ROLE: Program Officer for Haiti

SUPERVISOR: Regional Director, Latin America and Caribbean Programs

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Program Officer (PO) is responsible for identifying and nurturing opportunities for affecting positive systemic change within communities, and executing programming efforts that are aligned with the organizational direction. As part of the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) team and reporting to the Regional Director, the PO will work closely with other staff to implement the new microregional strategy in Haiti, with the following responsibilities:

• Understand the selected microregions (MRs) and build a broad network with local stakeholders and partners
o Provide an ongoing quantitative and qualitative perspective of the microregions and their national context based on frequent site visits, conversations and analyses.
o Identify and build a constructive relationship with community members, local government, companies and other key actors in the MRs
o Effectively communicate the Foundation’s mission, vision, core values and strategic direction to internal and external groups, including key stakeholders and intermediaries.
o Nurture a strategic and systematic dialogue with other public and private funders, aiming to improve communication, collaboration and cooperation when appropriate
o Develop and maintain strategic relationships with other foundations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other key decision makers.

• Support a the community participatory planning and strategically manage the Foundation’s investment process
o Engage with local stakeholders and a technical assistance partner to develop a 10 year participatory plan
o With the support of the LAC Strategy Officer, provide leadership to articulate effective change strategies engaging potential partners
o Screen and recommend grants and investment opportunities; prepare funding documents; conduct site visits; and manage and monitor grant portfolio
o Provide high level technical assistance to grantees, including consultation on model development, partnership negotiations, leadership capacity building, coaching, etc.
o Maintain strong, authentic relationships with grant seekers and grantees, ensuring understanding of WKKF program direction, goals, and expectations.

• Contribute to monitor progress and identify lessons to enhance the Foundation’s impact
o Work closely with the LAC Strategy Officer to monitor progress in the MRs and foster an adequate dissemination and discussion of yearly indicators with key stakeholders.
o Together with the Strategy Officer and the Learning and Innovation team incorporate assessment components into program efforts to measure progress and impact
o Collaborate with the Strategy Officer, the Learning and Innovation team and other POs to identify, document, circulate and incorporate lessons learned

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Regional Director

ROLE SPECIFICATIONS

Education/Experience
• Master’s degree in a field relevant to assigned areas is preferred.
• Significant work experience (8-10 years) in fields relevant to assigned responsibilities with strong networks and contacts, as well as a broad, generalist background.
• Fluency in French, Creole and English
• Successful experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds.
Core Competency Requirements
LEADERSHIP
• Ability to represent WKKF to a variety of stakeholders and intermediaries in a credible and influential way, with a selfless manner focusing on values and the greater good.
• Global thinker with demonstrated ability to develop and implement programs that have impact.
• Must be beyond reproach in ethics and integrity. Violation of relevant policies could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, as well as potential criminal prosecution.

INTERPERSONAL
• Highly responsive; strong propensity to provide excellent customer service and support.
• Strong relationship building and communication skills; ability to have authentic dialogue around sensitive issues including funding priorities, WKKF expectations and community concerns.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and ability to adapt quickly to change.
• Willingness to set aside personal agenda in favor of organizational and/or community goals
• Team effectiveness skills and the ability to work in cooperative and diplomatic ways.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in written and oral communication.

TECHNICAL
• Ability to work effectively within communities, appreciating historical contexts, discerning nuances of relationships and power dynamics, understanding racial/ethnic realities, and respecting community needs and desires.
• Accurate and current knowledge about trends, movements, and developing policy to stimulate appropriate programming directions and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Understanding of broad social and economic forces that affect communities and families and shape programming efforts.
• Ability to translate concept to action; entrepreneurial nature.
• Problem solving skills, including the ability to develop novel approaches to generate solutions.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make complex, multidimensional decisions
• Ability to identify and orchestrate systems change initiatives
• Innovation orientation.
• Organization, administrative and multi-project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate knowledge and learning.


TRAVEL: Approximately 40-50 percent travel time required including monthly visits to the MRs and travel to the US.