The Open Society Foundations are seeking a deputy director for the Public Health Program based in our New York City office.
The Open Society Foundations
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. We seek to strengthen the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check. We help to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. We implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. We build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. Working in every part of the world, the Open Society Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.
The Program
The Public Health Program (PHP) pursues four goals at the intersection of health and rights. PHP aims to make legal regimes and justice systems more responsive to public health goals; it challenges discrimination in health systems and promotes community-based alternatives to coercive, institutional care; it seeks to transform power dynamics in the formulation and implementation of health-related policy and implementation, amplifying the influence of socially excluded groups; and it works to mobilize resources and influence the global and domestic financing environment for health and rights.
Within these four goals, PHP currently gives priority to seven issues or “subthemes”: ethnicity and health equality, governance for health, harm reduction, independent living and community participation, open medical innovation, palliative care, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. In addition to working globally, the Program’s priority regions of investment in 2015 are (in descending order) Europe, Africa, Eurasia, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the US/Canada. Read more about the Public Health Program here.
Deputy Director
The Deputy Director works closely with the PHP Director to provide guidance and strategic direction to the program overall, standing in for the Director as needed. This position reports to the PHP Director and is part of the senior management of the program. Specific responsibilities include:
· Working with the leaders and staff of some or all of the PHP’s seven subthemes to ensure the quality and relevance of subtheme strategies.
· Overseeing PHP’s budget operations and supporting the program director in oversight of strategy operations, including annual preparation and submission of the program’s budget (US$37.9 million in 2016) and tracking of program expenditures.
- Helping to oversee PHP’s Central Division, which provides administrative support for budget and strategy operations, grant-making operations, and event planning; supervision or co-supervision of three administrative staff and one program officer.
- Maintaining and developing the relationship of the PHP with relevant Open Society National and Regional Foundations around the world, as well as Regional Offices.
- Representing PHP internally and externally, including with other donors, policy-makers and other entities in the Soros Foundation Network.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be a skilled and respected strategist in the field of public health and rights, an experienced and effective manager of internal processes, and a compelling and diplomatic representative and communicator. Other qualifications include:
· 10-15 years of relevant experience; advanced degree in a relevant field, which can extend beyond the fields of medicine or public health.
· Demonstrated strategic leadership in health and rights through a combination of professional experience, academic training, and familiarity with relevant literature, institutions, and leaders in the field.
· Detailed knowledge of at least two of the issues on which PHP is active, along with curiosity about other issues.
· Deep experience from one or more of the regions where PHP is active, outside of the U.S. or Europe, is desired.
· Ability to work collaboratively and provide credible strategic guidance to colleagues without a direct supervisory relationship.
· Process management experience, with a track-record of designing and facilitating efficient processes that engage staff and that deliver results.
· Excellent English writing, editing, presentation and speaking skills; major foreign languages a plus.
· Demonstrated cross-cultural competence.
· Diplomatic and problem-solving abilities as well as broad intellectual curiosity comfort with robust debate, a strong work ethic, and a good sense of humor.
· Ability and willingness to travel internationally frequently.
A cover letter and resume are required for all applications.
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