About PADF
The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity, for all. We work across Latin America and the Caribbean to make our region stronger—more healthy, peaceful, just, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for current and future generations. For nearly 60 years, we have served the most vulnerable communities, investing resources throughout the hemisphere. We partner with and enable civil society, governments, and the private sector for the greater good of the region.
The Position: Crime and Violence Prevention Expert
PADF is recruiting a Crime and Violence Prevention Expert (CVP Expert) for an anticipated Department of State-funded project providing technical assistance program to reduce gang activity through strengthening the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) community policing and anti-gang investigative capabilities. The position will likely be based in Port of Spain, but PADF expects candidate to cover community activities in other areas of the country. The CVP Expert will provide overall leadership and technical direction for crime and violence prevention activities conducted by the project and liaise with PADF’s subject matter experts, other T&T-based PADF colleagues and HQ team regularly. The candidate will:
- Â Lead the implementation of citizen security and crime prevention activities by providing expert advice that ensures appropriate monitoring key project activities, timelines, deadlines, and deliverables.
- Provide technical input into program implementation to ensure coherence with anti-gang crime and violence prevention strategies including community and local governance engagement, ensuring the interests and needs of vulnerable groups with regard to violence and crime prevention are taken into account, as well as preventing youth from becoming involved in violence.
- Identify, document and communicate the ideas, trends and emerging capacities in crime and violence prevention specifically on gang violence.
- Advise stakeholders in the development and execution of program activities.
- Identify and nurture collaborative partnerships with appropriate local leaders, public officials, civil society and private sector actors, program partners, and other stakeholders.
- Provide expert advice to relevant stakeholders in terms of community mobilization and outreach activities in consultation with INL and TTPS stakeholders.
- Ensures all community policing activity plans follow PADF donor regulations.
- Collaborate with PADF colleagues in HQ and T&T to ensure all activities are in line with PADF’s internal rules and regulations, compliant with donor regulations, and the laws of T&T.
- Works closely with PADF subject matter experts in the development of project trainings and activities for the TTPS.
- Document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices to internal and external stakeholders through newsletters, reports, presentations at forums, and other mediums of engagement.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the program’s Technical Director.
Personal Characteristics:
- Superior interpersonal skills and ability to interact with staff in Washington D.C. and in the field, as well community leaders, groups, and the TTPS.
- Emotional and cultural intelligence.
- Flexible in a fast-paced environment.
Competencies:
- Analysis/Problem Solving – Able to identify and separate out the key components of problems and situations. Able to manipulate and interpret information from a range of sources to spot patterns and trends in information and to deduce cause and effect from this. Can generate a range of creative solutions, evaluate them and choose the most appropriate option.
- Planning and organizing – Able to achieve results in a quality, timely, and cost-effective way. Sees priorities, plans the efficient use of resources, and monitors progress against objectives. Anticipates crucial stages in projects. Formulates alternative means of achieving objectives. Responds effectively to unforeseen events.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness – Able to influence the views and behavior of others through persuasion and encouragement. Manages conflict or other sensitive issues tactfully and effectively. Able to adapt behavior to a wide range of people.
- Communication – Able to communicate information and ideas clearly and articulately both in oral and written form both to experts and non-experts. Uses appropriate language, style and methods depending on audience and the purpose of communication. Able to convey complex information clearly. Anticipates the information that others will need.
Qualifications:
- An BA/BS degree in international relations, political science, public policy, economics, criminal justice, or related field required. Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) strongly preferred.
- 5+ years’ experience in international development, citizen security, community policing, or other related field (or at least 6 years without a Master’s degree).
- Experience with grant coordination, financial tracking, or monitoring and evaluation required.
- Experience managing relationships with international donors including the U.S. Government, bilateral donors, foundations, etc.
- Experience and working knowledge on intelligence-led policing, anti-gang investigations, and the organisms that provide assistance towards those efforts such as DOS/INL, DOJ/ICITAP, INTERPOL, etc.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required.
- Exceptional writing skills to effectively prepare clear and concise reports, strategies, and/or proposals.
- Experience in working with local communities, civil society partners, and law enforcement.
More About PADF
PADF is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1962.
PADF’s core values are “H-E-A-R-T” = Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork.
PADF is strong because we are diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. PADF does not discriminate based on ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of cultures, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, and perspectives on the world.
PADF is an equal opportunity employer.