Program Manager at Open Society Foundations

• The Program Manager will work jointly with other members of the team to manage day‑to‑day coordination with grantees and collaborators in Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, and Benue and Bayelsa States in Nigeria 

Key responsibilities 

• Effectively manage the grant-making process by communicating with grantees for proposal submission, assisting in grant record preparation, grant processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes. 
• Manage relationships with partners, in close coordination with Geographic Policy Groups as relevant, and work with them to achieve OSF’s strategic objective through the opportunity. 
• Work collaboratively in developing, assessing, and revising program strategies. 
• Work with leadership to maintain grant-making practice aligned with OSF's approach to grant-making and in compliance with organizational and external standards and regulations. 
• Assist in the construction, maintenance, and assessment of grant making portfolio(s). 
• Contribute to larger opportunity strategy 
• Process and oversee progress of consultant contracts 
• Monitor progress implementation, project risks, and other relevant status updates and communicate to Director of Programs regularly 

​​​​​​​Key internal relationships 

• Director, Programs; Managing Director Programs; Core Security and Rights team members, Partners, Special Advisors, Grants Management, Operations 

​​​​​​​Key external relationships 

• External Partners 

​​​​​​​The ideal candidate 

• At least 7 years of professional experience working on issues connected to public safety, security sector accountability, community‑led safety models, or related areas in East and/or West Africa. 
• Direct experience working in Kenya and/or Nigeria, with a strong understanding of the sociopolitical and security landscapes in these contexts. 
• Prior experience supporting civil society organizations, movements, or community actors working to address state security abuses, community safety challenges, or rights‑based security related reforms. 
• Experience operating within non‑profit, multilateral, philanthropic, advocacy, research, or community‑based environments. 
• Fluency in English, with proficiency in one or more local languages relevant to Kenya or Nigeria such as Swahili, Tiv or Ijaw or other widely used languages in the regions where the Opportunity operates. 
• Experience supporting or implementing people‑centred public safety initiatives, including community‑level pilots, participatory research, or narrative‑change work. 
• Familiarity with strategic litigation, legislative reform, or accountability mechanisms related to policing, military, or intelligence services. 
• Experience engaging with movements, youth‑led networks, creatives, or local leaders working to advance rights‑respecting approaches to safety. 
• Experience documenting community experiences of insecurity and translating them into actionable programmatic insights or advocacy messages.