Program Officer, India

American Jewish World Service

Location:

United States (New York, NY)

Website:

www.ajws.org

Contact Information:

Corinne Irwin

Phone:

(212) 792-2900

Email:

cirwin@ajws.org

Description:

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international development organization motivated by Judaism's imperative to pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.

AJWS' Grants Department supports non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) undertaking grassroots community development and human rights initiatives in select countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. In the context of the communities where we work, grassroots refers to the organized poor, who undertake the planning, implementation, and evaluation of projects and mobilize to seek access to power and resources for their own development. AJWS supports organizations working in the following areas: natural resource rights and economic justice; sexual and reproductive health and rights; and civil and political rights.

The program officer manages grants in India, coordinates capacity building opportunities for grantees and collaborates with the senior program officer for India and associate director for Asia to shape grantmaking strategies. S/he also works as part of a closely knit grants department and with other AJWS programs, including advocacy, volunteer service and education.

Responsibilities

• Develop, update and implement grantmaking strategies for AJWS's grantmaking in India;
• Identify and build relationships with current and potential grantees and collegial organizations in the country;
• Review new and renewal proposals and budgets, communicate with applicants to clarify proposed activities and develop contracts;
• Write and defend grant recommendations to the AJWS board of directors;
• Organize and conduct two to three trips to the region per year for site visits and exploratory research;
• Monitor grants through review of reports, site visits, meetings, correspondence and evaluations;
• Facilitate the provision of technical assistance to grantees;
• Coordinate grantee meetings and exchanges;
• Collaborate with other members of AJWS's grants department on development and articulation of grantmaking priorities;
• Participate in dissemination of strategies and documentation of work for other departments at AJWS, collegial organizations, networks of donor agencies and international development and human rights organizations
• Remain up-to-date on issues, strategies and funding within the international human rights and development communities; and
• Represent AJWS at conferences, grantmaker affinity groups and other venues.

How to Apply For immediate consideration, please forward your resume and cover letter to opportunities@ajws.org and indicate your name and "Program Officer, India" in the subject line.

We thank you for your interest in career opportunities with AJWS. Due to high volume, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

AJWS is an equal opportunity employer and provides competitive salaries and benefits.

Qualification:

• BA/BS required; Master's degree in a relevant field preferred;
• Minimum of three years of experience working at a foundation, international development or human rights organization;
• Experience with, and commitment to, social justice and human rights movements;
• Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English required; Ability to speak Hindi or another Indian language highly desirable;
• Minimum of 1 year experience living and working in an Asian country, preferably India;
• Working understanding of human rights norms and practices, global development theory and grassroots social movement building;
• Proficiency monitoring and evaluating budgets;
• Familiarity with current political, social and economic trends in the region;
• Enthusiastic and comfortable spending 6-9 weeks per year traveling internationally, either with colleagues or alone;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Team player and flexible about the challenges of working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities;
• Highly organized, with the proven ability to work independently, prioritize and complete multiple projects, meet deadlines, and maintain consi