Program Officer, Southern Africa at Ford Foundation

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Program Officer is responsible for the development and implementation of a grant portfolio and ensuring all related activities (grant making, convenings, thought leadership, civil society strengthening, government relations) are designed to deliver on the NRCC goals and strategies. 
• They will assess and analyze the landscape of organizations and identify which actors to work with to shape agendas that would promote specific strategic outcomes and make grants to this end. 
• The Program Officer shares lessons with Foundation colleagues worldwide; collaborates broadly with the Southern Africa office team; collaborates with other members of the global NRCC team; and serves as a ‘connector’ of grantees.
• They work with leaders in a variety of sectors on issues of common concern to leverage resources towards common goals. 

More specifically as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the OSA Program Officer will:

• Manage, monitor and coordinate a grants portfolio, including: annual grant planning, identifying and working with the Foundation’s grantees to develop proposals for grant recommendations, undertaking periodic reviews of progress with grantees, performing grantee site visits, and reviewing financial and narrative reports from grantees.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of team strategies, working to fulfill the Foundation’s Southern Africa Office and the international NRCC program goals. 
• Develop grant making activities in a team-oriented way, that are aligned with global and local strategy goals, and designed to achieve significant and scalable impact.
• Contribute to ensuring that intersectional programming is realized across all lines of work.
• Develop and implement grantee convenings and reflections to strategize and review opportunities, challenges and advances.
• Participate in the implementation of capacity building initiatives for all grantees of the OSA.
• Recommend and participate in learning and evaluation activities to guide the evolution of programmatic work, promote exchange and strategic partnership. 
• Represent the Foundation and its work to the government, media, academia, business, philanthropic and civic leaders through meetings, updates, speeches, briefings and interviews, with guidance from the Regional Director.
• Play a leadership role within the team, working toward and influencing team collaboration, team building and team effectiveness, modeling these skills for the team. 
• Serve as a mentor and coach to Program Associate and Program Assistant.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree plus a minimum of 8 years leading impact-driven strategies and/or subject-matter expertise in a relevant thematic area, (e.g., natural resources policy, natural resource governance, public policy, environmental sciences, rural development, geography, law, social sciences and economics) or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of natural resource governance, extractive industries, benefit sharing, and energy transition.
• Experience in multiple countries in Southern Africa, demonstrated collaboration with civil society,  and a perspective informed by the global context. 
• Deep understanding of the social, cultural and political context of Southern Africa, especially South Africa and the geopolitical landscape.
• Familiarity with  natural resource governance policy at the national, regional or global levels, community based natural resource management, and/or rural development, 
• Experience applying an intersectional lens and gender analysis to the work.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Exceptional leadership presence – internally and externally.
• Superb analytical skills and ability to strategize, plan, prioritize and identify/assess opportunities, challenges and institutions with which to engage.
• Exceptional communications skills – strong active listening skills, constructive verbal and written skills, strong public presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to be a collaborative and productive member of a team, respecting differences while working toward shared goals, comfort with periods of ambiguity, constructive participation in ongoing organizational development.
• Ability to work well with colleagues, consultants, funders, and grantees across many diverse cultures and backgrounds.