Organization: Aga Khan Development Network
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 16 Aug 2015
ABOUT AGA KHAN FOUNDATION U.S.A. (AKF USA)
Established in 1981, AKF USA is a private, non-denominational, non-profit international development organization committed to alleviating poverty, disease and illiteracy, primarily in Africa and Asia. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of grassroots communities to solve their own problems and to promote opportunities that lead to long-term improvement in their income, health, education, and the sustainability of local institutions and the environment. The Foundation supports community-based programs in the areas of civil society, health, education, and rural development. Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of 11 private development agencies working to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities.
POSITION SUMMARY
AKF USA is seeking to add two to three new members to its Programs team to mobilize resources and manage grants for its work in Asia and Africa. Program Officers and Program Associates are responsible for donor and partner engagement; concept and proposal development for new funding opportunities; technical and financial management and oversight of ongoing grants; and technical and operational support to overseas teams. These positions involve up to 25% international travel (East and West Africa, Central and South Asia, including Afghanistan and Pakistan) and do not have direct supervisory responsibilities. Candidates with experience in Civil Society, Education, Healthand Rural Developmentsectors are preferred, though generalists with strong grants management experience are welcome.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Technical Expertise
- Serve as a focal point for assigned programming by remaining well-informed about AKF’s experience and approach, emerging best practices, current issues and trends in the relevant sector.
- Take a lead in advocating for and seeking opportunities to educate the international development community on AKF’s approach in the relevant sector.
- Establish collegial, mutually beneficial relationships and share knowledge and expertise within the AKF and AKDN network and with external stakeholders;
Grants Management
- Manage grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to ensure that all internal and donor (e.g. USAID, US Department of State, US Department of Agriculture, World Bank, corporate funders, and foundations) requirements – technical, compliance, and reporting — are met.
- Liaise collaboratively with AKF field units to provide technical assistance, tools, training, and advice to support field teams in fulfilling responsibilities in overall grants management and project quality control
- Collaborate effectively with AKF USA and field Finance departments to facilitate financial reporting to relevant stakeholders and monitor project spending
- Liaise with AKF USA’s Communications and Resource Development Department to develop materials and resources that capture program information, results, and impact that promote awareness and facilitate a dialogue with donors and investors
New Business Development
- Take a lead in identifying, cultivating, and developing new funding opportunities and relationships with prospective partners
- With support from Programs and Impact Investing Team colleagues, manage all aspects of new proposal development, submission and negotiation with donors to support programmatic needs in focus countries
Operations and Administrative
- Support the development of systems and processes to streamline inter and intra-departmental communications
- Serve as an active member of the Programs Department team to achieve departmental and organizational objectives
- Other duties as assigned.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
· Qualified candidates will have an undergraduate degree; graduate work in international development or other relevant disciplines is preferred.
· At least three to five years of professional experience, preferably with a focus on the applicant’s chosen relevant sector in an international development organization.
· Well-developed interpersonal and project management skills
· Experience managing grants from a variety of federal (especially USAID), multilateral and private donors
· Experience with budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance
· Demonstrated experience in bringing new funding, and ability to work across disciplines is a strong plus.
· Demonstrated ability to be effective and sensitive in cross-cultural settings
· A self-starter approach and the ability to remain poised in a fast-paced environment
· Excellent written and oral communications skills in English; advanced research skills; and the ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
· Foreign language skills (preferably Persian, Urdu, Russian, French) are a plus
How to apply:
Submit resume, cover letter, three references, and a salary history to humanresources.akfusa@akdn.org. This announcement will remain open until the positions are filled. Please use "Program Officer/Associate” to begin the subject line of the email and include in that subject line which sector your experience most closely relates to.
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