DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance is dedicated to improving the security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and gender equality. Since its founding in 2000, DCAF has contributed to making peace and development more sustainable by assisting partner states, and international actors supporting these states, to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms. It creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, provides legal and policy advice and supports capacity‐building of both state and non‐state security sector stakeholders.

DCAF’s Foundation Council members represent over 50 countries and the Canton of Geneva. Active in over 70 countries, DCAF is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading centres of excellence for security sector governance (SSG) and security sector reform (SSR). DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality.

As Director of the DCAF, you will lead one of the world's leading centers of excellence in the areas of good governance and security sector reform (SSR). We work closely with the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the EU, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and NATO.

Your tasks

• Management of the DCAF with an internationally diverse workforce of around 250 employees, an external network of 15 offices and an annual budget of over 30 million Swiss francs
• Implementation and further development of the DCAF five-year strategy (2020-24) taking into account relevant geostrategic, security, peace and development policy developments and based on the specifications of the foundation committees
• Positioning of the DCAF as a globally recognized think tank and center of competence for issues relating to the governance of the security sector and the further development and increasing importance of this policy area
• Steering and overseeing the implementation of operational (geographical and thematic) programs worldwide, with a focus on the priority regions of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa
• Further development and deepening of strategic partnerships with multilateral actors such as the UN, the EU, the OSCE, NATO or the AU, with the partner states represented on the Foundation Council, with the federal administration, in particular the FDFA and DDPS, and with the permanent representations based in Geneva , international organizations, non-state actors and the other two Geneva centres

 Your profile

• Swiss citizenship
• In-depth experience in the political fields of security, development and peace policy as well as in the area of ​​security sector governance
• Knowledge of the work, profile and priorities of multilateral actors working in this field
• Enthusiastic and visionary as well as intellectual openness, agility and the ability to innovate
• Entrepreneurial and socially competent personality with experience in leading heterogeneous and multicultural teams and the ability to enable, motivate and develop employees and teams to fulfill their mandate
• Many years of experience in the implementation of larger operational programs and familiarity with the principles of Results-Based Management
• Communicative personality with strong diplomatic skills to set up and expand networks in the multilateral environment and with different partners from the civil and military sectors
• Strong intercultural skills
• Very good knowledge of two official languages ​​and passive knowledge of the third official language, excellent knowledge of English

Apply by 5 June 2022

Submit your application through the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The application form can be found in German, French or Italian.