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The
Ford Foundation announces a new leadership position,
Director, Inclusive Economies, Economic Opportunity
and Assets
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SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION:
The Ford Foundation seeks a dynamic and creative
leader and strategist for this newly created senior
management position, directing one of the seven
thematic areas that will define our programming.
Reporting to one of the three Program Vice Presidents,
the Director will be responsible for overseeing
the two lines of work that will define this thematic
area, supported by a team of grant makers and
a program investment officer. Additionally, the
Director will be responsible for managing key
support staff (program associates, financial analyst,
program assistants and department coordinator)
who are based in this thematic area.
The Foundation's overall aim is to disrupt the
drivers of inequality via seven (7) mutually reinforcing
thematic areas of programming: Civic Engagement
and Government; Creativity and Free Expression;
Equitable Development; Gender, Racial and Ethnic
Justice; Inclusive Economies; Internet Freedom;
and Youth Opportunity and Learning. Inclusive
Economies will work through government, business,
and civil society to help create economies that
are fair, accountable, and provide broadly shared
prosperity and opportunity. The foundation has
defined these seven areas through an intensive
strategic planning process, now giving directors
and their teams significant room to shape specific
programming priorities and approaches (See "What's
next for the Ford Foundation").
Specifically the two lines of work the Director
will be responsible for are: Quality Work and
Economic Security and Impact Investing. (See "Our
Approach Inclusive Economies"). Illustratively,
the Foundation's most recent work in this area
includes enhancing job quality in rapidly changing
labor markets, improving and accelerating financial
inclusion, promoting rural livelihoods through
inclusive value chains tied to leading global
companies, piloting and scaling innovative forms
of social protection, promoting "high-road"
business practices and models, making impact investments,
and advancing the practice of impact investment.
The Director will be responsible for targeted
collaboration with and among the other six (6)
Thematic Area Directors. Their teams will pursue
and integrate a variety of creative, but rigorous
approaches to achieving impact, from research
and policy advocacy to demonstrations (creating
"proof points"), cultivating transformative
learning and innovation networks, building implementer
capacity, deploying capital as impact investment,
building awareness and constituencies for change,
and working to directly advise key decision makers
in the public, private and nongovernmental sectors.
The Director will also work in concert with the
Foundation's Representatives, who manage our 10
overseas offices across Asia, Africa and Latin
America. The work is both domestic and global,
and our work outside the U.S. is focused on the
global South.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Help refine and advance the strategic goals and
global outcomes for Inclusive Economies and work
with teams across the world to develop specific
approaches for achieving social change objectives.
Among internal partners, collaborate, in particular,
with other Thematic Area Directors working to advance
change worldwide.
- Ensure that strategic and operational objectives
are aligned with the Foundation's overall thematic
goals and region-specific priorities.
- Approve and oversee the alignment of grants worldwide
to thematic area strategy, consulting with Representatives
and supervising VPs on overseas grant making.
- Incorporate the Foundation's commitment to strengthening
mission-critical institutions into an integrated
strategy that achieves the specific objectives of
the Inclusive Economies thematic area.
- Develop and oversee evaluation and learning plans
for Inclusive Economies lines of work, with support
from the Strategy and Learning office and colleagues
worldwide.
- Continuously review the overall strategy, revising
the strategy as needed based on learning from the
grant monitoring and evaluation processes and other
sources of evidence, and respond to new challenges
and opportunities. Partner with other thematic area
directors and the Strategy and Learning office to
ensure cross learning.
- Lead regular strategy reviews with Program VPs.
- Partner with regional Representatives on regional
strategy and alignment.
- Provide thought partnership to the Program VPs
and President on the effective deployment of discretionary
funds managed by them to (a) advance innovation
and cross-theme priorities and (b) play a "search
light" function for the field.
- Direct line management of grant makers (program
officers) and the program investment officer who
runs the Program-Related Investment Fund, in addition
to program associates, program assistants and department
coordinators.
- Serve as an exceptional manager of team leads
and team performance, set annual performance objectives
for team leads, and provide timely feedback, coaching
and mentoring for performance and career development.
- Manage all aspects of U.S. and global program
and operations, including budgets and all human
resources needs (e.g. travel, consulting needs,
and hiring and promotion).
- Promote a collaborative working environment within
the team and across teams that maximizes the diverse
backgrounds, perspectives and skills of staff that
contribute to the development of the Inclusive economies
strategy.
- Serve as ambassador of work internally and externally,
a relationship builder, connector, and source of
leverage.
- Represent the foundation and its work to all potential
partners - the government, media, private sector,
academia, and philanthropy - through meetings, updates,
speeches, briefings and interviews.
- Help develop and lead external communications
strategies to advance the goals of the Inclusive
Economies strategy and the Foundation as a whole.
- Assist in developing strategies for disseminating
the impact of the Inclusive Economies work, both
within and beyond the foundation.
- As appropriate, lead planning and execution of
strategic convenings to advance the objectives of
the Inclusive Economies strategy.
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At least
10 years of professional experience working on
issues related to economic growth and development,
the role of business in society, employment, wealth
and poverty, and income security or other social
protection systems.
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Knowledge
and application of globalization, governance and
public policy, cross-sector partnerships, advocacy
and research, and systems thinking and development
approaches to advancing solutions to important
societal problems.
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Advanced
graduate degree in economics or another behavioral
science, public policy, political economy, management,
planning, law, or other relevant fields. A strong
foundation in economics is strongly preferred.
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Significant
strategy development and management expertise
with knowledge and experience in applying evaluation
methods and metrics.
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Highly skilled
experienced people manager in a global and matrixed
context.
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Experience
working with a range of individuals in civil society,
government and the private sector in the U.S.
and globally.
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Familiarity
with the use of information and communications
technologies to promote social justice.
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Demonstrated
experience working effectively as team leader
and as part of a team, with colleagues of diverse
backgrounds and perspectives.
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Excellent
interpersonal and communication skills and a high
degree of emotional intelligence.
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Excellent
analytical, oral presentation and writing skills.
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Fluency in
written and spoken English essential and fluency
in a second language preferred.
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Familiarity
with economic and social development issues globally.
Varied overseas work experience, along with working
knowledge of U.S. history and domestic challenges,
is strongly preferred. Working knowledge of philanthropy
will be helpful.
ALIGNMENT TO THE MISSION AND CULTURE OF
THE FORD FOUNDATION:
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Commitment
to the Foundation's mission and core values of
equity, fairness and diversity
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Personal
qualities of humility, capacity for self-reflection,
and a sense of humor
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Discretion
and ability to handle confidential issues
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Action-orientated
and entrepreneurial self-starter who can work
well independently and in teams
Location: New
York, NY
Salary is based on experience and on the Foundation's
commitment to internal equity. A generous benefits
package is provided.
Deadline to apply: Until filled.
To apply: Please visit http://www.fordfoundation.org/careers/
Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse
staff are fundamental principles at The Ford Foundation,
where employment and promotional opportunities are
based upon individual capabilities and qualifications
without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy,
sexual orientation preference, age, national origin,
marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status
or any other protected characteristic as established
under law.
January 29, 2016. |
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