We're hiring! Project Officer: CONPEACE: Promoting Security and Development across Borders

The Global Security Programme based at Pembroke College is looking for a Project Officer, 11.25-18.75 hours per week (FTE 0.3-0.5) to start as soon as possible, until 30th September 2023 (appointment subject to funding).

GSP’s CONPEACE (From Conflict Actors to Architects of Peace) is an interdisciplinary research project that studies changing security landscapes in the context of cross-border violence and transitions from war to peace. It sheds empirical and theoretical light on diverging experiences, perceptions, and conceptualizations of security, ranging from citizen security, to national security, and global security. Its research illuminates and narrows the gap between power centres’ and marginalised communities’ vision of security. It further analyses how these differing visions of security can be reconciled, and how security architectures and related institutional arrangements need to be adapted in order to adequately anticipate and respond to changing security landscapes from a people-centred perspective.

The project’s regional focus lies on Colombia and its neighbouring countries. CONPEACE traces how distinct configurations among various violent non-state groups (what we call “non-state order”) near and across the border influence security, yielding specific protection challenges. It also analyses how the “border effect” intensifies insecurities in vulnerable borderlands in the context of the arrival of a large number of Venezuelans.

The project is implemented in close partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).  The project has three major components:

  • Enhance knowledge through research and analysis,
  • Strengthen civil society capacities to mitigate the border effect and the spill-over of the Venezuelan crisis through knowledge exchange,
  • Reduce the centre-periphery disconnect in the region through cross-stakeholder engagement.

The Project Officer will be part of the project directed by Dr Annette Idler, and will work from their offices at Pembroke College.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Research Assistance

  • Transcribe interview recordings in Spanish
  • Support the drafting, formatting, and translation (English-Spanish and vice versa) of research outputs including reports, articles, and briefs
  • Conduct literature reviews
  • Support the team with other research-related tasks that are commensurate with the grade of this role

Project administration

  • Support the administrative and logistical arrangements for workshops, meetings and events, whether in-person or virtual, including but not limited to room booking, flight and hotel bookings, compiling agendas and drafting minutes;
  • Support the Programme Manager in planning and implementing activities in accordance with the agreed timeline;
  • Manage administrative procedures and make suggestions for improvements as appropriate;
  • Collect, compile and organise background materials, documents and other materials for meetings, summaries of actions to be taken and ensure necessary follow-up;
  • Assist in compiling reports and programme-related documents.
  • Support any other duties as deemed appropriate by the Programme Manager/Director that are commensurate with the grade of this role.

Selection criteria

Applications will be judged only against the criteria that are set out below. Applicants should ensure that their application shows very clearly how their skills and experience meet these criteria.

Essential

  • Hold a relevant undergraduate degree or other relevant experience;
  • Fluent Spanish and English skills;
  • Experience in project administration including coordination of meetings, events and workshops;
  • Excellent team working skills with a flexible can-do approach, self-motivation and resilience;
  • High levels of accuracy and attention to detail when inputting data and providing information;
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and simultaneous tasks whilst still ensuring deadlines are met;
  • Demonstrable ability to use own initiative and work independently but knowing when to seek further advice;
  • Strong IT skills including experience in the use of the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel, and the ability to learn new systems.

Desirable

  • Experience of conducting research in a relevant field
  • Evidence of project management skills, using specific project management methodologies.

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to Tania Mechlenborg by 9am on Monday, 28 November.

 Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form - The completion of this form is voluntary, but appreciated.

 Policy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders

Pembroke College is an equal opportunities employer. It welcomes diversity amongst its staff and students and all reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment process, working arrangements and/or environment to accommodate applicants with any form of disability.

Please let us know if you believe there are any reasonable adjustments we should be making to assist you with your application. If you feel that you have a disability which may affect your application, please let us know. Please also let us know of any reasonable adjustments that we would need to make for you to attend an interview.