Rockefeller NGO Job. Program Associate

The Rockefeller Foundation, funds a portfolio of interlinked initiatives that are aligned to its goal of achieving the well-being of humanity through smart globalization.

The Foundation is committed to supporting work around the world to expand opportunities for poor or vulnerable people by spurring entrepreneurship, promoting innovation, building human and institutional capacity, catalyzing the creation of new fields and ensuring that globalization’s benefits are more widely shared.

The Rockefeller Foundation is seeking to recruit a Program Associate to be based in the regional office in Nairobi, Kenya. The Program Associate will be responsible for executing a mix of project management, research, coordination and Foundation-wide responsibilities.

Reporting to the Associate Director, the individual will work on the development and / or execution phase of initiatives and will also support other work of the Foundation.

The Foundation works in a matrix structure, and therefore the Program Associate will be assigned to any of the Foundation’s initiatives based on initiative cycles and organizational needs.

This position is nationally recruited – on a three (3) year renewable contract.

General Responsibilities across Phases of Work:

• Help initiative teams stay on top of developments in the field – new players, key events, new information being generated, policy movements, important upcoming events, etc. They do this by, having conversations with others active in the field, monitoring websites, blogs, email lists;  monitor Knowledge Management products from the Foundation: search and scan reports; other Foundation intelligence
• Review grantee reports, commenting on grantee reports and other deliverables  / products of the RF supported work
• Prepare documents for communications and the president’s office (briefing reports, talking points, input into speeches, etc.).
• Working with Administrative Assistants staff, work with communications to ensure frequent and relevant website updates
• Provide day-to-day interface with and support to grantees to
• Structure grants and proposals
• Write grant memos and pre-proposal bundles
• Researching potential grantees
• Contributing to Team and Supervising Managing Director and Associate Director Articles and papers, op-eds, etc.

Initiative Development Phase

• Serve as team member in Development Phase.  Through research and analytics, contribute to the learning and strategy shaping and/or monitoring and evaluation plan of initiative in Development. (approximately 50% of one’s time)
• Contributes to the development of an Initiative through researching information in support of grant making
• Research, investigate, and analyze information to aid in establishing the initiative impact goal for an initiative in Execution.
• Write information for use by RF Communications for Initiative and grantee needs.
• Manage project plan for the strategy shaping, monitoring and evaluation activities, as required.
• Support ADs and MD in engaging with grantees. Prepare research and analysis as needed to aid in the assessment of and recommendation for exiting the Development phase for approval to Execution or conversion to another RF pathway (Influence or Innovation) or wind-down.

Initiative Execution Phase

• Serve as team member in Execution Phase.  In this role, contribute to the implementation of the work designed in the Development Phase.  (approximately 50% of one’s time)
• Manage the effective day-to-day use of project management tools and system, ensuring accurate and timely information is being brought in and quality project management intelligence is being generated – monitoring time-frames, budget, grant making and grantee deliverables, monitoring and evaluation.
• Contribute to strategy reviews and refreshes, as required.
• Write information for use by RF Communications for Initiative and grantee needs.
• Support AD and MD in grantee engagement, especially around building alignment and effective collaboration between grantees
• Contribute to effective exit strategy at end of Initiative life, including researching and identifying opportunities to sustain influence and engagement.

General Administrative Duties

• Scheduling one’s travel, preparing one’s expense reports as well as managing files, mail, correspondence, etc.
• Additional Duties
• Other duties including: helping to develop budgets, contributing to written narratives and analyses of RF work, and serving on various internal Foundation committees and / or task forces.

Key qualifications, knowledge and experience required:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree preferred;
• At least 3 years’ experience in a similar role in the development/NGO / Government sector;
• Strong analytical, research and proposal writing skills;
• Sound knowledge of and experience in program design, management and review at national, regional and / or international levels;
• A good command of data management and analysis tools and proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite with the ability to effectively use the internet to obtain data and reference material; and
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with good interpersonal skills.

If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for this role, please submit your application with a detailed CV, stating your current position, current remuneration, e-mail and telephone contacts and quoting the reference number(Ref.: RF / PA / 01-14) on your application letter.

To be considered, your application must be received by 31 January, 2014 addressed to:

The Director
Executive Selection Division
Deloitte Consulting Limited
Email: esd@deloitte.co.ke