Deputy Director - Digital Conflict

The frontlines of conflict are increasingly digital. A growing number of states and non-state groups are able to carry out cyber operations targeting critical infrastructure. Most conflicts today involve influence operations on social media. The pace at which artificial intelligence is developing generates significant conflict risk when applied in the military domain.

The field of conflict mediation has struggled to keep up with the pace of technological change. HD’s digital conflict work began in 2018 to help fill this gap. It is HD’s fastest growing directorate. This reflects the pervasiveness of digital technologies in conflicts today and HD’s interest in testing how mediation can be best applied to new domains.

The digital conflict directorate comprises of three programme areas: cyber-mediation, social media and conflict mediation, and artificial intelligence in military systems. Almost all of this work is focused on facilitating dialogue between conflict parties to manage the downside risks of such technologies. The positive ways in which technology can be harnessed by mediators is not a focus area. Examples of the work include:

• Cyber-mediation. Setting up and running a regional dialogue process involving officials from 11 states to discuss cyber confidence-building measures.
• Social media and conflict mediation. Facilitating social media codes of conduct in six conflicts that define limits to conflict parties’ use of social media and monitor adherence to these agreements.
• Artificial intelligence in military systems. A two-year dialogue process with a group of Chinese, American, and international experts that led to a draft Code of Conduct on Artificial Intelligence in Military Systems.

The directorate’s work is global in scope. We work in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. The team currently comprises over a dozen full-time staff and a large number of part-time consultants, almost all of whom work remotely. They work closely with HD’s traditional conflict mediators based in these different regions, drawing upon their expertise and network. Some of the work is intra-state in nature but most of it is inter-governmental.

The Deputy Director will work closely with the Director to manage and grow this work. Both substantive expertise and superb management skills are required for the job.

Key responsibilities are:

• Help manage and coordinate HD’s day-to-day operations on digital conflict, including overseeing and supporting programming.
• Serve as the primary manager/adviser on particular tracks of dialogue that have been identified in consultation with the Director and Project Managers. This includes chairing meetings of conflict parties and facilitate dialogue on these tracks.
• Represent HD’s Digital Conflict directorate at multilateral and regional bodies, and with donors.
• Lead practices and initiatives that enhance the effectiveness of existing HD digital conflict projects, and support the Director in developing new projects and programmes.
• Liaise with Deputy Directors from other regions who are their regional focal points for HD’s thematic programmes, including digital conflict.
• Oversee corporate services staff in the directorate, approving budgets, expenses, and travel authorisations.
• Support the professional development of staff and consultants in the directorate.

The successful candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Between 10 and 15 years of relevant experience, including in diplomacy, mediation, or facilitation; developing and overseeing multi-site projects, budgets, donor relations and managing personnel;
• Strong familiarity with diplomacy on technological issues (cyber, AI, or social media);
• Experience with strategy development and long-term goal setting, particularly in a fast growing unit or institution;
• Exceptional political judgment;
• Excellent written and spoken English;
• Experience managing distributed/remote teams.
• Cross-cultural skills.

If you are interested in this position and meet the required criteria defined above, please send your CV along with a short cover letter in a single PDF file by 8 September 2023 to hrgeneva@hdcentre.org. Please indicate “Deputy Director DCOF” in the subject line of your e-mail. Please also attach an audio recording of no longer than one minute outlining your motivation for applying.

HD is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, please visit www.hdcentre.org