The Program Officer will contribute to the development and ongoing implementation of NoVo Foundation’s Initiative for Adolescent Girls Rights, under the direction of the Initiative Senior Manager.
Deadline: November 30, 2014
Location: New York City
Organization: NoVo Foundation
The Foundation
NoVo Foundation acts from the original meaning of philanthropy: the love of humanity. The Foundation is dedicated to catalyzing a global social transformation away from current cultures Of domination and their reliance on hierarchy, violence and the subordination of girls and women.
NoVo believes a new code of behavior is possible, where we are all linked and not ranked. We Envision a balanced world that’s governed by principles of mutual respect, collaboration and Civic participation, and that our contribution is to help create the conditions for the new code to arise, and inspire others to join them. We seek pivot points in society – such as adolescent Girls and local economies – where support and resources can have long-lasting and wide-Ranging positive impact. We see violence against girls and women as a fundamental enforcer of oppression, and work to eradicate its presence.
The scale of these ambitions guides our investment strategies. Ours is both risk capital and patient capital; experimentation and new thinking are critical paths forward. Seeing the world as it is, and as it could be, inspires our voice. Through all of our activities we try to illuminatethe possibility of a new paradigm, gather evidence of its existence and stablish pathways for its manifestation. As our website states, we “are humbled and honored to contribute to building a world based on peace, compassion, justice and love.”
Jennifer and Peter Buffett are the co-presidents of the Foundation and have articulated the Vision and values that guide its work.
For further details about the mission and vision of the NoVo Foundation please visit www.novofoundation.org.
The Position
The Program Officer is a new position.
The Program Officer will contribute to the development and ongoing implementation of NoVo Foundation’s Initiative for Adolescent Girls Rights, under the direction of the Initiative Senior Manager. /he will also work closely with other program staff and the Director of Grants Administration. This role demands significant knowledge of the field of adolescent girls rights globally, as well as passion for NoVo Foundation’s mission to build a safer and more equitable world for girls and women.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of grants from solicitation through assessment, recommendation, and presentation to Grants Committee, as assigned by the Initiative Senior Manager;
- Monitor designated approved grants through site visits and report on grantee progress to Initiative Senior Manager and NoVo Foundation Board of Directors;
- Serve as a key thought partner to the Initiative Senior Manager in strategic planning and monitoring of programmatic and budgetary progress to all aspects of NoVo Foundations recently expanded adolescent girl strategy, including the development of a new strategic focus area on girls of color in the U.S. and newly refined focus areas on girls rights in the Global South;
- Support Initiative Senior Manager in the development of M&E systems, and monitoring of programmatic and budgetary goals;
- Support the Initiative Senior Manager in establishing, maintaining and managing productive relationships with important stakeholders such as fellow funders and public sector partners;
- Remain up-to-date on issues, strategies, and funding partners and patterns within the women’s and girls rights community, nationally and internationally;
- Participate in, and report back from, events and activities such as conferences and affinity group meetings that will help strengthen and promote the goals of the NoVo Foundation;
- Participate in meetings and telephone consultations with prospective and current grantee partners, other funders, and stakeholders in the field of women’s and girls rights, and report back to the Initiative Senior Manager;
- Manage projects, conduct research and complete reports as assigned by the Initiative Senior Manager;
- Work collaboratively with, and delegate tasks to Assistants and Associate as necessary;
- Draft and proof-read initiative-related correspondence, including emails, letters and memoranda;
- Draft and proof-read strategic documents related to initiative strategy, grantmaking priorities, and other related work;
- Interface with Director of Grants Administration on best practice and other grants management matters.
- Engage with the national and international community of donors and NGOs working to advance women’s rights, in conjunction with Initiatives Senior Manager.
Note: This description is a guide to the primary duties and functions of the job, not an all: inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and working conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and may be revised to meet the changing needs of NoVo Foundation at the sole discretion of management.
Qualifications
We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:
Education
• BA/BS required, Master’s or professional degree strongly preferred.
Experience
- 5+ years professional experience working on girls’ and women’s rights issues, experience working on issues in the U.S. and global south preferred;
- Demonstrated commitment to NoVo’s mission and an alignment with our organizational values. For information, visit: www.novofoundation.org.
Core Competencies
- Demonstrated research, writing and grant review experience;
- Close attention to follow-up and detail and ability to manage several tasks simultaneously;
- Experience working on social change strategies from multiple perspectives (policy reform, litigation, counseling, community organizing);
- Strong awareness and understanding of the intersection of race, class and gender;
- Knowledge of philanthropy, with an emphasis on girl’s and women’s rights funders and NGOs; direct experience with philanthropy preferred;
- Excellent judgment, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills;
- Ability to work as part of a team, and to transfer this quality into the building of relationships with grantees and fellow funders;
- Demonstrated initiative and strategic thinking;
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office, Mac OS, and databases. Experience with Salesforce a plus.
- Proactive work style, self-motivated, detail oriented with strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills required (in person, via e-mail, and on telephone), and ability to compose effective, thoughtful correspondence.
- Ability to handle confidential information with complete discretion.
Compensation and Culture
NoVo offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, generous vacation, and a pleasant working environment. The Foundation employs a small staff and is dedicated to promoting an environment of collaboration and workplace flexibility.
NoVo deeply values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of individuals of underrepresented backgrounds, including, for example gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
Application Process
All applications will be received via email. No phone calls or snail mail. E-mail applications
To jobs@novofoundation.org with subject line: Program Officer/Girls/YOUR NAME
Applications must include a thoughtful cover letter and resume in .pdf format
Applications received without a cover letter will not be considered.
Application Deadline: 11/30/14
