Program Officer at Ford Foundation

Responsibilities

• The Program Officer is responsible for the development and implementation of a grant portfolio and ensuring all related activities (grant making, convenings, thought leadership, civil society strengthening, government relations) are designed to deliver on the Office’s goals and strategies. They will assess and analyze the landscape of organizations and identify which actors to work with to shape agendas that would promote specific strategic outcomes and make grants to this end. The Program Officer shares lessons with Foundation colleagues worldwide; collaborates broadly with the West Africa office team; and serves as a ‘connector’ of grantees. They work with leaders in a variety of sectors on issues of common concern to leverage resources towards common goals.

More specifically as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the Program Officer will:

• Manage, monitor and coordinate a grants portfolio, including: annual grant planning, identifying and working with the Foundation’s grantees to develop proposals for grant recommendations, undertaking periodic reviews of progress with grantees, performing grantee site visits, and reviewing financial and narrative reports from grantees.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of team strategies, working to fulfill the Foundation’s West Africa Office and the international program goals.
• Develop grant making activities in a team-oriented way, that are aligned with global and local strategy goals, and designed to achieve significant and scalable impact.
• Contribute to ensuring that intersectional programming is realized across all lines of work.
• Develop and implement grantee convenings and reflections to strategize and review opportunities, challenges and advances.
• Recommend and participate in learning and evaluation activities to guide the evolution of programmatic work, promote exchange and strategic partnership.
• Represent the Foundation and its work to the government, media, academia, business, philanthropic and civic leaders through meetings, updates, speeches, briefings and interviews, with guidance from the Regional Director.
• Play a leadership role within the team, working toward and influencing team collaboration, team building and team effectiveness, modeling these skills for the team.
• Serve as a mentor and coach to Program Associate and Program Assistant.

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience related to social justice, natural resources, climate change, gender rights or international development, with at least 6 years of experience leading social justice strategies.
• Subject-matter expertise in gender and environmental rights, and/or demonstration of strong generalist cross-cutting work in the social justice arena.
• Experience working with governments to advance policies and programs related to gender, climate and natural resources to enhance civil society.
• Exceptional leadership skills and qualities that foster collaboration, innovation and drives impactful work.
• Strong active listening skills, constructive verbal and written skills and effective public presentation skills.
• Deep understanding of the regional context and cultures.
• Demonstrated ability to be a productive member of a community of people at work, respecting differences while working toward shared goals, comfort with periods of ambiguity, constructive participation in ongoing organizational development.
• Willingness to work to a flexible schedule, including occasional travel within the region and abroad.
• Master’s degree in related field of study or baccalaureate degree and equivalent experience.

Alignment to the Mission and the Culture of the Ford Foundation:

• Commitment to the Foundation’s mission and core values of dignity, inclusion, fairness and diversity.
• Personal qualities of humility, capacity for self-reflection, and a sense of humor.
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential issues.
• Action-oriented and entrepreneurial self-starter who can work well independently and in teams.