Now Accepting Applications for the Following Positions

Reports to: Executive Director

Coordinates With: Regional Coordinators; CFO; Resource Development team

Purpose of Position: To ensure effective program management, coordinate and support quality action-learning programs, and collaborate in raising funds to implement programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Employee’s responsibilities include (but will not be limited to) the following:

1. Program Management: (40%)
   1. Supervise and support Regional Coordinators to ensure their effective coordination of regional programs.
   2. Ensure effective management and implementation of our system for program planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation (PBM&E).  Incorporate lessons learned to adjust system. 
   3. Work with Regional Coordinators and CFO to ensure that NGO program partners have completed annual program plans, M&E plans, and budgets each year, as well as annual cooperation agreements. 
   4. Coordinate quarterly program review meetings for each Region and address opportunities and challenges.
   5. Approve regular funding disbursements to partners.

1. Coordinate and support quality action-learning programs:  (30%)
   1. Work with Regional Coordinators and Executive Director to develop and support action-learning programs on strategic issues across network members. 
   2. Facilitate the synthesis of program lessons and principles, incorporate these into future program development, and disseminate to allies and decision makers.
   3. Support program documentation and dissemination with staff, partners, allies and consultants (e.g., case studies, policy briefs, etc.)

1. Resource Development and Communications: (20%)
   1. Participate in developing and stewarding relationships with key program funders.
   2. Collaborate with Resource Development and Program staff in designing proposals aligned with our program goals.
   3. Support Resource Development and Program Staff to ensure effective grant reporting.
   4. Work with Programs and Communications staff to ensure good progam content for website, social media, and other means of dissemination. 

1. Other: (10%)
   1. Participate in Groundswell’s leadership and strategy development.
   2. As defined with the Executive Director, explore new strategic program opportunities and initiatives that may allow Groundswell to more effectively accomplish our mission.
   3. Represent Groundswell to different audiences.
   4. Other strategic tasks as assigned.

Working Relationships and Coordination:

• The Program Director will report to and work in close coordination with the Executive Director. 
• The Program Director will supervise the Regional Coordinators. 
• The Program Director will work as a team and in close coordination with other Groundswell staff and local NGO member organizations. 
• Annual work priorities will be coordinated according to our Strategic Framework 2023-2027 and through regular virtual and in-person communication and coordination meetings. 

Location and Travel:

• The position location is flexible and may be located in one of the regions where we work.  
• Groundswell has an office in Washington, DC, but staff work remotely from home offices or similar arrangements as negotiated. Support is provided for necessary equipment and supplies.
• The staff person must be able to participate in regular virtual meetings and coordination during the hours of 9am-5pm ET, and to travel to coordination meetings in the U.S. two to three times a year. 
• Ability to travel 25% time to work with our staff, network members and allies in West Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, and South Asia.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• The equivalent of at least a Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience and demonstrated effectiveness in program management and leadership.
• Experience and knowledge of agroecology, sustainable local food systems, and food sovereignty.
• Commitment to Groundswell International’s mission, purpose, and values.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Fluency in English is required.  Proficiency in Spanish and/or French is preferred. 
• We strongly encourage candidates from the regions where we work to apply.
• A results-oriented person who is able to work independently, adapt in a dynamic environment, and who has a passion for working collaboratively with a small staff team of committed professionals and a network of global member NGOs, in support of community-led social change.
• Strong management, problem-solving, and analytical skills.  
• Strong writing and communications skills.

Compensation

• Compensation is commensurate with experience.   
• Health insurance allowance and generous vacation time.

DEI Statement: We prioritize diversity and inclusion in our workplace, our hiring practices, and the design of our programs. We are committed to employing people from various backgrounds with unique perspectives and experiences. We recognize that input from all voices informs innovation and strengthens our business.

EOE Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

TO APPLY, submit your CV/Resume to this link along with a cover letter noting where you saw the job announcement. We encourage applications to be submitted by February 24, 2023. Position open until filled.

