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)
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 OSI’s 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 ensuring international support for open society goals.
OSI’s Latin America Program seeks a full-time Program Assistant to be based in Washington, DC. The Program Assistant is a member of an eight person team. Working under the supervision of the Regional Director for Latin America, the Program Assistant will support the work of four Program Officers, work with other LAP administrative staff on major activities, and work collaboratively with the Office Manager on office-wide administrative functions.
Responsibilities:
- Handle travel arrangements, trip scheduling and file expense reports for four Program Officers;
- Assist the Program Officers with research projects and programmatic needs;
- Maintaining and updating the Latin America Program section of OSI’s website and intranet;
- Provide support for the organization of meetings, conferences and other program events;
- Draft letters and memos, transcribe meeting minutes and draft other documents as assigned;
- Attend meetings and events relevant to the program and report back to staff;
- Assist with other projects and duties as assigned by the Regional Director and OSI-DC Office Administrator.
Qualifications
- Superior verbal, written, organizational, research and interpersonal skills
- Fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish
- Minimum of two years previous work experience (internships acceptable)
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- Proficiency in MS Office applications
- Solid research skills
- Ability to compose effective business correspondence in Spanish and English
- Ability and willingness to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and projects, ability to respond effectively to demands from multiple team members, and ability to prioritize tasks
- Attention to detail and ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work in a diverse work environment
- Knowledge of Latin American politics and general political awareness
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Start Date: February/March 2010
Reference Code: RW_7Y3QPR-93
