New York, New York 10001

Program Officer, U. S. Social Justice, Arcus Foundation

The Organization

Founded in 2000, the Arcus Foundation is a leading global foundation dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. Arcus’ work is based on the belief that respect for diversity among peoples and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet and all of its inhabitants. Arcus works with experts and advocates for change to ensure that LGBTQ people and our fellow apes thrive in a world where social and environmental justice are a reality. The Foundation works globally and has offices in New York City and Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Position Overview

The Arcus Foundation is seeking applications and nominations for the position of Program Officer, U. S. Social Justice.

Summary:

Founded in 2000, the Arcus Foundation is a leading global foundation dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. Arcus’ work is based on the belief that respect for diversity among peoples and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet and all of its inhabitants. Arcus works with experts and advocates for change to ensure that LGBTQ people and our fellow apes thrive in a world where social and environmental justice are a reality. The Foundation works globally and has offices in New York City and Cambridge, United Kingdom.

The Arcus Foundation staff and Board of Directors are a diverse group, reflecting the diversity inherent in the world the Foundation’s work supports. The Foundation works globally to support partners in their pursuit of lasting change. The mission is driven by the vision of Arcus’ founder, Jon Stryker, and by a shared dedication to the emergent global human rights and conservation movements.

With a deep commitment to integrity and humility, the leadership and staff of the Arcus Foundation hold each other accountable for implementing the Arcus mission. This includes practicing shared leadership and recognizing, celebrating, and taking collective ownership of Arcus’ success. Because a strong work ethic and responsible decision-making should exist at all levels of leadership, the Arcus Foundation applies fact-based decision-making and encourages all staff to proactively ‘course-correct,’ to efficiently manage resources so that those Arcus serves will benefit.

The ultimate goal of the Social Justice Program is to achieve dignity, safety, inclusion, and opportunity for LGBTQ people around the world, especially those most marginalized. This is accomplished by ensuring:

  1. Increased safety in lived realities of LGBTQ people;
  2. Increased LGBTQ-affirming protections that promote full inclusion and equal opportunity; and
  3. Increased social inclusion of and public support for LGBTQ people.

Priority regions and focus areas within each have been identified based on assessments of the potential for success and opportunities for impact on a 10-year timeframe, the presence and severity of threats against LGBTQ people, and the extent to which intervention in a region or focus area might positively affect other geographies.

Arcus’ strategy rests on the understanding that some communities of LGBTQ people face more pernicious forms of systems of exclusion. Such communities and individuals live at the intersections of social identities—for example, LGBTQ individuals who are also people of color. With this knowledge, an “intersectional” analysis is used to make grant and other decisions that the Foundation believes will advance LGBTQ justice in ways that are equally resonant with the movements of racial, gender, and economic justice.

To learn more, visit: www.arcusfoundation.org.

Candidate Profile

The Program Officer, U.S. Social Justice (“Program Officer”) is an experienced field leader and/or grantmaker who will work with Program Directors to implement a grantmaking program that develops, supports, and evaluates strategies that advance the Foundation’s goals in the social justice arena. In addition to grantmaking, the Program Officer will have a deep and key role in contributing to team practices for monitoring and evaluation, data management, research, and communicating impact.

In line with the Arcus Foundation’s vision and philosophy, the Program Officer will work in ways that support base-building, movement-building, and the general self-determined power of the populations Arcus centers. The geographic scope will include a combination of both international and U.S. grantees and activities, with most of the work focusing on the U.S. Additionally, the Program Officer will have a large role in stewarding the Foundation’s support of transgender leadership and advocacy, an area that will remain an important focus for Arcus.

Reporting to the Program Director, U.S. Social Justice, and working closely with the Program Director, International Social Justice, the Program Officer, U.S. Social Justice will be responsible for the following areas:

  • Program Development and Grantmaking
  • Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Field Engagement

Qualifications:

The Program Officer, U.S. Social Justice, will bring the following skills and experiences to the role:

  • Passion for the Arcus Foundation mission with strong credibility as a social justice advocate and experience in building power and voice among marginalized communities
  • Previous work in a foundation or nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing social movements
  • Specific experience in building transgender leadership is highly preferred
  • Demonstration of a deep intersectional analysis of race, gender, and economic justice
  • Appreciation of the power dynamics that shape grantmaking relationships and a commitment to building trust, two-way accountability, and mutual respect with grantee organizations
  • Demonstrated ability to assess the leadership, track record, and capacity of social sector organizations and collaboratives
  • Experience analyzing, synthesizing, and presenting data with skills in monitoring/evaluation or desire to learn monitoring/evaluation techniques
  • Flexibility in schedule to travel domestically and internationally 30% of time
  • BA/BS degree preferred

Key professional and personal characteristics will include:

  • Five-to-ten years of professional work experience, with at least five in a comparable role, such as project manager, program director, chief of staff, or director of planning/special projects
  • Proven track record planning and managing multiple complex projects and initiatives; Extremely strong organization skills, with great attention to detail; History of taking an ambiguous project vision or goal and proactively translating it into concrete objectives and steps
  • Sensitivity and respect for cultural values, practices, beliefs, and social experiences of diverse communities, including race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, age, and ethnicity
  • Solid decision-making ability, independence, and initiative; Ability to create systems and solve difficult problems using sound judgment and analysis

Contact

Arcus Foundation has engaged Koya Leadership Partners to help in this hire. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume to Melissa Madzel here.

Arcus Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQI applicants.

 

Apply Here

PI101421196

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