Head of China Programme

The Head of China Programme as a Senior Consultant will spearhead operations and initiatives involving China of a leading private mediation and diplomacy organisation, driving their successful implementation and ensuring their strategic integration with global programmes. The Head of China Programme will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the organisation’s strategic vision regarding China and its connection with the organisation’s wider ambitions in support of cross-regional mediation and dialogue efforts.

Reporting to the global Executive Director, the Head of China Programme will provide local knowledge and context to the organisation and have the following deliverables:

Establish the foundations for China programme development in the long-term:

• Lead and Oversee: Manage the China programme, ensuring comprehensive oversight of all the organisation activities within and related to China.
• Strengthen Partnerships: Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders in China, including high level interlocutors. Advise the organisation’s leadership on the potential for reinforcing collaboration with China, in pursuit of wider conflict prevention and resolution aims. The person shall also be responsible for ensuring that appropriate consultation and liaison is undertaken with relevant authorities to ensure all activities are undertaken in full compliance with any local legal requirements. Donor Relations: maintain strong relationships with donors as needed.

China programme development in the medium-term:

• Conflict Mitigation: Design and implement new conflict mitigation processes and dialogues that actively involve Chinese stakeholders, while sustaining momentum in ongoing China-related dialogues.
• Facilitate Peaceful Cooperation: Conceptualize and operationalize activities and meetings aimed at reducing conflicts and fostering peaceful cooperation across countries and regions. This includes facilitating dialogues and providing technical advice to conflict parties and internal stakeholders.

China programme development in the immediate term:

• Risk Management: Regularly update and manage the organisation’s security risk assessment for China, proactively minimizing potential risks to the organization.
• Operational Leadership: Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organisation’s China programme work, including providing oversight on projects and budgets.

Thematic and cross-regional collaboration in the long-term:

• Strategic Analysis and Contribution: Contribute to the strategic direction of the organisation by providing insightful analysis and a deep understanding of the political context in China and its broader implications for other programmes.
• Global Dialogue Integration: Advise on the strategic inclusion of Chinese stakeholders in the organisation’s global dialogues, ensuring comprehensive and meaningful engagement.

Thematic and cross-regional collaboration in the medium-term:

• Programme Re-conceptualization: Re-envision elements of the China programme to reflect China’s evolving role not only as a potential conflict party but also as an emerging conflict mediator.

Thematic and cross-regional collaboration in the immediate term:

• Representation: Represent the organisation in high-level meetings with partners, stakeholders, and institutions.
• Cross-Regional Collaboration: Design and institutionalize mechanisms for cross-regional collaboration, focusing on strategic issues.
• Strategic Engagement: Lead the organisation’s strategic engagement in all China-related meetings and dialogues, coordinating closely with the organisation regional directorates for projects and activities with a China element.

Qualifications:

Technical competencies/knowledge needed for the position (including languages):

• Ten to fifteen years of professional experience working in China on peace and security issues, international relations, or international conflict mitigation;
• Successful track record in developing and managing relations with Chinese stakeholders, particularly those in the Chinese government, and in affiliated research institutions;
• Extensive knowledge of China’s foreign policy, particularly of China’s engagements in the fields of peace and security;
• Strong organizational and planning skills;
• Ability to manage projects and oversee budget preparation and implementation;
• Fluency in English and Chinese required.

Interpersonal skills needed for the position:

• Be politically astute and possess good judgment in handling politically sensitive situations and interactions with a variety of actors;
• Be flexible, creative and resourceful in finding solutions to unexpected problems;
• Be capable of handling a dynamic and challenging context;
• Be comfortable with collaborating with colleagues and partners from diverse backgrounds in a wide range of social settings.

The candidate must have the right to work in China as a Senior Consultant to the organisation in compliance with all applicable local laws.

If you are interested in this position and meet the criteria defined above, please send a complete file (CV and motivation letter) to the following address hrgeneva@hdcentre.org by 31 December 2024. Please indicate “Head of China Programme” in the subject line of your e-mail.