Program Officer

Position Available

Program Officer

Africa Regional Office

Open Society Foundation – New York

March 2011

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, the Foundations seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, the Open Society Foundations implement a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, we build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. The Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.

Investor and philanthropist George Soros established the Open Society Foundations, starting in 1984, to help countries make the transition from communism.  Our activities have grown to encompass the United States and more than 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.  Each Foundation relies on the expertise of boards composed of eminent citizens who determine individual agendas based on local priorities.   

The Africa Regional Office (ARO) serves to coordinate OSI’s work in Africa and to add value to the work of the foundations by funding pan-African interventions and initiatives. While the ARO’s work is multifaceted, our main responsibility is to serve as a convener and mediator of the wide-ranging, various OSI interests and programs in Africa. By establishing firm lines of communication with the four Africa foundations – OSISA, OSIWA, OSF-SA and OSIEA – and the Network Programs, the ARO oversees a broad portfolio of effective grantmaking and direct interventions on the continent. In addition to grantmaking, the Africa foundations have made significant progress in connecting grants and operations to policy and advocacy engagement at all levels on the continent. The ARO serves as a channel to communicate the wide-ranging work that is done on the ground to senior management in New York.

The Open Society Foundation (OSF) seeks a full-time Program Officer in its New York office to work with the Africa Regional Office. 

Primary responsibilities: The Program Officer’s primary responsibilities are to work with the Africa Regional Director to liaise effectively with the Africa foundations and Network Programs through visits to the foundations and regular meetings with Network Program Directors and staff; the management of the Africa General Grants portfolio, the development of the Africa Coordinating Group; and planning departmental budgets for the Africa Regional Office and the Africa Advisory Board. In addition, the Program Officer will communicate news of the Africa Foundations to the Network on a quarterly basis and is responsible for directly linking pan-African or regional work with the foundations.

Program Support:

• Work with the Regional Director on developing and implementing the Africa Regional Office strategy;
• Assist in preparing the annual budget of the Africa Regional Office and the Africa Advisory Board;
• Assist the Africa foundations during the annual budget and strategy review process;
• Assist the Regional Director in coordinating follow-up on the outcomes of Africa Coordinating Group meetings;
• Plan and develop Africa-related program events;
• Participate in program and field-related meetings;
• Attend meetings and events relevant to the program and share insights with colleagues;
• Maintain a flow of information to network colleagues;
• Administers all personal financial transactions including cash advances, reimbursements for business expenses and corporate Amex payments;
• and any other projects as required.

Grants Management:

• Work with the Regional Director to develop a strategy for the Africa General Grants portfolio;
• Assist the Regional Director to manage the Africa General Grants portfolio, including reviewing proposals, preparing pre-grant documentation and arranging for necessary approvals, performing site visits, and monitoring and evaluating grantee activities;
• Serve as liaison with grants management, legal, and financial departments;
• Meet with grantees when they are in town and provide advice on budgeting, program outcomes and impact;
• Represent the office in donor forums and other meetings. 

Qualifications:

• 4-6 years relevant work experience in program development and management;
• Graduate degree in relevant field;
• Knowledge of the major discourses in Africa, including the nexus between these and broader African and international issues.
• Excellent written and oral English, exceptional analytic capacity; fluency in French preferred;
• Flexibility and willingness to work as a team member and independently, with a high level of self motivation;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced working environment;
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality;
• Attentiveness to detail and ability to work well under pressure;
• Ability to travel internationally on a frequent basis;
• Excellent computer skills;
• Experience managing and reviewing grant applications strongly preferred; and,
• Experience managing and reviewing budgets strongly preferred

Start Date:  Spring/Summer 2011

Compensation:  Commensurate with experience.

To Apply:

Send resume, cover letter, and a maximum 5 page writing sample to humanresources@sorosny.org.  Include job code in subject line: PO-ARO

Application deadline date: April 7, 2011

OR

Open Society Foundations
Human Resources – Code PO-ARO
400 West 59th Street
New York, New York 10019

FAX: 212.548.4675

No phone calls, please. The Open Society Foundations is an Equal Opportunity Employer.