Assistant Programme Manager: Addressing the Legacy of Violence through Facilitated Dialogue

 

About us

The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (Glencree) is an independent, non-governmental organisation that works with individuals and groups to transform violent conflict, promote reconciliation, build sustainable peace, cultivate positive relationships, and works towards more inclusive, equitable, and diverse societies.

Glencree was founded in 1974 as a direct response to the violence happening predominantly in Northern Ireland.  Through working with politicians, women, youth, victims/survivors, former combatants, security force personnel, community, and religious leaders Glencree has built a strong reputation for its practical contribution to peacebuilding and the Northern Irish peace process.

Glencree is based and carries out much of its work from its beautiful and historic residential centre in the Wicklow Mountains just 25kms from Dublin City Centre.

Programme Background

Building on Glencree’s work with politicians, victims and survivors, former combatants and security forces Glencree started a ‘Legacy of Violence’ programme in 2015.   Glencree was awarded funding by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) for a project entitled ‘Addressing the legacy of violence through facilitated dialogue’.

The programme which will to run until December 2021 and is focused around, but not limited to, the experiences of four ‘victims and survivors’ groups and their communities.  Through a process of private and confidential facilitated dialogues, we examine themes and issues, which remain as obstacles to deeper understanding and the promotion of positive relations. The four key groups along with other relevant parties have  co-developed their own process and pace of engagement, entering into dialogue with groups and individuals with differing interpretations of what happened in the past including as appropriate those perceived to have contributed to causing harm.   The learning, which we have accrued through the project, will be of assistance to ‘Victims and Survivors’ groups, other interest groups, academics, policymakers, and practitioners in productively engaging with Northern Ireland’s contentious past. Our learning will be shared through this next stage of the process through publications, roundtables and an end of project Symposium. 

The Role

Glencree is seeking an experienced and committed peacebuilder to contribute to this ongoing sensitive and complex project.  The Assistant Programme Manager will be joining an ongoing project and will bring their unique experience and expertise to managing and developing the ongoing work of the project. The successful applicant will do this through liaising with, and development of, the work of the groups engaged in the project. They will manage the work of the project facilitators and the development and co-ordination of the team engaged in the project. It is expected that the APM will also be involved in seminar development, management (on-line and in situ), and events including roundtables and Symposium to promote the learning which has occurred in the project so far. The APM will also support the Project Manager in the necessary administration involved in adhering to the SEUPB processes.

Reporting to:    Programme Manager.

Manages:         Administrator.

Liaises with:     Facilitators and Financial Controller, Researcher.

Salary:              €34,000 – €38,000 P/A Depending on experience

Location:          Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Co. Wicklow, Ireland is the work base. Flexible working arrangements will be arranged with the Programme Manager. In the current conditions, (Covid 19) administrative work for the project can be carried out from home. There will be project work in locations with groups in the North and Border Counties. This work will be carried out strictly in accordance with Government restrictions and organisational protocols.

Terms:              Full –time, fixed term contract with end date of December 2021

The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation’s ‘Legacy of Violence’ Project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Experience and skills sought:

The following are indicative experience and skills sought in looking for the best person to assist in this project.  However above all the successful applicant will have a deep commitment to working through the challenges arising from our violent past and the personal and relational skills to innovatively and sensitively lead a project that touches on some of the most contentious and ‘raw’ issues that remain in building a sustainable peace

Essential  
Project Management ·       Experience of Project management including organisational management.

·       Experience in peacebuilding and/or community relations project management.

·       Experience of working on legacy of violence issues with relevant groups and constituencies.

 

Seminar/event Organisation ·       Experience of organising events and seminars.

·       Experience in online organisation of seminars /events.

·       Experience of remote working.

 

Inter-personal skills ·       Ability to develop and maintain relationships across a range of stakeholders.

·       Experience of engagement empathically, with people/communities who experience marginalisation or trauma.

 

 Budget and financial management

 

·       Experience of budget management.
Strategic Planning & Innovation ·       Demonstrable experience in thinking strategically and being able to innovate and adapt plans to achieve goals if required.

 

Flexibility ·       Willingness to work anti-social hours and at weekends.  (Glencree operates a time in lieu policy to facilitate the need for flexible working).

 

Knowledge of peacebuilding and conflict with specific regard to Northern Ireland ·       A strong knowledge of current issues in relation to the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement.

·       Knowledge of themes related to the legacy of violence, including issues related to (i) victims and survivors and (ii) transitional justice issues as they relate to conflict and peacebuilding on this island.

 

Confidentiality ·       Experience of observing confidentiality in research or other relevant context

 

Ability to work on own initiative ·       Evidence of an ability to work independently under tight deadlines

 

Teamwork ·       A track record of working collaboratively in a range of team settings

 

Mobility ·       Access to private transport and a full clean driving licence is essential to this role.

·       Because of the widespread geographical spread of the project a willingness to travel to fulfil the needs of the post is necessary.

·       This work will be carried out strictly in accordance with Government restrictions and organisational protocols.

 

 

Desirable  
Counselling/psychotherapy ·       Counselling experience would be beneficial. (This is not a therapeutic project but during the project, traumatic events and experiences will inevitably be discussed and the team will need to handle them with sensitivity and care).

 

Communications

 

·       Demonstrable experience in successfully managing communications for previous projects through a variety of media without compromising the confidential and sensitive nature of a project is desirable.

·       Experience of drafting and editing research and evaluation reports and articles for academic and non-academic audiences.

 

Gender sensitivity

 

·       A keen sensitivity to how violence and violent conflict can be inflicted and experienced in gendered ways.

 


Application:

To apply please send your CV and covering letter detailing your interest and suitability for the role to assistantprojectmanager@glencree.ie. The deadline for applications is 25/09/2020. Interviews are expected to take place in the week beginning 5/10/2020 with appointment as soon as possible thereafter.

Because of the volume of applications that Glencree receives for advertised posts, if you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing dates of this posting, it is unlikely that you are being considered for the post.