Senior Officer, Dialogue Facilitation
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Global Programs – Latin America /
Full Time - Local /
On-site
Team Summary
This position is part of Search’s team in Guatemala, our newest program. The Guatemala team works under the umbrella of a USAID-funded, one-team approach project, reporting to the Chief of Party of the project. Search’s Regional Director, Latin America, has oversight to ensure that our Guatemala team delivers on our contribution in a timely, quality manner. The Guatemala team is focused on project implementation, including planning, execution, and reporting. They work with Search’s regional and global structure for technical expertise and implementation support.
Position Summary
Search is seeking an experienced dialogue facilitator in Guatemala City to support Search’s implementation of a multi-year project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) targeting 5 municipalities across Guatemala. The project aims to strengthen target communities’ ability to address crime and violence through multisectoral collaboration.
As the Facilitation Lead (Senior Officer level), you will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with a variety of stakeholders from different backgrounds. Your primary focus will be on managing the implementation of a multi-stakeholder dialogue process, with an emphasis on trust building and dialogue to action.
Responsibilities
- Coordinates program implementation activities and documents lessons learned.
- Ensure follow up for activities for completion of a plan or collaborative input from colleagues internal and external to the Program Implementation team.
- Initiate and cultivate relationships with all stakeholders involved in the program, including gangs, young people, police, security forces, religious actors, and other relevant parties.
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders to understand their perspectives, concerns, and needs, fostering an environment of mutual respect and trust.
- Design and implement a multi-stakeholder dialogue process that facilitates open communication, collaboration, and problem-solving among diverse stakeholders.
- Develop and facilitate dialogue sessions, workshops, and other activities aimed at fostering constructive interactions and building trust among participants.
- Utilize conflict resolution techniques and consensus-building strategies to address disagreements and reach mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Implement strategies to build and maintain trust among stakeholders throughout the program.
- Foster transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in decision-making processes, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.
- Address potential conflicts and challenges proactively, promoting a culture of openness and cooperation.
Contributions
- Workplan: articulation of detailed costed work plan and activity plan that track outputs
- Reporting: lead and coordinate the development of reports (presentations, agenda, donor reports, monthly reports, activity reports etc); upload and update the Grants Management System (GMS)
- Personnel Management: support in building staff capacity as needed, provide support in the recruitment of staff as needed, provide the Search Program Implementation description for recruitment posting, and contribute to the development of interview materials
- External Engagement: Coordinate with partner staff in project implementation and activities, ensure effective communication with project stakeholders, draft materials for stakeholders (donor/partner/governmental meetings - e.g., agenda, presentations, etc.)
- Note and record challenges and lessons learned from project implementation via activity and monthly reports
- Identify partner organizations and communities for future interventions
- Support in the development of budget and budget simulations
- Infuses organizational values into all work
- Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.
Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
- Initiates brainstorming or problem-solving meetings. Has skills for analyzing and communicating program successes and failures; reports lessons learned to the team and other members.
- Represents Search at local and international events and meetings for professional organizations, vendors, partners, and funders. Develops skills to independently initiate and maintain relations with vendors, partners, and funders. Articulates Search program/project goals and objectives within Search and to external audiences.
- Demonstrates appreciation for diversity of thought. Builds cross-functional relationships with other functional departments.
- Demonstrates ability to be adaptable and willing to confront and change own ideas and preconceptions with the resiliency and flexibility to make changes based on hearing a diversity of thoughts.
- Drafts team documents, briefing materials, and presentations. Articulates program/project objectives and how they fit into a team’s goals and/or Search’s mission and adapts to the communications setting.
- Applies standards, identifies areas for standardization, and coordinates across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
- Takes into account the environmental landscape, assesses one's own and others' viewpoints in their environment, and proposes solutions from an ethical perspective.
- Recognizes the options available for solving problems, conducts analyses, and calculates metrics and other technical tools to support informed decision making.
- Conducts Quality Control of team documents, briefing materials, presentations, and systems data. Carefully reviews and checks the accuracy of information in work reports, management information systems, or with other individuals and groups. Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work. Proactively informs management of potential risks and concerns; suggests resolutions.
- Independently prioritizes time to reach deadlines and reaches end results of assignments with ability to accomplish multiple steps with limited to no supervision.
- Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills that will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.
Type and Nature of Contacts
- Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.
- Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
- Interacts with country office and regional staff.
Required Skills
- University degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development, Political Science, International Affairs, Social Sciences, or other relevant subjects.
- Minimum of 6 years of experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue processes, preferably in the context of community development, peacebuilding, or conflict transformation, in Guatemala.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including marginalized or vulnerable groups.
- Strong facilitation skills, with experience designing and leading participatory workshops, meetings, and other interactive sessions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to listen actively, empathize with others, and foster productive dialogue.
- Knowledge of conflict resolution principles, negotiation techniques, and consensus-building strategies.
- Experience working in multicultural or cross-cultural environments is desirable.
- Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is required; knowledge of other languages spoken in Guatemala is an advantage.
Education and Experience
- Typically BS/BA with minimum 7 years’ experience.
- Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel domestically at least 50%.
- May supervise one or more staff interns.
Education and Experience
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Supervisory and Budget Responsibility
Please apply by June 21, 2024.
