Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideal...

Associate, Program Management

Job Type

Full Time

Qualification

BA/BSc/HND

Experience

Location

Nairobi

Job Field

Project Management

Key responsibilities

• Effectively manage the grant making processes related to the higher education team’s objectives. This responsibility includes day-to-day liaison with grantees about proposal development and submission, providing feedback and reviewing budgets, overseeing grant record preparation, ensuring timely processing of grants, payments and reports, and undertaking periodic reviews of progress with grantees, including site visits and attendance of program meetings.
• Build a strong understanding of the organizational grant making rules and policies. Help design grant selection processes and projects.
• Work collaboratively with other members within the team and with colleagues across OSF to ensure the team is effectively leveraging OSF’s capabilities to reach the agreed outcome.
• Communicate with and build collaborative relationships with grantees and partners. Provide guidance on OSF processes and procedures. Provide expertise, both internally and externally, to support the development of grantee organizations and projects.
• Assist in the construction, maintenance, and assessment of grant making, sharing responsibility for design with manager.
• Provide support for internal and external initiatives and events with the Administration Officer, including support in conceptualizing events, identifying speakers, developing event agenda, and working with operations colleagues to manage event logistics.
• Manage and oversee consultant contracts, as needed.
• Contribute to planning and development of annual goals and budgets.
• Perform other tasks and take on other responsibilities, as required by the Director, Higher Education.

Key internal relationships

• Program Managers, Grant Management, Operations.

Key external relationships

• Higher education partners, CEU and other grantees

The ideal candidate

• Educated to a degree-level (or equivalent).
• Substantial relevant experience in non-governmental organizations, universities, think tanks, arts and culture organizations, philanthropy, development, consulting, and/or the public sector.
• Understanding of the field of higher education and key trends and developments. Experience working at or with higher education institutions.
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills. Complex project management experience.
• The candidate must be willing to be flexible as their areas of work may expand/change in the future depending on the skills and experience of the successful candidate, as well as the needs of the program.
• Grant making experience will be an advantage.
• Experience in more than one geographic region will be a strong asset

• Effectively manage the grant making processes related to the higher education team’s objectives. This responsibility includes day-to-day liaison with grantees about proposal development and submission, providing feedback and reviewing budgets, overseeing grant record preparation, ensuring timely processing of grants, payments and reports, and undertaking periodic reviews of progress with grantees, including site visits and attendance of program meetings.
• Build a strong understanding of the organizational grant making rules and policies. Help design grant selection processes and projects.
• Work collaboratively with other members within the team and with colleagues across OSF to ensure the team is effectively leveraging OSF’s capabilities to reach the agreed outcome.
• Communicate with and build collaborative relationships with grantees and partners. Provide guidance on OSF processes and procedures. Provide expertise, both internally and externally, to support the development of grantee organizations and projects.
• Assist in the construction, maintenance, and assessment of grant making, sharing responsibility for design with manager.
• Provide support for internal and external initiatives and events with the Administration Officer, including support in conceptualizing events, identifying speakers, developing event agenda, and working with operations colleagues to manage event logistics.
• Manage and oversee consultant contracts, as needed.
• Contribute to planning and development of annual goals and budgets.
• Perform other tasks and take on other responsibilities, as required by the Director, Higher Education.

• Strategic and analytical skills
• Complex project management
• Grant making experience
• Experience in more than one geographic region

• Educated to a degree-level (or equivalent).
• Substantial relevant experience in non-governmental organizations, universities, think tanks, arts and culture organizations, philanthropy, development, consulting, and/or the public sector.
• Understanding of the field of higher education and key trends and developments.
• Experience working at or with higher education institutions.