Associate Director - Programs

Associate Director - Programs. Johannesburg. Posting Date: 11/12/2025. Deadline: 12/03/2025

Opportunity Description

This work will explore efforts related to resolving and transitioning from conflicts in a just and equitable way. Areas of exploration will focus on a range of different global conflicts and an analysis of potential solutions.

 

Role Purpose 

Associate Directors support Directors of Programs and may oversee sub-set themes of the opportunity for their duration. This would include being co-accountable (with the Director) for delivering on its outcomes as well as for the management of resources at the highest level of professionalism. The expectation is that the Associate Directors will be strong managers, as well as subject matter experts for this specific opportunity.

Key responsibilities

As Associate Director, Programs you will:

• Supporting the Director of Programs, as a deputy of the opportunity, for articulating a creative and exciting opening to make impact in the world into a workable project plan for implementation according to established criteria
• Evaluate the sub-set theme within the opportunity based on established metrics for MEL and ability to pivot to ensure the required outcomes are being achieved
• Supporting the Director of the opportunity to ensure appropriate financial, risk, and legal management and control are articulated during the planning and implementation phase, and work with all relevant stakeholders to develop mitigation plans
• Oversee and manage the outcomes of the sub-set theme within the opportunity team, including external partners
• Engage with embedded staff from other OSF teams in close cooperation with senior leaders 
• Monitor and regularly report on the progress of an opportunity to the Managing Director of Programs and other senior OSF leaders
• Leverage OSF’s work globally and employing the strategic capabilities of impact investment, strategic litigation, and advocacy to the opportunity
• Represent the sub-set theme of a given opportunity issue externally at all levels and grow a network accordingly that includes actors beyond the social sector into national and local governments, multilateral organizations, faith-based groups, grass-roots organizations, philanthropy, local experts, academia and think tanks, etc. to advance the opportunity. Depending on the opportunity this might include developing strong relationships with other funders and bringing them as partners into the opportunity
• Working with the Program Managers (and individually taking on) day-to-day liaison with grantees to ensure the opportunity is designed, launched, implemented, and exited according to the outcomes defined
• Overseeing the effective management of the grant-making process (for the sub-set of the opportunity) by communicating with grantees for proposal submission, assisting in grant record preparation, grants processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes
• Manage relationships with partners, in close coordination with Geographic Policy Groups as relevant, and work with them to achieve OSF’s strategic objective through the opportunity
• Deputise for the Director of Programs (as and when required); and resolve challenges and operational delivery issues with the Program team prior to required escalation to the Director of Programs

People Responsibilities

• No

Key internal relationships

Director, Programs; Managing Director Programs; Core Partners, Special Advisors, Grants Management, Operations

Key external relationships

External Partners

The ideal candidate

• Multiple years’ experience (in one or multiple organisations) where proficiency in the specific field or subject area has been comprehensively developed
• Extensive leadership expertise in the specific topic area as set out in the “Opportunity Description” above 
• Prior financial ($5m+), legal and risk accountability at large-scale programmatic level
• Prior working experience of operating within the non-profit community (for example multi-lateral, NGO, foundation or ambassadorial working environments)
• Fluent in local language where the role is based
• Prior experience in operational resource planning (people) and people leadership experience of an internationally team (remote to the Associate Director's location)
• Conceives, designs and manages cross-department, cross-program or similarly complex projects; expected to effectively manage time, budget and stakeholders and network-wide or similarly complex coordination
• Experience in budgeting, strategic analysis and planning
• Working well with a variety of public, private and NGO stakeholders
• Building and maintaining networks of stakeholders
• Promote strategic cooperation with governmental and other sectors
• Knowledge of grant making best practices and the field of philanthropy 

What we offer

Who we are

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.   

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.