Role Title: Program Manager, US
Contract Type: Regular
Reporting To: Associate Director, US
Program/Department/Unit Name: Programs
Location: New York or Washington, DC
Team Name: Programs, US
Role Purpose
The Program Manager will support OSF’s work on U.S. domestic policy issues. The Program Manager will have experience working with non-governmental organizations working on civic engagement, and experience working on a range of domestic policies. Collaborating closely with colleagues in related programs, and Communications, as well as relevant outside partners and US government officials, the PM will support the work of the US team advocating for OSF priorities in Congress.
The Program Manager will serve as a primary day-to-day liaison with grantees and field partners working on civic engagement and domestic policy issues.
The Program Manager will help coordinate and operationalize a portfolio of grants and complementary strategies—including policy advocacy, research, and field-building—under the direction of senior program staff.
While not expected to lead overall strategy design, the Program Manager is expected to bring strong subject-matter knowledge and experience of civic engagement and advocacy and to translate strategic priorities into effective, well-coordinated program execution.
Key responsibilities
Support senior staff to deliver on the opportunity’s outcomes with professionalism.
Liaise with grantees to ensure the strategies are designed and implemented according to the outcomes defined.
Work collaboratively with other team members and with colleagues across the organization to ensure the work is effectively leveraging Open Society’s capabilities to reach the agreed outcomes.
Effectively manage the grant-making process by communicating with grantees for proposal submission and assisting in grant record preparation, grants processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes.
Build a strong understanding of the field and partnerships in developing and designing the grant selection processes.
Manage relationships with partners, in close coordination with Geographic Policy Groups as relevant, and work with them to achieve OSF’s strategic objectives.
Work with leadership to maintain grant-making practice aligned with OSF's approach to grant-making and in compliance with organizational and external standards and regulations.
Assist in the construction, maintenance, and assessment of grant making portfolio(s), sharing responsibility for strategy design with manager.
Contribute to opportunity strategy.
Process and oversee progress of consultant contracts.
Monitor progress implementation, project risks, and other relevant status updates and communicate to the Director.
Travel up to 25% is required.
Other duties as required.
People Responsibilities (Total Team/DRs)
None
Key internal relationships
Director, Programs; Program Managers; Managing Director Programs; Network Grants, Advocacy Advisors, Grants Management, Operations
Key external relationships
External Partners
The ideal candidate
Educated to bachelor’s degree-level (or equivalent)
Ability to manage partner relationships and grants end-to-end, including due diligence, monitoring, and coordination with internal teams to ensure timely and compliant execution.
Working knowledge of community of organizations involved in civic engagement.
Ability to serve as a trusted, day-to-day point of contact for nonprofit, advocacy, and research partners.
Strong project management skills to track multiple workstreams, deadlines, and cross-team dependencies in a small, fast-moving team.
Ability to produce clear grant materials, internal memos, and learning summaries to support senior staff decision-making.
Demonstrated experience in communications, including visual communication skills, with the proven track record of designing presentation decks and data visualizations that clearly convey complex information to diverse audiences.
Conceives, designs and manages cross-department, cross-program or similarly complex projects; expected to effectively manage time, budget and stakeholders network-wide or similarly complex coordination.
Demonstrates commitment to OSF’s core values of humility, commitment, collaboration, respect, inclusivity and integrity.
What we offer
Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including:
Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
Employer-paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.
Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more.
A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.
The salary range for this role in the US: $ 136,900- 157,000. The final offer is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set and level of experience.
Who we are
Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems.
Guided by our founder’s values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take.
Additional information
Open Society Foundations is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively seek applications from talented individuals across all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. Each candidate is evaluated solely on their unique qualifications without regard to race, age, sex, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or any other legally protected characteristics.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities
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.