Strategy and Impact Officer – Nairobi – Open Society Foundations

Strategy and Impact Officer – Nairobi – Open Society Foundations

• Position: Strategy and Impact Officer
• Company: Open Society Foundations
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Type of Job: Full-Time
• Reporting to: Director, Strategy & Impact
• Application Deadline: December 7, 2024

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Introduction

Are you passionate about strategy development and driving impactful change in the world? Open Society Foundations is seeking a dedicated Strategy and Impact Officer to join our dynamic team in Nairobi. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to building vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their people. If you are looking to make a meaningful difference and work in a collaborative environment that values innovation and diversity, this role is for you.

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About Open Society Foundations

Open Society Foundations works globally to promote tolerance, transparency, and open debate. We provide thousands of grants annually to groups and individuals who align with our mission of fostering inclusive democracies. Our efforts include strategic human rights litigation, impact investing, and direct engagement with governments and policymakers through advocacy to advance positive change. Join us in our commitment to creating societies where all voices are heard, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

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Key Responsibilities

As a Strategy and Impact Officer, you will play a crucial role in enhancing our organization’s effectiveness and external impact. Your main responsibilities include:

• Strategy Development Support: Serve as a focal point for teams pursuing new opportunities or programs, providing guidance and support for strategy setting and execution.
• Standard Setting and Oversight: Help establish clear benchmarks and expectations for strategy inputs, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), and data validity.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Populate and ensure data consistency for dashboards and analytic products that showcase our work’s cohesion, saturation, and innovation.
• Rigorous Examination: Maintain relationships with outsourced capacities to ensure the highest quality of strategic thinking is available to the network.
• Facilitation and Support: Offer individual support for opportunity development and provide assistance to all other programs and embedded functions.
• Promote Adherence to Standards: Support and encourage compliance with established criteria and guidelines, including MEL practices.
• Trusted Partnership: Work collaboratively across the network to ensure fidelity to our operating model and flexibility to adapt based on effective learning-derived information.

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Qualifications and Skills

Essential Qualifications:

• University Degree: A degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in Strategy Development: Substantial experience leading strategy development and execution in complex settings.
• MEL Expertise: Proven experience in designing and executing monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks.
• Data Analytics Proficiency: Skilled in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• Facilitation Skills: Experience in meeting, workshop, and process facilitation.
• Time Management: Demonstrated ability to manage time effectively, including coordinating with multiple stakeholders.
• Information Organization: Ability to generate, capture, and organize information and knowledge on topics such as strategy development and MEL.
• Project Planning: Capability to convert decisions and directions into consistent project planning.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written communication and editing skills with clarity and timeliness.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Postgraduate Degree: Advanced degree in fields related to open societies (e.g., human rights, democracy, development, economics).
• Report Writing and Data Visualization: Experience in crafting detailed reports and presenting data visually.
• Change Management: Knowledge of change management principles and practices.
• Culture Building: Experience in culture change initiatives and building organizational culture.
• Cross-Sector Experience: Worked with public, private, and NGO stakeholders.
• Networking Skills: Ability to build and maintain networks related to various strategy topics.
• Consultant Collaboration: Experience working with consultants, researchers, and writers, including contracting and budgeting.

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Company Culture and Values

At Open Society Foundations, we believe in fostering a culture that:

• Advances Diversity and Inclusion: We encourage and respect diverse viewpoints, ensuring everyone has an equal voice. We build inclusive teams that support effective decision-making and cultural transformation.
• Embraces Innovation: We seek out innovative solutions and bring people on a journey constructively and empathetically.
• Demonstrates Accountability: We establish goals, plan for contingencies, and take responsibility for delivering outcomes that have a positive impact.
• Encourages Collaboration: We build collaborative relationships by understanding and developing others’ ideas. We communicate effectively and ensure mutual understanding.
• Promotes Continuous Learning: We look outside our organization to stay relevant, adapt to changes, and use external networks to achieve positive outcomes.

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Personal Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to consider multiple options to achieve long-range goals, balancing risk and reward.
• Decision-Making: Makes the best possible judgments based on available financial and time resources.
• Adaptability: Flexible and capable of adapting and shifting based on effective learning-derived information.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated success in teamwork and delegating tasks appropriately.
• Inclusivity: Committed to advancing diversity and inclusion within the workplace.

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Languages

• Required: Excellent knowledge of English.
• Preferred: Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

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Apply Now for Strategy and Impact Officer

Are you ready to take on this challenging and rewarding role? To apply for the Strategy and Impact Officer position at Open Society Foundations in Nairobi, please click the “Apply Now” button below. Join us in our mission to create positive change and make a lasting impact on societies worldwide.

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Application Deadline

Please submit your application by December 7, 2024. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all backgrounds. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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About the Location

This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is a vibrant city that offers a rich cultural experience and serves as a hub for international organizations working towards global development and human rights.

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Additional Information

• Type of Job: This is a full-time position.
• Reporting Line: You will report directly to the Director of Strategy & Impact.
• No Direct Reports: This position does not have any direct reports.
• Key Internal Relationships: Directors, Officers, Program Managers, Operations teams.
• Key External Relationships: Strategy and impact leaders outside of Open Society Foundations, including experts in foresight, MEL, complexity, systems change, consultants, and others in the philanthropy sector.

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Join Our Team

At Open Society Foundations, we are dedicated to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues, and communities our mission serves. We encourage candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities, and communities to apply. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.

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Please note that we do not include compensation and benefits details in this job description. Focus on the unique opportunities for growth and impact that this role offers.

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We look forward to receiving your application and exploring how you can contribute to our mission at Open Society Foundations.