Project Coordinator (Managing Exits from Armed Conflict)

Background

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. The vision of UNIDIR is a stable and more secure world in which States and people are protected from threats of arms-related violence. The role of UNIDIR is to support Member States, the United Nations and policy and research communities in advancing ideas and actions that contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. UNIDIR is based in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project seeks to understand how and why people exit armed groups, disarm, and fully and sustainably transition into civilian life. The Project’s work advances UNIDIR’s mandate, particularly with regard to enhancing the international community’s knowledge of micro-disarmament and the interventions that promote it.

The objective of this position is to ensure the effective coordination, implementation, and visibility of the Project, which is complex, with many different components and contributors, by organizing and supporting team workflows, research processes, publications, outreach, and administrative operations. The role supports the smooth execution of project activities while serving as the focal point for internal coordination with the broader UNIDIR team and external engagement with Geneva‑based partners. It also contributes substantively to the Project’s research outputs and dissemination efforts, ensuring that project deliverables are produced efficiently, collaboratively, and to a high standard.

Responsibilities

The Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project Coordinator will perform the following duties under the supervision of the Head of Project.

1. Coordinate and support the Project’s team processes, research activities, and overall project workflows.
2. Organize and maintain the project workplan, including timelines for events, publications, research activities, and deliverables.
3. Contribute to research activities, including data analysis, literature reviews, and drafting findings reports, research briefs or other outputs.
4. Lead on the development of the Project publishable toolkit, including survey templates, operationalization guide, and related outputs.
5. Coordinate and support administrative processes related to project operations, events, and internal reporting.
6. Supervise and support interns, contributing to human resource management within the project.
7. Provide support to fundraising efforts and donor reporting, including drafting inputs and coordinating information.
8. Represent the Project externally to Geneva‑based organizations, partners, and donors.
9. Serve as the project’s focal point within UNIDIR’s Genevea office, ensuring alignment with institutional processes.
10. Provide other support to the project management as required.

Schedule for the proposed work

A workplan for the duration of the contract will be established within the first two weeks of the contract. The Project Coordinator will have regular communication with the Head of Project to set assignments within the workplan and monitor progress. The Project Coordinator will proactively inform the Head of Project if there are any issues concerning meeting agreed deliverables and deadlines.

Performance indicators

The Project Coordinator will be evaluated at the end of the contract. Performance indicators include:

1. Assignments are completed on time and to the satisfaction of the Head of Project.
2. Engagement is professional, team oriented, and positive.
3. Active participation in the activities of Institute.
4. The Project Coordinator demonstrates the core values of the UN and the core competencies described below in the discharge of their duties.

The Project Coordinator is always to demonstrate the core values of the United Nations: Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity.

In addition, in this role, the Project Coordinator will demonstrate the following competences:

• Planning and organizing:  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Teamwork:  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Communication:  Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Qualifications and experience

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in international affairs/security, political science, international law, peace studies, conflict studies or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ of progressively responsible experience in action research related to armed conflict, policy research, and conflict prevention and peacebuilding interventions.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working with the UN on matters related to conflict, non-state armed groups, reintegration, and peacebuilding.
• Proven experience in project coordination.
• Proven experience in supervising team members.
• Specific experience with survey and research tool design, including expertise in using SurveyCTO.
• A track record in conducting conflict-sensitive and gender-sensitive policy research and analysis and experience in the process of reviewing and revising project outputs is required.
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate in English – both orally and in writing.
• Experience working effectively with global, diverse and dispersed teams.
• A proven track record producing quality policy research outputs designed for a variety of audiences and conveying highly technical findings to lay audiences in an accessible way.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and produce outputs on tight deadlines.
• Computer competency, including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), is required.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working on youth engagement, gender issues, and/or climate security is highly desirable.

Language

For this assignment, fluency in English is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Travel

Occasional travel might be required for this role. The Project Coordinator must complete the UN course BSAFE (online) and provide UNIDIR with a certificate of completion.

Copyright

UNIDIR retains copyright of all documents and the ownership of the intellectual property resulting from all work carried out under this contract. The Project Coordinator warrants that any written work will be original works or that where s/he incorporates copyright material from another source, copyright permission for its use will be obtained. Written output(s) may be attributed to the Project Coordinator.