Program Officer , Open Society Institute–Baltimore
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 Open Society Institute–Baltimore, a field office of the Open Society Foundations’ U.S. Programs, supports grantmaking, educational and capacity-building to expand justice and opportunity through three inter-related programs: Education and Youth Development, Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Drug Addiction Treatment. It also supports the Baltimore Community Fellows to bring resources and innovative ideas to Baltimore’s underserved neighborhoods (www.osi-baltimore.org). Its Education and Youth Development Program focuses on helping children succeed in and outside of the classroom. Specifically, the program aims to: keep children connected to school, pre-K through graduation; support school reform efforts to create new schools; and expand opportunities for learning when school is not in session. Among its projects is the Accelerate Pathways Initiative, a five-year program that seeks to provide new, engaging and accelerated secondary school programs to Baltimore City public school students. Designed to link students directly to post-secondary education, training and employment opportunities, the initiative will be led by the Baltimore City Public School System, the Fund for Educational Excellence and OSI-Baltimore and will draw on the expertise and resources of a number of other non-profit and community organizations.
The Expanded Success Initiative (ESI), a five-year initiative, is a part of the Young Men’s Initiative, which U.S. Programs is co-funding with New York City and the Bloomberg Foundation. Led by the city Department of Education, ESI aims to increase, by 10,000, the number of young men of color who graduate from New York City public high schools prepared for college and employment. The Department of Education will evaluate ESI so that the most effective interventions can be disseminated to the City’s other schools, thereby ensuring that more young men of color are successful in the future. U.S. Programs staff play an active role on the Working Group that advises the initiative, which offers an opportunity to ensure that participating schools and the initiative, more generally, incorporate discipline policies and student supports to increase student engagement and attendance.
Strategy development, grantmaking and oversight for assigned program and for developing the connections between the assigned program and the broader priorities of the Open Society Foundations. Work is carried out independently/under general supervision.
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. The Open Society Foundations may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.
Program-Related:
- Develop, plan and organize program-related events;
- Work with Director and other staff to develop grantmaking strategies, priorities, and guidelines;
- Work with the Director to ensure close collaboration with other program directors and staff, convene cross-program working groups as needed, to advance research and development and rapid response grantmaking opportunities;
- Write and edit program materials and guidelines;
- Stay abreast of developments in the field through research and attendance of conferences and/or meetings;
- Write strategy/position papers that provide direction on policy issues impacting the field and/or offer suggestions about strategic program development for funders and grantees;
- Perform special assignments, including participation with other OSF programs and foundation task forces and working groups;
- Identify joint programming opportunities and efforts with external funders and partners;
- Build and establish strategic relationships with other philanthropic partners and NGO’s.
Grants:
- In conjunction with the Director and other staff/consultants, develop grantmaking strategies, priorities, and guidelines;
- Review and assess letters of inquiry and make funding recommendations and declinations to the Director;
- Invite grant proposals from selected funding applicants;
- Work with applicants to develop and finalize grant proposals; Review grant proposals and participate in the preparation of written grant recommendations as part of grant dockets preparation process;
- Perform site visits of prospective and current grantee organizations;
- Monitor grants through site visits and review of narrative and financial reports;
- Ensure that grantees submit narrative and financial reports as required under the terms of the contract;
- Interact with grantees and other field professionals and participate in program- and field-related meetings and convenings;
Budget:
- Manage financial and budget reports to track grant and program spending;
- Assist in the planning and developing of annual budget;
Other:
- Travel will be required.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university and five to eight years relevant experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience working with urban public school systems is essential;
- Strong background in social justice, particularly as it related to education and policy and program development;
- Leadership experience in one or more of the following areas: program development, education, policy, research and management for non-profit, public agency or philanthropic organizations.
- Effectively manage to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, troubleshoot and follow projects through to completion, with strict deadlines and without loss of attention to detail, budget and reporting;
- Excellent written, verbal, organizational, analytical and interpersonal skills;
- Excellent computer skills, proficient in Microsoft Office and experience with internet research and database management;
- Exercise good listening and communication skills with sensitivity to cultural communication differences;
- Effectively work as a team member and independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet goals;
- Show discretion and ability to handle confidential issues;
- Knowledge of key organizations and networks active in the field;
- Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with colleagues and the general public.
- Advanced degree preferred;
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement multi-year initiatives, policy reform efforts and/or advocacy campaigns in not-for-profit organizations, foundations and/or government agencies, particularly in complex organizations;
- Expertise identifying best practices, needed system-wide reforms and the stakeholders and opportunities to implement these changes;
- Significant knowledge of public education in the United States, particularly urban education and education of poor and marginalized student populations;
- Knowledge of basic statistical methods and experience interpreting educational research and policy briefs;
- Ability to present clearly in public;
- Professional demeanor, with the ability to represent the goals and values of the Open Society Foundations, even among audiences with divergent views;
- Visionary program development, strategic grantmaking and constituency-building abilities;
- Experience working with a broad set of issues and constituencies related to education and youth, social justice and equity, organizing and/or leadership development;
- Ability to translate ideas into action, engaging those stakeholders and resources most likely to result in successful, sustained reforms;
- Strong awareness of the intersection of race, gender and class.
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.
Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements. Include job code in subject line: PO-YMI-EYDP/BMORE.
Post a Comment