Subscribe to Job Alert
Join our happy subscribers
Never pay for any CBT, test or assessment as part of any recruitment process. When in doubt, contact us
The Ford Foundation is a global, grant-making philanthropy that works to disrupt inequality in all its forms. We believe in the inherent dignity of all people. But around the world, too many people are excluded from the political, economic, and social institutions that shape their lives.
Instructions for Internal Applicants:
Attention Current Ford Foundation Employees: To submit an application for posted positions, please close this window and log into your Workday account and apply through the Career worklet.
Instructions for Applicants:
Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process.
If you are just joining our Talent Pool, please disregard the instructions for applicants below.
To be considered for employment at Ford Foundation, please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments must be submitted for each individual job post for which you are interested in applying. If there is an application deadline, please ensure that your application is submitted by the deadline. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 26th 11:59pm ET
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The Ford Foundation, created in 1936, is a US-based philanthropic organization and private international donor focusing on social justice. It has ten offices across the world in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as in the US. The Director oversees the Foundation’s activities in East Africa – providing overall leadership to the Foundation’s strategy and grant making programs, managing the office and team in Nairobi, and representing the Foundation to government, business, nonprofit leaders, the media and the donor community. The Director reports to the Vice President for International Programs.
The Director is the Foundation’s ambassador in the region to many important constituencies. Specifically, the Director assesses local political, social, cultural and economic developments and helps shape the Foundation’s strategy in the region and guides its programming and grant-making priorities in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, values and goals. The Director facilitates development of an integrated office vision and innovative grant-making strategy; synthesizes learning and enhances the quality and impact of programming; and promotes a collaborative working environment in the office and across areas of expertise that maximize the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills of staff to accomplish Foundation goals. The Director manages, coaches, galvanizes and works closely with a small team of program staff in developing, monitoring and evaluating integrated grant programs and projects in support of regional goals.
The Foundation’s programs in East Africa strive to confront exclusion and expand justice to ensure all people are able to participate in a democracy in which underrepresented groups see their rights protected, and the advantages of progress are available to all. The work of the East Africa office specifically focuses on ensuring governments and regional bodies in East Africa (focusing on Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) address the political costs of corruption and increasingly protect civic space, enabling civic actors to ensure governments work in the public’s interest. The Director will ensure the grants and activities supported under its Civic Engagement and Government program in East Africa contribute to this goal. The Director also partners with Ford’s International Program Director for Civic Engagement and Government to ensure the grant making in East Africa is aligned with the larger global vision for a thriving civil space and civil society.
The Director maintains effective ties and promotes strategic partnerships with local leaders, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, the media and other donors to leverage new resources, scale impact, and advance the goals of the office. The Director also collaborates with staff in the Foundation’s New York headquarters to oversee all workforce needs and legal matters, ensures that the Foundation complies with all relevant local laws and statutory obligations in a timely manner, maintains constructive working relations with government.
Additionally, the Director manages the office’s $6 million annual grant budget and an additional $3 million in funding to strengthen institutions and networks. They also prepare and manage an administrative budget and staff with responsibilities for accounting, grants administration and general services functions. The Director also works closely with senior management staff from around the world, including Regional and Program Directors from Ford’s offices in 11 countries in helping shape and integrate various aspects of the Foundation’s work regionally and globally.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Specifically, the Director will:
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have the following minimum qualifications and experience:
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TRAVEL
This position is primarily a sedentary role. However, the person in this position may need to occasionally move about inside the office to liaise with internal staff, access files, office machinery and a copy machine/printer. Additionally, domestic/international travel will be expected, approximately 25%; some travel is directly related to grantmaking, but also to attend team conferences, retreats and meetings—and may occasionally include travel to rural or remote places with difficult conditions.
Alignment to Culture and Values
Benefits
Salary: Salary is based on experience and on the Foundation’s commitment to internal equity. A generous benefits package is provided.
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/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.
Build your CV for free. Download in different templates.
Join our happy subscribers