Who We Are

Peace is our commitment. The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people's shared values and commitment to peace worldwide. We know that Peace is Security – it advances both U.S. and international security by preventing, managing, and mitigating violent conflict.

We are an independent, non-partisan institution and are actively engaged with peacebuilding efforts around the world. Together we tackle the most challenging problems and hold fast to the possibility of a more peaceful world. To learn more about USIP programs and job openings, go to https://www.usip.org/about/careers. 

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and want to have a front-row seat on the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

Program Overview

As a global focal point for transforming conventional responses to terrorism, USIP equips policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders with tools and insights to effectively respond to the instrumentalization of violence by nonstate actors. USIP curates knowledge, builds collaborative partnerships, strengthens capacities and convenes and advises key stakeholders on peacebuilding approaches that work across individual, social and structural levels to reduce discrimination and marginalization, bridge social divides, and promote accountable governance.

Under its Program on Violence and Extremism, USIP also manages the Researching Solutions to Violent Extremism (RESOLVE) Network. RESOLVE is a global consortium of researchers, organizations, policymakers and practitioners committed to improving practice and policy with rigorous, locally informed research on violent extremism and potential peacebuilding approaches to preventing and addressing its local manifestations.

Job Brief

This position will support research, convenings, and communications for the following main initiatives of USIP’s Program on Violence and Extremism.

Work Schedule: 20 hours per week during the academic year, up to 40 hours per week during academic breaks

Expected Term Length: Initial term length of 6 months with the option for extension upon mutual agreement between the Research Assistant and USIP

Compensation The approximate range is between $17.00 and $18.00 per hour.

Responsibilities

• Provide research and communications support to the RESOLVE Network team, including dedicated support for the development and finalization of a localization framework for peacebuilding and preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), funded under a multi-year partnership with USAID’s Africa Bureau.
• Provide dedicated support in finalizing data analysis, background research, collation, and writing for a comprehensive report examining what works and what doesn’t work in the U.S.’s policy and programming on P/CVE, with the aim to propose a new way forward for P/CVE practice and policy.
• Contribute to research, convening, and/or communications support for other Program on Violence and Extremism initiatives and ad hoc activities.
• Report to the lead Program Officer for RESOLVE’s Local Peacebuilding Initiatives project as well as the lead Program Officer for USIP’s P/CVE research initiative.

Research Support:

• Provide substantive research support on issues related to violent extremism for RESOLVE Network activities and projects, including the development of annotated bibliographies on peacebuilding, localization, and P/CVE and literature review support for the Learning from Local Peacebuilding Initiatives framework project.
• Provide substantive support in finalizing data analysis, background research, collation, and writing for a comprehensive report on P/CVE past success and failures as well as recommendations for its future.
• Support consultations and working sessions with subject-matter experts.
• Collate, capture, organize, and conduct verification on data from research in accessible and comprehensive formats for project teams.
• Contribute to the drafting and editing of research products.

Communications and Convening Support:

• Provide strategic communications support, including assisting in the development of RESOLVE social media strategy, crafting messaging, and managing daily social media output.
• Draft, edit, and update program informational items for internal USIP staff members and external guests (e.g., web content, project pages, special reports, fact sheets, etc.). 
• Assist, as needed, with internal and external events and meetings, to include planning, note taking, and execution to ensure the successful advancement of the program mission and discrete projects.

Qualifications

• Must be a full-time graduate student, preferably studying international relations, security, governance, or international peace and conflict resolution, criminology, or a related field.
• Experience and/or coursework focused on researching peacebuilding, localization, and/or violent extremism and P/CVE-related topics.
• Demonstrated interest in violent extremism, violent social movements, and peacebuilding approaches to preventing and addressing them.
• Demonstrated background providing support to research initiatives.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and editing skills, as well as familiarity with research methodologies and data collection and visualization methods.
• Proficiency in social media and communications campaigns.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; strong interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Experience living and working overseas or other cross-cultural communication experience is desirable.
• Proficiency in French and/or Arabic preferred, but not required.

USIP's Research Assistant program is administered through the Consortium of Universities in the Washington Metropolitan area. However, any full-time university student is eligible (local or within the US) for these openings.

All USIP contract and employee positions are contingent upon the favorable completion of a suitability background investigation.

How to ApplyTo be considered for this position, please submit a complete application package consisting of:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• A brief writing sample demonstrating research and writing competencies.

Only those applicants that are selected for further discussions will be contacted. 

No Phone Calls. Interviews will be scheduled by appointment only. 

USIP is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy and practice of USIP to offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, political affiliations or belief, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.