Summary
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) is an academic institution within the U.S. Department of Defense established in 1999, and funded by Congress for the study of security issues relating to Africa. The Africa Center serves as a forum for bilateral and multilateral research, communication, and exchange of ideas involving military and civilian participants. The Africa Center does this by expanding understanding of African security issues, providing a trusted platform for dialogue, building enduring partnerships, and catalyzing strategic solutions. The overarching goal is to support processes that foster security for all Africans championed by effective institutions accountable to their citizens. Africa Center programs revolve around the generation and dissemination of knowledge through its research, academic programs, and
community engagement.
Responsibilities
The purpose of this position is to plan and coordinate academic support for delivery of curriculum for the Africa Center’s Academic Affairs Division. The incumbent provides course development and refinement, manages:
Specific duties include:
1. The incumbent provides course development and refinement, manages and procures or otherwise acquires instructional and educational materials in support of curriculum, and conducts research support for Academic programs and activities. Drafts written documents which serve to contribute to the development and refinement of the curriculum and in support of academic programs (letters, research summaries and synopsis, literature reviews.).
2. Undertakes guided research on security matters related to Africa, and to U.S. policy towards Africa (e.g. counter-terrorism, national and transnational security strategy, human security, civil-military relations, defense economics, conflict management, arms proliferation, etc.).
3. Assists with the development of section publications, in collaboration with Faculty and Program Leads. Proofreads and formats guest speaker presentations, program highlights, academic syllabi, and other academic materials in English, Portuguese, French and/or Arabic as required.
4. Supports the Academic section by working collaboratively with Faculty to research, identify, contact and invite adjunct faculty, guest speakers, note-takers, and other staff needed to support academic programs. Develops, manages and updates spreadsheets and databases on publications, potential attendees, faculty and guest speaker presentations, travel and other logistical information.
5. In collaboration with faculty, develops, formats and prepares documents and presentations and compiles syllabus binders with attention to prescribed procedures and protocols for branding and quality control purposes, in one or more languages as required. Drafts and finalizes program-related correspondence and after-action reports. Performs occasional translation of documents from English to Portuguese, French and/or Arabic as needed.
6. Serves as the Academic Affairs support staff representative on ACSS project teams, liaising within the Africa Center as well as with other organizations on event planning and preparation of operational matters related to the academic program schedule, adjunct faculty, guest speakers, interpreters, and note-takers.
7. Performs other relevant tasks as required.