Program Officer, Law and Health Initiative & Sexual Health and Rights Project

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.

We seek to strengthen the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check.

We help to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights.

We implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media.

We build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information.

Working in every part of the world, the Open Society Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.

The Open Society Foundations’ Public Health Program (PHP) aims to promote health policies based on scientific evidence, social inclusion, human rights, and justice.  Broadly, the program works with civil society organizations within two fields:  promoting the participation of socially marginalized groups in public health policy and fostering greater government accountability and transparency through civil society monitoring efforts.  Program areas focus on addressing the human rights and health needs of marginalized groups, facilitating citizen access to health information, and advocating for a strong civil society role in public health policy and practice. 

LAHI supports the use of legal strategies to advance the health and human rights of marginalized and vulnerable groups. It advances this mission by applying the health and human rights framework to new issues and priority regions; developing individual and organizational leadership in the field of health and human rights; piloting innovative legal empowerment projects as health-related human rights interventions; advocating for rights-based legal environments that support the health of marginalized groups; and leveraging sustainable funding for efforts that advance this mission. LAHI advance these strategic priorities in close collaboration with the other Projects in the PHP.

SHARP promotes human rights-based approaches to advancing the health of sex workers and transgender individuals. This is achieved through grant-making, capacity building, direct advocacy, and fund leveraging. SHARP often aims to develop, pilot, and disseminate information on innovative approaches to improving the health of sex workers and transgender individuals in order to integrate these approaches into wide-scale health programs and plans. Underpinning all of SHARP’s work is the belief that those most affected by policies and programs should be the ones driving their design, implementation and evaluation. SHARP’s geographic focus is Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Eastern and Southern Africa. Funding outside of those regions is driven by a specific policy or advocacy objective.

The Open Society Foundations (OSF) seeks a full-time Program Officer in its New York office to work jointly with the Law and Health Initiative (LAHI) and the Sexual Health and Rights Project (SHARP). 

Purpose of Position

Strategy development and grantmaking for assigned program and for developing the connections between the assigned program and the broader priorities of OSF.  Work is carried out independently/under general supervision.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following.  OSF may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

Grants:

• In conjunction with Project supervisor(s) and other staff/consultants, develop grantmaking strategies, priorities, and guidelines;
• 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 the docket preparation process;
• Perform site visits of prospective and current grantee organizations;
• Ensure that grantees submit narrative and financial reports as required under the terms of the contract;
• Monitor grants through review of reports, on-going communication and site visits.

Program-Related:

• Develop, plan and organize program-related workshops, trainings and events;
• Work with Supervisor(s) to ensure close collaboration with other Projects, convene cross-program collaborations as needed to advance strategic grantmaking opportunities;
• Write and edit Project materials and guidelines;
• Stay abreast of developments in the field through research and attendance at conferences and/or meetings;
• Write strategy/position papers that provide direction on policy and capacity-building issues impacting the field and/or offer suggestions about strategic Project development ;
• Perform special assignments, including participation in other OSF program and Foundation task forces and working groups;
• Build and establish strategic relationships with other philanthropic partners and NGOs.

Budget:

• Manage financial and budget reports to track grant and Project spending;
• Assist in planning and development of annual budgets;

Other

• Travel will be required;

Perform other duties as assigned.

Education / Experience

Bachelor's degree 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 in grant making or project management;
• Knowledge of key organizations and networks active in the fields of health and human rights;
• Experience working with or in non-governmental organizations;
• Strong background with programs advancing social justice through community organizing, legal advocacy, research or policy reform work.

Skills Required

• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment, to troubleshoot problems and to follow projects through to completion under often-strict deadlines and without loss of attention to detail;
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills;
• Excellent computer skills, proficient in Microsoft Office and experience with internet research and database management;
• Excellent communication skills with sensitivity to cultural communication differences;
• Ability to work effectively both as a team member and independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet own goals;
• Ability to exercise discretion in the handling of confidential issues;
• Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with colleagues and the general public.

Program Specific Requirements

This position is responsible for developing LAHI/SHARP’s joint work in the following areas:

• Legal empowerment: managing a grantmaking, advocacy, and research portfolio to document and disseminate the positive effects of various legal empowerment approaches on the health and human rights of marginalized populations, including in particular Roma and sex workers. 
• Documentation of rights violations against Roma and sex workers: managing grantmaking initiatives to document rights violations, including monitoring, providing technical assistance, and supporting projects with a strategic litigation component.
• Other issues in health, law and human rights: supporting the Law and Health Initiative on other issues related to health, law and human rights, such as human rights issues related to access to medicines and, more broadly, human rights in patient care.

Program Specific Requirements:

• Law degree and at least three years experience using legal strategies to advance human rights;
• Demonstrated commitment to using law progressively to advance public health and human rights objectives;
• Experience working in at least one of the following regions: Eastern and Southern Africa, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (fSU);
• Experience working with marginalized populations, such as Roma, sex workers, and/or people living with HIV.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

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.

Compensation

Commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package.

Application Instructions

Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements (indicating office location) before December 31, 2012, tohumanresources@opensocietyfoundations.org. Include job code in subject line: PO-SHARP-LAHI.