Head of Democracy Assessment, Analysis & Advisory

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance - International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. Its objective is to strengthen democratic institutions and processes. International IDEA acts as a catalyst for democracy building by providing knowledge resources, policy proposals and supporting democratic reforms in response to specific national requests. It works together with policy makers, governments, UN organizations and agencies and regional organizations engaged in the field of democracy building.

International IDEA’s notable areas of expertise are: electoral processes, political parties, constitution-building processes, democracy and gender and democracy assessments. International IDEA works worldwide. It is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in Brussels, New York, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Head of Democracy Assessment, Analysis & Advisory (DAAA) Unit

Context

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance – International IDEA – is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. Its objective is to strengthen democratic institutions and processes. International IDEA acts as a catalyst for democracy building by providing global comparative knowledge resources and tools, policy proposals and supporting democratic reforms in response to specific national requests. It works together with policy makers, governments, UN organizations and agencies, regional organizations, civil society organizations and academia engaged in democracy support.

International IDEA’s areas of expertise include: electoral processes, democracy and development, political participation and representation processes, constitution-building processes, State of democracy assessments, gender, diversity and conflict/security. International IDEA works worldwide. International IDEA pursues this work through its global programmes (GP) located at its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and The Hague, in the Netherlands, as well through its regional programmes (RPs) in Africa, Asia & the Pacific, Latin America & the Caribbean and West Asia and North Africa. The Institute also maintains a UN liaise office in New York and an EU liaison office in Brussels. 

International IDEA´s key areas of work include electoral processes, constitution building, political participation and representation, democracy and development, state of democracy assessments with gender, diversity and conflict/security as cross-cutting themes.

Global Programmes (GP) contributes to the institutional goal through:-

• Producing global comparative knowledge resources;
• Providing substantive support to regional programmes; and
• Striving to position International IDEA as an agenda setter and a convenor on global democracy issues.

To achieve this mandate, GP will establish a Democracy Assessment, Analysis and Advisory unit that will--in a synergistic way with other programmes across the institute, implement the following mandate:-

• Engage in analysis of democratic developments and trends using existing datasets, and ensuring integration of gender, diversity and conflict and security perspectives in such analysis as appropriate;
• Actively monitor developments around the world and analyse their impact on democracy and democracy support, including from a gender, diversity and conflict/security perspectives as necessary;
• Be the lead team in conceptualizing and developing a regular International IDEA product/publication on the state of democracy around the world based on the team´s analytic work.
• Be the anchor team in convening platforms for policy discussion based on emerging democracy issues and analytical work.Lead in institutionalizing gender, diversity and conflict assessments that inform the design and implementation of International IDEA´s programmes; while continuing to support citizen-led approaches to democracy assessment using IDEA´s State of Democracy assessment frameworks;
• Provide advisory services and skills transfer in integrating cross-cutting themes in democratic reform processes and in the application of democracy assessment frameworks.

The unit will bring together the current State of Democracy programme and the three cross-cutting themes i.e. Democracy and Gender, Democracy & Diversity and Democracy, Conflict and Security into one coherent team with a single mandate to ensure  better sharing of resources (both human and financial) for the achievement of the unit´s mandate. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and provide strategic direction to the DAAA unit, demonstrating its strategic value to the attainment of International IDEA´s programmatic and institutional goals;
• Lead in building a coherent team with relevant capacity to engage in assessment, analysis and advisory work that clearly contributes to positioning IDEA as an agenda setter in global democracy debates;
• Manages and directs the work and team of the unit to deliver efficiently, within agreed timeframes, budget and in line with approved  procedures and processes; ensuring the delivery of agreed programmatic outputs and outcomes;
• Actively builds strategic partnerships and networks for the attainment of the Unit´s mandate and institutional objectives and outcomes;
• Actively engages in mobilizing resources needed for the realisation of the unit´s mandate;
• Ensures that the unit´s work is designed and implemented in close collaboration with other GP programs and Regional Programmes;
• Ensures that all cross cutting themes (gender, diversity and conflict/security) are effectively integrated in Unit´s work.
• Actively represents International IDEA in networks and fora relevant to the mandate of the unit

General Profile

• Recognised as an expert within the field of democracy and democracy support, and is knowledgeable about developments around the world and their impact on democracy and governance;
• Combines excellent research and analytical skills with in-depth knowledge on democracy and governance issues; and broad knowledge of other disciplines relevant to the function of Head of DAAA unit;
• Possesses intellectual leadership to innovate and lead/guide development of research/analysis, as well as production of knowledge resources such as policy papers, policy briefs etc; 
• Possesses good communication skills including presentation and public speaking skills;
• Has experience in managing highly collaborative and effective teams;
• Has ability to solve unique and complex problems that have a broad impact on the organization;
• Has experience in resource mobilization and in building strategic partnerships and networks that can multiply International IDEA´s work;
• Has experience working in multi-cultural environments
• Is able to travel to any geographical place as needed by the requirements of the job.

Reporting Line

• Director of Global Programmes

Programmatic Knowledge

• Has in-depth knowledge and extensive work experience in democracy and governance, combined with a broad knowledge of related disciplines within the function, in order to approach activities in a holistic manner.

Operational Knowledge, skills and experience

• Integrates a results-based approach into the design, management and evaluation of all his/her programmatic activities;
• Budgets and controls expenditure for all costs and income related to the Unit.  Legal and budgetary responsibilities will be guided by International IDEA’s policies and procedures.
• Has thorough understanding of relevant programmatic issues in the different geographical zones where his/her work is implemented;
• Is active in the search for information on donors and partners, preparation of reports and project briefs, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, and all other activities related to resource mobilization and partnership building;
• Illustrates integrity, a collaborative spirit, a sense of achievement, and an understanding of risk management.

Leadership

• Leads functional teams, programmes and/or projects with notable risk and complexity; develops the strategy for execution;
• Has a proven record of strong managerial skills, including motivating and leading teams.
• Acts as a model and resource for colleagues.

Problem Solving

• Solves unique and complex problems with broad impact on the organization; requires conceptual and innovative thinking to develop solutions;
• Leads others to solve complex problems; uses sophisticated analytical thought to exercise judgment and identify innovative solutions.

Impact

• In charge of major initiatives at International IDEA. The success of these initiatives will have a direct impact on the fulfilment of International IDEA’s strategic goals;
• The incumbent is expected to act with considerable autonomy, based on his/her significant experience in a variety of aspects of the field of democracy and governance support.  
• Impacts other teams and projects in related fields.

Communication, Advocacy and Interpersonal Skills

• Communicates complex ideas, anticipates potential objections and can persuade others, often at senior levels, to adopt a different view;
• Liaises permanently to all internal and external stakeholders involved in his/her project; acts and is perceived as an initiator of relevant communication to solve issues;
• Is able to present his/her activities and represent International IDEA effectively in all professional circles;
• Drives projects and assignments through communicative personal energy and engagement;
• Can explain sensitive information with diplomacy, and build consensus;
• Is able to present his/her activities and represent International IDEA effectively in all professional circles.

Terms of Contract:

• Three (3) Year Fixed Term Appointment. Salary EUR 7 855 net, per month.

Applying for this position

• Applications should be submitted online http://idea.easycruit.com/vacancy/1427324/25038?iso=gb no later than 09 August 2015. Please note that all applications must be made in English.
• You may apply directly by pressing the Send Application button.

International IDEA is an equal opportunity employer which seeks to further diversify its staff in terms of gender, culture and nationality.