Open Society Institute (OSI)
The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens.
Closing date: 04 Jan 2010 -- (CLOSED)
Location: United States of America (the) - DC
The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to strengthen the rule of law and improve social conditions that foster democratic values and practice. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. OSI places high priority on protecting and improving the lives of marginalized people and communities.
Investor and philanthropist George Soros in 1993 created OSI as a private operating and grant-making foundation to support his national foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Those foundations were established, starting in 1984, to help countries make the transition from communism. OSI has expanded the activities of the Soros foundations network to encompass the United States and more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The Open Society Institute’s Latin America Program coordinates OSIs grant-making activities in Latin America and the Caribbean and conducts policy work in Washington, DC. The program focuses on four principal thematic areas: promoting greater transparency and accountability, improving citizen security, advancing human rights, and influencing the global policy environment to reinforce open society values.
OSI's Latin America Program seeks a full-time program officer to be a member of an 8-person team that aids in the establishment of programmatic goals and priorities; participates in the development of grant-making strategies and guidelines; acts as liaison between the foundation and funding applicants, grantees and other professionals in the field; conducts site visits and project evaluation; participates in grant application review and docket preparation. For this position, OSI seeks a program officer with expertise in capacity building and organizational development for this position.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage special initiatives in emerging areas of work, with an initial focus on capacity building and organizational development.
- Assist the Regional Director in designing and overseeing a system for monitoring and evaluation of program strategies and projects, including supervision of related consultancies.
- Manage the design and planning of major meetings convened by the Latin America Program (OSI network meetings, grantee workshops, etc.)
- Assist the Regional Director in developing grant-making strategy, priorities and guidelines.
- Act as Program Officer for grants that respond to overall priorities of the Latin America Program.
- Coordinate communications strategy, including drafting and editing program materials.
- Represent the program in conferences, meetings and other activities as directed by the Regional Director.
- Carry out research under the supervision of the Regional Director.
- Other responsibilities as assigned by the Regional Director.
Qualifications:
- Graduate degree in relevant discipline.
- Expertise in NGO capacity building and/ evaluation.
- Excellent analytical, research and communications skills; visual presentation skills and experience an asset.
- Strong interpersonal organizational and problem solving skills and attention to detail.
- Strong meeting facilitation skills; expertise in strategic planning desirable.
- Ability to work with equal facility in English and Spanish, and to write quickly and effectively for various audiences in both languages.
- Ability to work independently and as member of a team.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively (approximately 25% of time).
- Flexibility and willingness to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and projects, and ability to prioritize.
- Discretion and ability to handle confidential issues.
- Prior working experience in Latin America.
Reference Code: RW_7Y3QNC-19
