Associate Program Manager at Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa

The Program Manager will particularly work towards supporting a just transition towards low carbon economies, while minimizing unintending effects of climate actions and protecting communities in the frontline. We are looking for candidates with expertise, experience and strong networks in one or more of the following issues: protection of environmental defenders; indigenous rights and intersectionality; transparency, accountability and participation, the governance of natural resources. The Program Manager will share responsibility for engaging with climate justice related fields of interest to OSF, developing appropriate grant, research, advocacy and communications strategies, identifying tools for fostering desired social change in the pursuit of climate action, and developing, engaging and managing relationships with internal and external partners.

For this role, we are seeking a candidate with a thorough familiarity with climate justice fields and relationships with key actors in major regions of the global South, especially the intersection of climate justice with human rights, economic and social justice.

The Program Manager will share responsibility for bringing one or more complex strategies to fruition in a manner that makes effective use of OSF tools and resources in pursuit of our mission.

We seek candidates who can exercise solid judgment in their work, using supervisory consultation for more complex issues, but making initial determinations and recommendations based on their own insights as informed by dialogue and collaboration with other team members.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Grant-making: Developing, managing, and monitoring impact-based portfolios rooted in grant making plans.
• Partner Engagement: Managing relationship with strategic partners in the private, public, civil society and philanthropic sectors on climate action and climate justice; connecting them to grantmaking, investment and advocacy work of the team and Open Society.
• Research and Knowledge: Providing foresight and analysis of systems level trends in climate justice, especially as related to: (i) human rights, including the rights of indigenous groups, (ii) the protection of climate activists and environmental defenders, and (iii) transparency, accountability and participation in areas of climate actions, especially as it relates to transition towards low carbon economies and value chains (including the use of transition minerals).
• Strategy Development and Management: Assistance with the development, management and delivery of innovative portfolios of work in a team-centered context, making recommendations to senior management to inform their selection and pursuit of results-oriented strategies around transnational climate justice.
• Communications and Advocacy: Engaging stakeholders to carry out a constructive and effective dialogue on programmatic goals; contributing to shaping long term advocacy or communications plans to advance Climate Justice’s priorities or strategic objectives; and establishing and nurturing relationships with key parties.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning: Shaping learning strategies and methods for and gathering key learnings from investments, grants, and policy engagements in order to improve program delivery; designing and executing on program related research; working with OSF’s strategy team to monitor and evaluate Climate Justice portfolio strategies for iteration and adaptive management; and providing learning expertise to colleagues.

Skills And Competencies

• Substantial knowledge of the human rights issues implicated in climate change and the response to it, especially just transitions (energy and beyond), climate governance, as well as strong networks in these fields.
• A commitment to advancing diversity, equity & inclusion, including to a diversity of perspectives and voices, especially from the global South.
• An ability build and manage collaborative relationships with an array of stakeholders, and a capacity to coordinate networks of them.
• An understanding of and sensitivity to the power differential inherent in the funder-grantee relationship and a demonstrated ability and willingness to handle such relationships properly and respectfully.
• An ability to consider multiple options to achieve long-range goals, appropriately balancing risk and reward, selecting the best strategies for success.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive, specialized knowledge in climate justice related fields, including familiarity with current controversies and issues, leading figures and thinking, and especially actors in the Global South..
• At least 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience working in policy, advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and/or green commercial solutions as related to climate change issues in the global South, especially equitable development, democracy, human rights and/or justice.
• Experience with the grantmaking process.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent knowledge of in environmental sciences, economics, political economy, economic sociology, public policy or other related field; graduate degree or equivalent expertise preferred.

Benefits Include

• Opportunity to work with a dynamic and diverse team in a role where you can grow.
• Allowances for professional development and generous benefits, including paid health insurance, retirement savings plan, paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and potential sabbaticals.
• Location: Berlin, London, Nairobi, New York, and Washington
• Work Authorization – this position is eligible for work authorization sponsorship[YD1] .