Senior Program Assistant: Citizen Participation
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) seeks a Senior Program Assistant to join its Citizen Participation and Inclusion team to support programs providing financial and technical assistance to marginalized populations globally. The Senior Program Assistant will work alongside other team members and report to the Program Director for Small Grants.
Responsibilities:
- Participates in strategic discussions regarding the implementation of a global small grants program
- With guidance from the Program Director, contributes to evaluation of applications from grassroots organizations applying for small grants
- Under close supervision, contributes to workplan discussions; drafts or partially drafts workplans and proposals
- Anticipates programmatic administrative needs and, with some guidance, take appropriate actions
- Under close supervision and direction, contributes to writing of various reports and documents specific to program implementation
- Under close supervision, creates initial drafts of budgets and monitors program budgets
- Assists in the oversight of small grants disbursed to grassroots organizations representing marginalized populations
- With guidance from the Program Director, facilitates communications with local partners around the world working to advance the human rights of marginalized populations
- Applies donor and institutional regulations and meets standards of cost-effectiveness and accountability
- Assists in the translation of program documents from English to French and/or French to English such as notifications of funding opportunities, application templates, and contractual agreements
- Monitors global trends in inclusive development as well as political inclusion of marginalized populations, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community, people with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities
- Tracks program developments in the areas of political inclusion of marginalized populations and development to identify lessons and effective practices
- Drafts how-to notes, case studies and vignettes that capture innovative approaches
- Gathers and package comparative resources and program-support materials
- Contributes to the team’s social media activity and engages in dialogue on program practices
- Participates in meetings with funding agencies
- Assists in maintaining collaborative relationships with international democratic development organizations, civic organizations representing marginalized populations, partners overseas, the Washington policymaking and diplomatic community, and NDI’s network of volunteer experts
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in international development, peace and security studies, anthropology, gender studies or related subject; Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for educational requirement on a one-for-one basis
- A minimum of two (2) years relevant work experience in international development, community organizing, political campaigns, organizational development or legislative affairs
- Demonstrated understanding of marginalization, intersectionality, and inclusion in an international context
- Demonstrated coursework, internships, or experience or volunteer work working with marginalized populations
- English language proficiency
- French language proficiency
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- High level interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
- Excellent oral and written communications skills
- Ability to analyze political dynamics, define problems, and think innovatively
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines
- Ability to apply discretion and maintain confidential information
- Capacity to work both independently and as a member of a team
- Ability and willingness to travel at least once a year to potentially remote regional locations
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience interacting, communicating and engaging with individuals from different countries with cultural sensitivity and diplomacy to build relationships
- Demonstrated coursework, internships, or experience or volunteer work working directly with political parties or civil society leaders and activists
- Basic budget and accounting skills
- Working knowledge of PC-based word; processing and spreadsheet applications
- Experience with Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive, G+, etc.)
Comments:
Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the U.S. NDI does not provide sponsorship.
This is a union position to be represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2.
NDI is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). As such, NDI makes employment decisions and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an applicant’s or employee’s race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state and local laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please notify NDI’s Human Resources department.