Deadline: 30 January 2016
Open Society Foundations (OSF) is currently seeking applications from the eligible applicants for the post of Program Officer in London, United Kingdom.
The Program Officer will work both independently and collaboratively to manage a varied portfolio of work, in select countries, aimed at strengthening early childhood development systems and services with a focus on disadvantaged children under the age of three and their families.
The OSF works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.
Key Jobs Responsibilities
The Program Officer will perform the following functions-
- Negotiating and managing grants, projects, project budgets and contracts with diverse organizations, including provision of mentoring and technical assistance through long-distance support.
- Developing and managing multi-country, multi-agency initiatives, including coordination with partners and management of consultants.
- Assessment of organizational capacity, including an understanding of financial health and organizational capacity.
- Design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation processes to generate evidence of learning and impact.
- Critical assessment and reflection of what is working and what is not working in order to adjust programming and advocacy accordingly.
- Building collaborative relationships within the Early Childhood Program, across OSF’s geographic and thematic entities more widely as well as externally to further programmatic goals.
- Preparation and delivery of concise targeted written reports and presentations for diverse groups, including peers, internal Boards and as well as external audiences.
- Design and develop strategies, including researching new areas of potential work and collaborating with colleagues and experts to think creatively both about the Program Officer’s specific areas of own work as well as the ECP’s work and OSF’s work more generally.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must have-
- Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development (ECD) or related fields or equivalent experience/education; graduate degree preferred.
- 7 -10 years of relevant experience and training in progressively responsible roles.
- Experience/expertise in service development for young children and their families, preferably for children from birth to three years of age.
- Experience of working in the non – governmental sector and /or in government systems responsible for identifying and supporting the needs of young children and their families.
- Knowledge of the field of Early Childhood Development with demonstrable understanding of current international debates, leading figures and controversies.
- Familiarity with the activities of key development partners, foundations and donors in the field of early childhood development.
- Familiarity with the issues surrounding good grant-making, including an understanding of the power dynamics in the grantee/grant-maker relationship.
- Experience of designing strategies to promote social change in rapidly shifting contexts.
- Experience of managing complex relationships and of exercising sound judgments to further long term goals.
- Commitment to addressing the needs of young children and their families.
- Excellent computer skills, proficient in Microsoft office, with the ability to learn new systems.
- Ability to function effectively and inclusively and demonstrate leadership in cross-cultural settings.
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
- Willingness to travel frequently.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their CV, Cover letter and Writing Samples as part of application through online process.
For more information, please visit OSF.
