http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/about/jobs/learning-program-officer-20141118
The Open Society Women’s Rights Program seeks a full-time program officer in its New York office.
The Women’s Rights Program aims to promote open societies where women control their own bodies, choices and lives; participate freely in political, community and family life; play integral economic roles in local and global marketplaces; and be able to advance their rights in systems of justice. The program pursues three goals: (1) to strengthen women’s rights organizations and movements in countries and regions where Open Society is active; (2) to promote economic justice for women; and (3) to combat policies and practices that undermine the physical safety of women and the enjoyment of their sexual and reproductive rights. A full strategic plan will be presented to the Global Board of the Open Society Foundations in 2015.
The full-time program officer will be based in New York and will be supervised by the Women’s Rights Program director.
Open Society Foundations
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to criticism, whose laws and policies are open to debate and correction, and whose political institutions are open to the participation of all people. We seek to strengthen justice and the rule of law; broaden respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities; encourage pluralism and a robust diversity of opinion; deepen democratic practice and participation; expand economic equity; support effective governance; and invest in individuals, public and private organizations, and social movements that advance these goals.
We are a global network of foundations committed to local knowledge and national expertise. Our network includes national foundations, regional foundations, and other geographic programs operating in more than one hundred countries. At the same time, many programs with global reach operate from our four headquarters in Europe and the United States, including programs on digital information, documentary photography, drug policy, early childhood, education, fellowships, fiscal governance, higher education, human rights, international migration, justice, public health, scholarships, think tanks, and women’s rights. In addition to making grants to organizations and individuals, the Open Society Foundations engage in policy advocacy, legal advocacy and litigation, program-related investing, and public communications, as well as providing direct assistance to governments. Most programs and foundations in the network are governed or advised by their own boards.
The Open Society Foundations are the global philanthropies of George Soros, who, as chairman, plays an active role in the work of the foundations.
Job Profile
The purpose of the position is strategy development, learning-focused monitoring, and assessment of efforts to strengthen women’s organizations and movements, advance women’s sexual and reproductive rights, and promote economic justice for women. The program officer will play an important role in developing and monitoring the new Women’s Rights Program strategy; stay abreast of the fields of engagement, identifying opportunities for funding and other engagement with partners; and represent the program externally. Work is carried out independently /under general supervision. Additional responsibilities include the following:
Grants
- In conjunction with the director and other staff/consultants, develop grant making strategies, priorities, and guidelines;
- Develop strong knowledge of and networks within the women’s rights, sexual and reproductive right, economic justice, and other relevant fields, including interacting with grantees, and other field professionals, tracking groups the program does not currently fund and participating in relevant meetings and field convenings;
- Review grant proposals with program team, and participate in the preparation of written grant recommendations and group reflection as part of the grant review process;
- Make grantmaking recommendations and decisions, in keeping with the program’s overall strategy and budget;
- Perform site visits of prospective and current grantee organizations;
- Monitor grants through ongoing relationships with grantees, site visits, review of narrative and financial reports, portfolio reviews, and other programmatic reflection processes.
Program-Related Functions
- Develop and manage learning efforts for Women’s Rights Program staff related to the strategy, grantmaking, monitoring, and assessing portfolios of work;
- Support grantees in their learning efforts;
- Develop, plan, and organize program-related events;
- Stay abreast of developments in the field through research and attendance of conferences and/or meetings;
- Work with the director to ensure close collaboration with other programs across the Open Society network, in particular the grantmaking, strategy, and communications departments;
- Identify joint programming opportunities and efforts within Open Society, as well as with external funders and partners;
- Build and establish strategic relationships with other philanthropic partners and NGO’s;
- Write strategy/position papers that provide insight on policy issues impacting the field and/or offer suggestions about field building and strategic project development;
- Perform special assignments, including participation with other programs and foundation task forces and working groups;
- Manage financial and budget reports to track program spending;
- Supervise administrative support staff, and consultants, when relevant.
Other
- Substantial travel will be required;
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Substantial knowledge, expertise and five to seven years’ programmatic experience in developing, monitoring, and assessing strategies to promote human rights;
- Strong experience with a wide range of program and strategy monitoring and assessment approaches;
- Knowledge of current practices, trends, and key actors and thought leaders in the women’s rights field;
- Good strategic thinking and ability to make good, independent decisions;
- Ability to work independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet goals;
- Proven ability to work effectively in a fluid and fast paced work environment, managing multiple priorities under pressure and accomplish short- and long- term deadlines with a heavy workload;
- History of being a strong team player;
- Broad intellectual curiosity, comfort with robust debate and a good sense of humor;
- Excellent writing and editing skills in English;
- Proficiency in other languages a great advantage;
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
- Strong public speaking and presentation skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomatic and problem-solving abilities and a desire for continued professional growth while focused on promoting and developing grantees, partners, and colleagues;
- Demonstrated cross-cultural competence and substantial life experience with multiple cultures;
- Graduate degree in a social science and seven ten years’ relevant experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting with a low level of noise. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Compensation
Commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package.
Application Instructions
Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements to:humanresources@opensocietyfoundations.org. Include job code in subject line: PO-WRP Learning.