Head of Sport for Development and Peace

Reference: 131200501
Location: London, UK
Closing Date: 24 Jan 2014

Job Summary

The Head of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP), as a member of the leadership team of the Youth Affairs Division (YAD), will contribute substantively to the development of the YAD strategic direction, especially as it pertains to SDP. He/she will have responsibility for leading YAD’s SDP work, overseeing the delivery of SDP related projects, and managing key external relationships with points of contact in member Governments, SDP stakeholders and the Commonwealth Games movement. The post-holder will also be responsible for the Division’s sport advisory function, and for successful delivery of the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting and secretariat support to the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS).

The Head of SDP will supervise of a team of two staff, as well as external consultants and academics engaged on occasion to deliver key aspects of the SDP mandate. He/she will also liaise and collaborate with the Heads of Programmes and Research and Policy, the four YAD Regional Focal Points, the YAD Operations Officer, and key staff from other Commonwealth Secretariat divisions.

Qualifications and Experience Required

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as sport, sport for development, youth development, international development, international relations.
A relevant post-graduate degree highly desirable.
Sound and demonstrated knowledge and professional experience of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP)
10+ years’ experience in delivering sport, development or peace building projects and/or programmes, including at least 3 years’ lead responsibility for national projects, partnerships or programmes.
10+ years’ experience in working in /with Government, intergovernmental or international NGO organisations, in particular expertise in government policy development and impact evaluation.
5+ years’ experience of stakeholder engagement; experience partnering with Governments and international NGOs highly desirable.
Experience in facilitating workshops and leading capacity building programmes highly desirable.
Authorship of formal publications and reports in academic and non-academic forums highly desirable.
Experience of working in developing countries highly desirable.
High personal standards of excellence
Strong knowledge of and interest in international affairs, and international development, youth development, and/or sport for development theory and practice.
Strong:
Numerically literate
Technologically savvy
Ability to work autonomously and in teams
Can-do attitude

About the Youth Affairs Division

Young people constitute more than 60 per cent of the population of the Commonwealth. The wellbeing and development of this 1.2 billion youth cohort are essential to the success of the Commonwealth and its 53 member states. The Youth Affairs Division (YAD) of the Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1973 and known internationally as the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), works with Commonwealth member governments, youth leaders and youth professionals on the development and implementation of policy and programmes for the empowerment of young people aged 15–29.

The Youth Affairs Division operates from a pan-Commonwealth international office at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, aiming to support member governments, youth leaders and youth professionals to create the optimum enabling environment for young people to participate as equal partners in development and democracy. As well as stand-alone initiatives, YAD partners with other Commonwealth Secretariat divisions to integrate a youth perspective across all key facets of the Commonwealth (economic, political, human rights etc). YAD also facilitates and supports representative youth leaders to build networks and have a voice in the Commonwealth.