Practice Lead – Peace, Stabilization & Governance

Position Type : Full Time & Long Term
Position Location : Ottawa, Canada

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
The Practice Lead, Peace, Stabilization & Governance plays a senior leadership role within Cowater’s North America Business Unit, responsible for shaping and advancing the firm’s positioning, delivery quality, and business development efforts in fragile, conflict-affected, and politically complex environments.

The Practice Lead provides strategic and technical leadership across a portfolio of projects focused on peacebuilding, stabilization, security, and governance-related programming in fragile and politically complex environments. This includes supporting the design and delivery of initiatives that address conflict drivers, strengthen resilience, improve institutional trust, and contribute to safer and more stable environments in partner countries, including where public administration, service delivery, or institutional strengthening are relevant to peace and stabilization outcomes.

The role combines three core functions: (i) technical leadership and quality assurance, (ii) practice development and positioning, and (iii) business development and pipeline growth. The Practice Lead works closely with Project Directors, technical teams, and business development colleagues to strengthen delivery, expand Cowater’s footprint, and position the firm as a credible partner in this area.

The role requires strong technical credibility, sound political judgement, and the ability to operate effectively in sensitive and complex environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Practice Leadership – Peace, Stabilization & Governance
• Provide leadership and direction for Cowater’s practice in peace, stabilization, and governance within the North America Business Unit, in close collaboration with the Managing Director.
• Define and evolve priority thematic areas, which may include peacebuilding, conflict prevention, stabilization programming, and selected areas of governance and institutional strengthening.
• Ensure technical approaches are grounded in context analysis, conflict sensitivity, and evidence-based practice.
• Maintain and deepen expertise in fragile and conflict-affected settings, ensuring Cowater remains well positioned in this space.
• Provide senior-level technical advisory support on complex or high-risk assignments.

Project Oversight and Delivery Quality
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance across assigned projects, ensuring delivery excellence, risk management, and client satisfaction.
• Support project and BD teams on program design, implementation challenges, and adaptive management in politically sensitive environments.
• Contribute to strengthening results-based management, learning, and knowledge capture across the portfolio, including in fragile contexts.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and operational risks, with particular attention to conflict dynamics, political economy factors, and fiduciary considerations.
• Ensure consistent application of Cowater policies on safeguarding, duty of care, and risk management.

Business Development and Market Positioning
• Lead business development efforts in peace, stabilization, and governance within the North America Business Unit.
• Develop and actively manage a pipeline of opportunities, including early positioning, partner engagement, and opportunity shaping in partnership with the Lead, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development.
• Lead or contribute to proposal development, including technical design, team composition, and quality assurance.
• Strengthen relationships with key donors, partners, and stakeholders working in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, including governance-focused programming.
• Identify opportunities to expand Cowater’s work beyond traditional donor-funded programming, including with non-traditional partners and private sector actors where there is a clear strategic fit.
• Contribute to articulating Cowater’s positioning in areas such as governance in fragile contexts, stabilization programming, and institutional support.

Thought Leadership and External Engagement
• Contribute to building Cowater’s visibility and credibility in peace, stabilization, and governance through targeted thought leadership.
• Support the development of knowledge products (e.g. lessons learned, case studies, policy notes) drawing on Cowater’s portfolio in fragile and complex environments.
• Represent Cowater in external engagements with donors, partners, and sector networks.

Team Management and Collaboration
• Collaborate effectively with project teams, technical experts, and business development colleagues across Cowater.
• Support knowledge sharing and contribute to internal learning, guidance, and communities of practice.
• Mentor and support staff and consultants working in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and accountability aligned with Cowater’s values.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking in peacebuilding, stabilization, and/or governance programming.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, with sound political judgement.
• Understanding of governance systems and institutional strengthening approaches, with depth in at least one relevant area.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including political economy and conflict analysis.
• Ability to operate across business development and project delivery functions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Professional integrity, discretion, and sound judgement in complex environments.
• Values-driven, with a demonstrated commitment to inclusion, conflict sensitivity, and quality.

Salary range: $110,000 CAD – $140,000 CAD

APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater international strives to maintain a fair, transparent, and human centered recruitment process. As part of our commitment to responsible hiring practices and compliance with evolving recruitment regulations, we may use AI assisted tools to support limited aspects of our talent acquisition workflow, such as reviewing or shortlisting applications. These tools are used only to enhance efficiency and consistency in our processes. All assessments, interviews, and final hiring decisions are made exclusively by our human recruiting managers. Candidates may request additional information about the use of these tools or reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Canberra, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Montreal, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.