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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
The Office for Southern Africa seeks a Program Officer in its new Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice Program (“GREJ”) which seeks to ensure that women and girls, especially those most marginalized, are safer, more empowered and experience less violence. The Program Officer would help shape the Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice program strategy in Southern Africa with a focus on violence against women and girls. The Program Officer will develop and manage grant portfolios and related activities; and serve as a thought-leader leveraging partnerships on issues related to violence against women and girls within various public and private settings.
BACKGROUND :
The Office for Southern Africa works in an integrated, collaborative manner to address inequality with our primary goal to narrow the gap between the promise of democracy, dignity and equality and the lived reality for women, girls, youth, LGBTI and marginalized communities across the Southern African region. Our work aims to address inequality in terms of two primary problems: (i) violence against women and girls and (b) the impact of predatory extractive industry practices on local communities and their natural resources.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Officers are dynamic, strategic leaders working within a team environment. They are the primary staff members responsible for the development of grant portfolios and all related activities, based on the strategies and approaches defined in the Foundation’s regional offices and international programs. Program Officers have extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of work related to the Foundation’s mission and program objectives and play a leading role in shaping the specific grant activities, ensuring all activities are designed to deliver the goals of the international and regional strategies. Program Officers work in teams, under the management guidance of a Regional Director, to develop the Foundation’s grant recommendations, establish and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework, ensure shared learning across programmatic teams.
Program Officers assess and analyze the field(s) in which their work is focused, identify its key ecosystems and work with various actors to shape and influence agendas to address diagnosed problems and opportunities. Program Officers share substantive knowledge with Foundation colleagues, and collaborate broadly across the Program Units and Regional Offices around the world. They also serve as a ‘connector’ of grantees, and work with practitioners, government officials, scholars, NGO and corporate sector leaders, and other donors on issues of common concern to leverage positive impact toward common goals .
More specifically, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the Program Officer will:
- Contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of team strategies, working toward the Southern Africa office goals;
- Develop grant making activities in a team-oriented context that are aligned to the strategic goals of the office strategy and designed to achieve significant and scalable impact;
- Manage, monitor and coordinate a grants portfolio, including: annual grant planning; reviewing grants for strategic alignment; identifying and working with prospective grantees to develop proposals for grant recommendations (including helping determine the goals for a grant, its activities, expected results, indicators of success and budget); conducting organizational assessments; undertaking periodic reviews of progress with grantees; and reviewing financial and narrative reporting from grantees;
- Develop and implement grantee convenings to strategize and review opportunities, challenges and advances;
- Recommend and participate in evaluation and other learning activities to guide the evolution of programmatic work, working with the office team and the foundation’s Office of Strategy and Learning (based in New York);
- Represent the Foundation and its work to the government, media, academic, business, philanthropic, and civic leaders through meetings, updates, speeches, briefings and interviews, with guidance from the Southern Africa office Regional Director; and
- Develop and implement grant-making approaches that support the use of strategic communications as part of the program strategy.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A minimum of 8 years leading social justice strategies and subject-matter expertise in the area of women’s rights and violence against women and girls, and/or demonstration of strong cross-cutting work in the social justice arena and/or a master’s or a baccalaureate degree in a relevant field related to women’s rights, violence against women or gender studie; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrates an intersectional feminist perspective on women and girls’ power and has extensive engagement with global South networks and the women’s rights field.
- A thought leader that is highly respected in terms of intersectional feminist analysis on women’s rights issues. Has an excellent understanding of tensions/debates within the feminist movement in relation to race, class, disability, sexual orientation and gender as well as the ability to navigate these complex tensions between and among feminist movements and women’s rights stakeholders.
- A recognized influencer and partnership builder with donors, government(s) and civil society— with a demonstrated track record of successful collaborations, an understanding of organizations and networks.
- Knowledge of philanthropic sector and grantmaking capabilities in the women and girls’ rights sector.
- Proven experience devising, monitoring and leading impact-driven strategies that is grounded in a feminist approach to evaluation, learning and strategy.
- Deep understanding of the regional context and cultures, including geopolitical landscape, in Southern Africa.
- Exceptional leadership presence – internally and externally
- Exceptional communications skills – strong active listening skills, constructive verbal and written skills, strong public presentation skills
- Demonstrated ability to be a productive member of a community of people at work, respecting differences while working toward shared goals, comfort with periods of ambiguity, constructive participation in ongoing organizational development.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TRAVEL:
- This position is primarily a sedentary role. However, the person in this position may need to occasionally move about inside the office to liaise with internal staff, access files, office machinery and a copy machine/printer. Additionally, domestic/international travel will be expected, approximately 25%; some travel is directly related to grantmaking, but also to attend team conferences, retreats and meetings.
Alignment to Culture and Values
- Commitment to the Foundation’s mission and core values of equity, openness, collaboration, trust, accountability and urgency
- Personal qualities of humility, capacity for self-reflection, and a sense of humor
- Discretion and ability to handle confidential issues
- Action-orientated and entrepreneurial self-starter who can work well independently and in teams
Benefits
- Medical and dental benefits for employee and immediate family on first day of work
- Retirement savings account with matching company contributions of up to 13%
- Three weeks’ paid vacation in first year of work; four weeks in subsequent years
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Office closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Professional development initiatives for growth
- Generous parental leave (maternal and paternal) during new child’s first year (born into family or adopted)
Salary : Salary is based on experience and on the Foundation’s commitment to internal equity. A generous benefits package is provided.
Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at The Ford Foundation, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.