About

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable to their people. To achieve this mission, we provide thousands of grants every year to groups and individuals across the globe that work on the issues we focus on—promoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate. We also engage in strategic human rights litigation and impact investing, while incubating new ideas and engaging directly with governments and policymakers through advocacy to advance positive change.

The Role  

Associates for Policy, Knowledge & Training will be responsible for creating and maintaining grantmaking policy, working with IT to support technical training requirements and delivery, enforce global policies and standards, and upskilling and continuous development of the Grant Associate / Officer pools. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Engage in ongoing research, design, and assessment activities, independently or in support of the Associate Director of Policy, Knowledge and Training in complex and/or sensitive projects, such as the monitoring and improvement of organizational assessment policy
• Develop new learning content and methods to fill gaps in existing programs, methods or tools; apply subject matter expertise to facilitate programs for specific target audiences and/or on defined topic areas with limited supervision
• Perform research and development of policy concepts
• Convene and facilitate discussion with internal and external policy stakeholders
• Serve as primary drafter for policy, incorporating modifications and managing consensus and approval processes; identifies issues and new developments that may require modification of existing policies and recommends and/or develops proposed changes. May provide interpretation of policies and may exercise discretion in applying concepts to emerging situations
• Develop and conduct research on a variety of topics within a defined area and makes an informed recommendation to senior management

Direct Reports:

None

Key internal relationships 

Associate Director, Policy, Knowledge & Training; Grant Officers; Grant Associates 

Qualifications  

Essential: 

• University degree – BA or BSc 

Experience  

Essential: 

• Experience at a large and complex organization
• Experience in design and testing of training material
• Knowledge of individual grant making

Desirable: 

• Experience as an effective teacher/trainer/facilitator  

Competencies 

Functional Competencies: 

• High level of emotional intelligence and ability to build and maintain strong, trusting relationships, internally and externally, across cultures and geographies, to further unit goals
• Demonstrated specialized knowledge of grantmaking policy, including ability to design reasonable policy, anticipate ways in which policies may succeed or fail, and effectively develop and carry out strategy to align grantmaking practices with OSF’s approach to grantmaking and goals of a given policy
• Ability to use data and information to undertake assessment and inform decision-making
• Excellent l, project management and organizational skills
• Ability to draft policies, guidance and other documents in English; and basic understanding of approaches to adult learning and facilitation
• Works with considerable independence under limited supervision, using judgment to identify issues requiring supervisory involvement

Personal Competencies: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills enabling the individual to effectively draft policies and facilitate where needed
• Demonstrates commitment to OSF’s core values of humility, commitment, collaboration, respect, inclusivity and integrity
• Commitment to continuous learning and growth in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and social justice
• Commitment to listening and working with humility; ways of working that are respectful to all people; and that support space and voice for all diverse perspectives in our workplace

Languages: 

• An excellent knowledge of English
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset

The salary range for this role in the U.S. is $76, 300 – $133, 500 (USD). The final offer is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set and level of experience

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.   

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.