external job sites.

Please observe that you apply via our electronic application system. Please access the form via the "apply" button at the very end of this page.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The initial closing date for applications is 10 January 2021. 

 

For further information about the SIPRI Sahel-West Africa programme or enquiries regarding the vacant position, please contact Luc van de Goor, Director of Studies, Peace, Conflict and Security (luc.vandegoor@sipri.org).

The trade union contact persons at SIPRI are Pieter Wezeman for ST (pwezeman@sipri.org) and Jiayi Zhou for Saco-S (zhou@sipri.org).