Job opportunities with an upcoming USAID-funded program in Sri Lanka

Apply immediately, but no later than by the end of the day on Sunday, November 26, 2023

East-West Management Institute, Inc. (EWMI) invites applications by international experts and nationals of Sri Lanka for a number of positions as part of EWMI’s proposal for the upcoming five-year, $14-17 million Social Cohesion Activity (SCA) funded by USAID Sri Lanka. The Activity will work to address the following objectives:

1. Strengthen structures facilitating social cohesion, reconciliation, and respect for human rights;
2. Reduce socio-economic disparities and exclusion of vulnerable communities;
3. Enhance community resilience.

These are full-time, long-term positions based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and offer competitive compensation and benefits. These assignments are contingent on donor approval and funding, and are expected to start around July 2024.  

Chief of Party

Required qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in leading international, donor-funded development programs related to civil society, social cohesion, reconciliation, or related fields;
• Demonstrated experience in leading teams to achieve development results at similar financial and organizational scopes;

Desired qualifications

• Advanced degree in political science, international relations, conflict resolution, or relevant fields, or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 5 additional years of related experience;
• Experience in Sri Lanka, South Asia, or regions at similar stages of economic and social development, especially in post-conflict and other fluid contexts;
• Substantial experience advancing civil society development in sensitive environments, including civil society efforts to improve social cohesion across ethnic, cultural, and religious divides;
• Experience in overseeing targeted action-research, conflict analysis, and ongoing monitoring, especially related to social cohesion and vulnerable communities;
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills related to activity management, including activity planning and performance management, motivating and supervising team efforts, and financial and personnel management;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in developing and maintaining professional relationships with host country counterparts in government, civil society, and the private sector.
• Fluency in spoken and written English;

Deputy Chief of Party

Required qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in senior management positions with international, donor-funded development programs related to civil society, social cohesion, reconciliation, or related fields;
• Demonstrated experience in leading teams to achieve development results at similar financial and organizational scopes;

Desired qualifications

• Advanced degree in political science, international relations, conflict resolution, or relevant fields, or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 5 additional years of related experience;
• Experience in Sri Lanka, South Asia, or regions at similar stages of economic and social development, especially in post-conflict and other fluid contexts;
• Technical expertise in social inclusion and cohesion, gender mainstreaming, people-to-people reconciliation, community and civil society development, and conflict sensitivity;
• Strong experience in organizational management of donor-funded projects, including overseeing financial, administrative, and operational systems and personnel;
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills related to activity management, including activity planning and performance management, motivating and supervising team efforts, and financial and personnel management;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in developing and maintaining professional relationships with host country counterparts in government, civil society, and the private sector.
• Fluency in spoken and written English;

Social Cohesion Technical Director

Required qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in managing or advising on international, donor-funded development programs related to civil society, social cohesion, reconciliation, or related fields;
• Demonstrated technical expertise in social inclusion and cohesion, including gender equality, protection and empowerment of vulnerable groups, and conflict sensitivity;

Desired qualifications

• Advanced degree in international relations, conflict resolution, sociology, or relevant fields, or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 5 additional years of related experience;
• Experience in Sri Lanka, South Asia, or regions at similar stages of economic and social development, especially in post-conflict and other fluid contexts;
• Strong technical understanding of the social, ethnic, religious, and cultural landscape of Sri Lankan society, including relevant reconciliation and social cohesion approaches;
• Experience in civil society and community development in sensitive or fragile environments;
• Demonstrated experience in integrating gender, social inclusion, conflict-sensitivity, and do no harm principles into program design, management, and adaptation, especially in similar contexts.
• Fluency in spoken and written English;

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and Research Specialist

Required qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in developing and overseeing MEL systems, including increasing roles of responsibility related to MEL and research;
• Demonstrated experience with computer and/or web-based data management systems, including technological tools for ensuring high quality of performance data collection, analysis, reporting, and visualization;

Desired qualifications

• Master’s degree in political science, sociology, statistics, international development, or a related field or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 5 years of additional related experience;
• Experience in Sri Lanka, South Asia, or regions at similar stages of economic and social development, especially in post-conflict and other fluid contexts;
• Demonstrated experience conducting and overseeing action-research and conflict analysis with a high degree of rigor, including large-scale and/or rapid research projects or contextual analysis;
• Experience utilizing adaptive programming practices, including complexity-aware monitoring and evaluation approaches in relevant contexts;
• Demonstrated experience in integrating gender, social inclusion, and do no harm principles into MEL systems and program adaptation, especially in similar contexts.
• Fluency in spoken and written English;

Grants and Financial Management Director

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, business administration, or related field; and
• Minimum of 7 years of experience and increasing roles of responsibility in grants administration, managing finances, operations/logistics, and human resource-related matters for international development activities of similar scope and context;

Or

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, or related field; and
• Minimum of 10 years of experience and increasing roles of responsibility in managing finances, grants administration, operations/logistics, and/or human resource-related matters for international development activities of similar scope and context;

Desired qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in managing financial, administrative, and operational systems, especially in the context of donor-funded programs of a similar scope and context;
• Excellent familiarity with USAID or other U.S. Government-funded requirements for project administration, including financial reporting, grants administration, budget management, and compliance requirements;
• Professional certification in accounting or financial management (e.g., CPA, ACCA, or equivalent);
• Strong understanding of local requirements regarding accounting, finance, and human resources;
• Strong understanding of and experience in risk management, implementation of internal controls, and fraud prevention.
• Fluency in spoken and written English;

To apply: Please send (i) a curriculum vitae, (ii) cover letter, and (iii) contact information for three references to: srilankajobs@ewmi.org and include in the subject line the title of the position for which you are applying. No phone calls please. EWMI will contact applicants for interviews or to request additional information. EWMI is an equal-opportunity employer. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply