THE FORD FOUNDATION SANTIAGO OFFICE POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Program Officer Advancing Higher Education Access and Success
Andean Region and the Southern Cone SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Program Officer will design, implement, monitor and evaluate a portfolio of grants addressing issues relating to advancing higher education access and success by historically discriminated groups, especially Afro descendants and indigenous people. S/he will be expected to evaluate current strategies against the changing context and identify new priorities for the future in close consultation with a broad range of activists and civil society representatives, government officials, scholars and public policy analysts. The Program Officer should also focus on lessons learned and scaling up opportunities with an eye towards contributing to the design and implementation of public policies. The program currently seeks to:
Generate powerful new concepts and evidence to drive inclusiveness in the higher education sector. Identify, test and communicate scalable approaches and models that advance the success of students coming from historically discriminated groups. Build political will to promote reform at the institutional and policy levels. Promote the capacity of public universities by developing the academic skills of the next generation of scholars and current faculty.
The portfolio focuses primarily on the Andean Region and the Southern Cone, and especially Colombia and Peru, with an emphasis on regional and sub-regional cooperation with international actors and intergovernmental organizations. The Program Officer is expected to develop and maintain close working relationships with existing and potential grantees, and with leaders in governments, research institutions and civil society; identify potential grantees, both nongovernmental and governmental; solicit, review and respond to proposals; recommend and monitor grants and evaluate programming; and offer support and guidance as needed to actual and potential grantees. The Program Officer will contribute to defining the Santiago offices overall strategic direction for the region, seek opportunities to cooperate programmatically with other Santiago-based portfolios, collaborate with colleagues in other Foundation offices to support regional and global networks and initiatives, and play a leadership role in the Educational Opportunity and Scholarship Units global community of practice. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Substantive knowledge of the Latin American social and educational fields. Appropriate educational background, including an advanced degree in the social sciences, public policy or law. Significant professional and policy experience working with a range of civil society and government actors. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to conceptualize program ideas and strategies. Demonstrated analytical, writing and organizational skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Fluency in Spanish and English. Location: Santiago, Chile Target Date: January 2012
Salary is based on experience and on the Foundations commitment to internal equity. An attractive benefits package is provided. To apply for the position, visit www.fordfound.org/employment and include full application materials (consisting of substantive cover letter, c.v., and a 5-20 page sole-authored writing sample in English) by August 31, 2011.
Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at The Ford Foundation, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.
July 2011
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