General News
Disability Rights Fund seeks Program Officer
About the position
The Program Officer position offers a unique opportunity to join a groundbreaking grantmaking initiative supporting the rights of persons with disabilities. As a member of a small team, the Program Officer will help shape the Fund as it matures and incorporates the best strategies in funding disability rights in the Global South and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union. The main objective of the position is to work with other Fund staff in the creation of grants strategy and process and the oversight of grantees. To do this work, the Program Officer will build field contacts and partnerships and work with grantees in the field. Other program and administrative responsibilities related to both grantmaking and the general operations of the Fund are also foreseen. The Fund is looking for a candidate who is able to work in a fast-paced environment, is flexible, takes initiative, and is independent, but team-oriented. This position is not necessarily Boston-based.
About the Disability Rights Fund
Launched in March of 2008 as a project of the Tides Center, the Disability Rights Fund is a grantmaking collaborative aimed at building community capacity to achieve the rights of all persons with disabilities. The Fund makes modest grants (USD $5000-70,000) to Disabled Personsโ Organizations in the Global South and in Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union for advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at country-level.
Program Officer responsibilities
- Help design a grants proposal process that is accessible to people with disabilities
- Serve as liaison to grantees and prospective grantees
- Working closely with Tides, administer and manage grants(e.g., grant award and declination letters, disbursements, report tracking, grant files)
- Together with the DRF team, evaluate grant proposals, conduct financial and critical analysis of applicant organizations
- Provide technical aid to grantees during grants application and implementation
- Prepare concise written analyses of grant proposals and funding recommendations for Steering Committee comprised of field advisors and donors
- Arrange and conduct site visits and meetings with grantees
- Provide organizational effectiveness assistance to grantees or recommend helpful resources as appropriate
- Evaluate and monitor the impact of grants; review and analyze grantee reports
- Develop professional relationships within the field of disability rights to inform the grantmaking of the Fund; keep abreast of trends within the field of disability rights
- Collaborate with DRF team, Global Advisory Panel and Steering Committee to develop and refine grantmaking strategies
- Assist with the day-to-day operations of the Fund as needed
Skills and qualifications
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
- Passion and commitment to advancing the human rights of people with disabilities
- Familiarity with the community of DPOs and the CRPD (particularly in the Asia Pacific region)
- Grantmaking or grantseeking experience (or relevant nonprofit experience)
- Experience supporting capacity development within civil society
- Demonstrated ability to work well with diverse populations from around the world
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Other language proficiencies a plus
- Strong administrative and organizational skills; the ability to manage time efficiently
- Computer proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); willingness to learn additional applications (and accessible technology) as necessary
- Bachelors degree, or equivalent with minimum 5 years of relevant experience; advanced degree desired
- Ability to travel independently in developing countries
- Ability to combine the roles of objective evaluator and empathetic observer
Compensation
Salary and benefits negotiable, based on experience. [/li]
How to apply
Disability Rights Fund, a Project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, and people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities, and people of other (non-U.S.) nationalities.People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please email or mail a cover letter, resume, three references (with contact information and relationship), writing sample (five page maximum) to:
Disability Rights Fund
Diana Samarasan, Director
Third Sector New Englandโs NonProfit Center
89 South Street, Suite 203
Boston, MA 02111-2670
Email:dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org (please no phone calls)
Fax: (215) 261-4593
Deadline: Applications must be received by August 1, 2009.on, MA 02111