Reports to: West Africa Regional Coordinator

Coordinates With: Executive Director, Director of Program Management, Partner Organizations

Purpose of Position:  To support Action-Learning and Advocacy, grounded in community-level program implementation, that improves program effectiveness, wellbeing of involved communities, and influences allies and decision makers to support agroecology and sustainable local food systems.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Employee’s responsibilities include (but will not be limited to) the following:

Action-Learning (35%)

1. Support the development and effective implementation of multi-country Action-Learning and amplification programs to strengthen the spread of agroecology and sustainable local food systems that improve the wellbeing of communities.
2. Facilitate action-learning between member NGOs and allies to improve program effectiveness.
3. Support effective monitoring and evaluation to generate program lessons and documentation of results.
4. Work with NGO members to systematize and document key methodologies, results and recommendations for dissemination and influencing of other allies and decision makers.
5. Represent Groundswell before different actors and audiences in Africa, the US, Europe and elsewhere (e.g., NGOs, networks, farmers’ and women’s movements, development agencies, governments, funders, etc.)
6. Undertake strategically selected consultancies on behalf of Groundswell, as negotiated with the West Africa Regional Coordinator and Executive Director, that further our mission and strategic framework.

Advocacy: (30%)

1. Strengthen alliances and advocacy strategies in West Africa to work for enabling governance and policy contexts for agroecology and sustainable local food systems.
2. Represent the perspectives of Groundswell and our West Africa network and elevate the voices of member NGOs as well as leaders of farmers’, women’s and community-based organizations, in key influencing and advocacy spaces at national, regional and international levels (e.g., local government, ministries, international development agencies, NGO and civil society alliances, philanthropic networks, etc.).

Resource Development and Marketing: (20%)

1. Develop and steward relationships with foundations to support the implementation of this work. 
2. Work closely with Groundswell’s program and resource development staff and member organizations to develop grant proposals for regional action-learning and advocacy programs; ensure effective reporting.
3. Communicate program results and stories. 

Contribution to Groundswell’s global partnership: (15%)

1. Upon request, contribute global action-learning and documentation initiatives.
2. Participate as a leading member of Groundswell’s streamlined staff team in strategic leadership and management.
3. Participate in global strategic planning, and bi-annual Global Conferences and West Africa Regional Conferences.  
4. Make presentations to different audiences on behalf of Groundswell. 

Working Relationships and Coordination:

• The Director for Action Learning and Advocacy (DALA) for West Africa will be responsible to the West Africa Regional Coordinator.
• The DALA will work as a team and in close coordination with Executive Director, Director of Program Management, and other Groundswell staff, as well as staff of NGO member organizations. 
• Work priorities will be coordinated according to our Strategic Framework 2023-2027, Annual Priorities, six-month workplans and regular virtual and in-person communication and coordination meetings. 

Location and Travel:

• The position will be based in either Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, or Senegal in West Africa.  
• Groundswell staff work virtually from home offices or similar arrangements as negotiated.  Support is provided for necessary equipment and supplies.
• Ability to travel 25% time.   

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• The equivalent of at least a Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience and demonstrated effectiveness in action-learning and advocacy.
• Experience and knowledge of agroecology and sustainable local food systems in West Africa.
• Commitment to Groundswell International’s mission, purpose, and values.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency in French and English is required. 
• We strongly encourage candidates from West Africa to apply.
• An entrepreneurial, self-starter who combines a passion for working collaboratively with a small staff team of committed professionals, a network of global member NGOs, and community-led social change.
• Strong problem solving, research, and analytical skills.  
• Strong writing and communications skills.
• Able to work independently and adapt in a dynamic environment. 

Compensation

• Compensation is commensurate with experience.   
• Health insurance allowance and ample vacation time.

Groundswell International is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply send resume, cover letter, three references and salary history to: jobs@groundswellinternational.org 

Please note in your cover letter where you saw the job announcement. 

Position open until filled.