http://careers.gatesfoundation.org/feeds/Sociology-Seattle-WA-jobs/ Custom RSS Feed for Sociology-Seattle-WA-jobs Sun, 19 May 2013 08:29:09 GMT en-us /sites/gates/images/logo.png http://careers.gatesfoundation.org/feeds/Sociology-Seattle-WA-jobs/ 720 DivisionGlobal Development ProgramDepartmentAgricultural DevelopmentLocationSeattleFoundation OverviewGuided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Group SummaryThe Agricultural Development Department focuses on a key outcome – sustainable productivity growth for smallholder farmers – that is essential to achieving the impact that we seek: poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Productivity growth for smallholders depends upon improved seeds and other technologies, incentives to adopt these improvements through functioning input and output markets, and an improved policy environment.


ResponsibilitiesThe Senior Program Officer (SPO) will be a leader and a team player in the implementation of these goals, with a specific focus on creating gender-responsive agricultural development programming. The SPO will work closely with the full Agricultural Development team to develop and execute an advocacy strategy, forge new partnerships, and develop grants. S/he may also play a leadership role in promoting gender-responsive strategies across the Global Development program.

In Agricultural Development, the SPO will play a critical role in managing high impact and complex grants and partnerships around gender and agriculture interactions. S/he will provide research and analysis in support of grant making, strategy development, donor coordination and communication and advocacy. Furthermore, s/he will support the Agricultural Development team in a cross-cutting function by providing tools and resources to the team to build capacity and foster practical gender-responsiveness across the Agricultural Development grant portfolio. S/he will also be a spokesperson and public advocate for our grants, portfolio and strategy.

The SPO will bring a depth and breadth of experience in, and knowledge of, donor and developing country governments' development activities and mechanisms, and technical expertise in evidence based, results oriented advocacy.

Key responsibilities include:
- Consult with grantees to develop new grant ideas around gender and the role of women in achieving sustainable productivity growth according to the Agricultural Development team's strategy, conduct site visits, provide technical guidance and convene meetings.
- Manage a portfolio of project grants. Partner with grantees to develop project objectives and define key outcomes and milestones, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems and processes are established to produce robust evaluation of outcomes.
- Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals, provide written analysis and recommendations for funding, including drafting and editing of proposal summaries and progress reports for existing grants for review by Foundation leadership.
- Develop and manage tools and resources and provide back-stopping for fellow POs and their grantees in the area of gender-responsive agricultural development to enhance gender awareness and accountability in the team's grant-making.
- Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting.
- Plan and execute a wide range of activities in support of strategic planning, grant management and external relationship management related to the foundation's leadership in promoting gender-responsive agricultural development programs. Provide written analysis of key topics to foundation leadership.
- Represent the foundation to key program-related external constituencies. This will likely include both formal and informal public presentations such as making speeches, attending international conferences and other meetings as necessary.
- Serve as a point of contact on Gender-related issues for key internal and external stakeholders. In particular, play a role in advancing gender across the foundation, with a specific focus on the programs in the Global Development program.


Qualifications- Minimum 7 years of experience plus an advanced degree in development economics, sociology, anthropology, gender or another discipline related to rural development and agricultural development preferred.
- At least 5 years' experience leading and managing diverse teams executing complex initiatives preferred.
- Deep experience developing, designing, executing and monitoring complex strategies and initiatives, especially in a developing world context.
- Deep experience working with farmers, civil society and government actors with strong preference for experience living in Africa and/or South Asia, including an understanding of the role and impact of the major multilateral agricultural development actors.
- Demonstrable experience implementing pragmatic, practical and cost-effective gender approaches in the agricultural context. Must be able to work across teams to influence behavior and build capacity.
- Ability to work both persuasively and diplomatically in a team-based environment with a high degree of complexity and ambiguity. Ability to communicate complex gender issues with clarity, precision and prioritization is a must.
- Experience developing, managing and implementing projects, including partnering with grantees on the definition of objectives and deliverables and monitoring and evaluation of results.
- Demonstrated success in leadership roles developing and managing development organizations, programs or initiatives requiring a combination of strong analytical, writing, social and management skills.
- A deep, demonstrable commitment to agricultural development and gender issues.
- Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.
- High standards of personal integrity and a flexible, laid back personality with an excellent sense of humor required.

Reports to: Deputy Director, Agricultural Policies

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.


Requisition Number4004BR

]]>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:00:00 GMThttp://careers.gatesfoundation.org/job/Seattle-Senior-Program-Officer%2C-Agriculture-Policies-Job-WA-98101/2523210/?utm_source=J2WRSS&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=J2W%5FRSShttp://careers.gatesfoundation.org/job/Seattle-Senior-Program-Officer%2C-Agriculture-Policies-Job-WA-98101/2523210/?utm_source=J2WRSS&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=J2W%5FRSS