Portfolio Manager (Mental Health) or Programme Officer (Generalist)

The If! Foundation (IF) is a Swiss, independent and not-for-profit foundation, based in Geneva. The Foundation’s work is driven by a spirit of empathy and solidarity for those in need and distress.

IF has a global reach and provides multi-year grants to organizations working across 4 thematic domains: education, economic inclusion, health, and mental health. The Foundation is active in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East with approximately 70 active projects across the thematic domains.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with a long-term vision to manage and monitor portfolio partners and projects supported by the Foundation. This is one position (80%) that can be shaped as:

• Portfolio Manager (PM) – for candidates with senior-level technical expertise and experience managing mental health programmes.
• Programme Officer (PO) – for candidates with a strong generalist background, managing projects across two or more of the IF thematic domains.

If the selected candidate has a high degree of seniority, technical knowledge and experience managing Mental Health programmes, the role will be offered at PM level. If the selected candidate has a broader, generalist profile, the role will be offered at PO level.

Priority will be given to people with lived experience in the field of mental health and those showing dedication to supporting functional recovery.

Note: IF is a sunset foundation. While the contract will be indefinite, the position will be reconsidered in 2030 as the Foundation enters its final sunset phase and will close in 2033.

Key responsibilities

For both PM and PO:

• Support IF portfolio partners in the management of their projects.
• Analyze and report on partner progress, achievements, and budget usage.
• Assess disbursement requests and conduct project assessments during site visits.
• Identify prospects that may be of interest to the Foundation in Mental Health and/or other domains.
• Conduct due diligence on prospects biannually, alongside ongoing project management.
• Assist in preparing Board documents and other internal/external meetings.
• Represent prospects at bi-annual board meetings; integrate and reflect Board feedback into projects.
• Research and report on thematic or geographic issues.
• Occasionally represent the Foundation externally (conferences, seminars, workshops, bilateral meetings, written communication).
• Prepare official communication for grantees and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of strong governance practices during the Foundation’s sunset phase.

Additional PM-specific responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to other PMs on mental health issues arising in their portfolios.
• Manage a majority of projects in the Mental Health sector in Europe, and an increasing number in Africa and MENA regions.

Additional PO-specific responsibilities:

• Manage a variety of projects across all IF thematic domains (education, health, economic inclusion, and mental health).