ABOUT PROTEUS FUND AND THE SRC

Proteus Fund partners with foundations, advocates and individual donors to advance democracy, human rights and peace. We work towards the realization of a just, equitable and democratic world. Our current major initiatives work to reform money in politics and protect fair courts; to counter anti-Muslim sentiment and build the capacity of organizations representing Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities; and to support collaboration between reproductive justice and LGBTQ advocates and faith leaders to protect fundamental rights.

The Security & Rights Collaborative (SRC) is a collaborative grantmaking program supporting a diverse field of organizations working to address profiling, discrimination, hate crimes, anti-Muslim bigotry and xenophobia. Through strategic grantmaking, programming, and field coordination, the SRC works to build the capacity of organizations representing Muslim, Arab, and South Asian (MASA) communities to protect rights, advance policy reform, and shift the narrative around issues at the core of our democracy and society.

THE OPPORTUNITY

SRC is seeking an experienced leader to join our team as at this critical point in our evolution as a program. In 2017, we doubled our grantmaking and support to the field and we are looking for the right person to maintain and grow this vital work. The SRC Program Officer (“Program Officer”) will manage the SRC’s growing portfolio of rapid response and field grants; as well as lead our field building strategy through tailored technical assistance and grantee-driven programming. The Program Officer will serve in a full-time capacity, reporting to the SRC Program Director, Shireen Zaman. Ideally, the Program Officer will be based in Washington, DC, although remote locations may be explored.

Key responsibilities of the Program Officer include:

Field Knowledge and Relationship Building:

• Build and maintain expertise on the substance, dynamics and priorities within Muslim, Arab and South Asian community field, including issues of racial justice and civil liberties, and track relevant national, state and local-level policy.
• Build relationships with grantees and other leaders in the field at both the local and national level.

Grantmaking, Program Strategy and Capacity Building

• Oversee active SRC grants, including regular communication with grantees, review of grant reports and monitoring and evaluating the progress and needs of grantees.
• Explore opportunities to support new and emerging work in the field through our rapid response/opportunity fund, convening support or in-docket grant making.
• Work closely with our consulting team leading field research on growing and under-resourced MASA communities across the country. Upon completion, work closely with Program Director to ensure that new grantmaking is reflective of these needs.
• With the Grants Manager and Program Director, manage proposal review process, including requests for proposals, researching and evaluating proposals, writing assessments and conducting site visits and phone calls with grantees, potential grantees, and stakeholders.
• Strategically assess the short and long-term needs of the field, review current SRC grantees and their activities and, if needed, create and implement programs to increase a specific organization’s impact or the entire field’s impact connected to SRC’s goals and values. This can include convenings, trainings, hiring consultants, introducing/connecting state groups to other groups who may provide technical assistance, etc.

Learning and Evaluation

• Document and share emerging trends, best practices and new strategies in the MASA field with field and donor audiences.
• Work closely with grantees to ensure they are able to measure and describe their impact in the field, and work to aggregate that information to tell the story of SRC’s impact.
• Work closely with SRC’s external evaluation team and SRC Program Director to ensure that ensure that the evaluation is tracking information that will be most useful to our work and that we are adjusting program strategy based on the results of the annual evaluation.

Donor Partner Engagement and Communications

• In collaboration with Program Director and Officer for Partnerships, build relationships with current and prospective SRC funding partners, and serve as a resource for them to understand the needs of the MASA field.
• Support the Officer for Partnerships with field and grantee information for proposals, reports and updates to funders. Assist in crafting compelling outreach to current and new donors that reflects the quickly changing needs of the field.
• With the SRC team, plan and implement SRC docket meetings and funder briefings.
• With the support of the SRC Program Associate, develop and update SRC materials, including website, promotional brochures, etc.

Administration

• Participating in the general administration of Proteus Fund, including regular staff meetings, special trainings, and staff retreats.
• Attending outside meetings as a “Proteus Fund ambassador,” representing the organization and its programs as needed.
• Working to further the values, vision, mission, goals and objectives of Proteus Fund.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Ideal candidates will be:

• Mission-driven: The Program Officer will be passionately committed to the goals and objectives of the SRC, including a deep understanding and experience working with organizations in the Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities, or has significant knowledge of relevant racial justice, civil liberties, and national security efforts.
• Movement-builder: Is excited about supporting innovative new work, and is willing to roll up their sleeves to support these groups beyond funding. Takes a “big tent” approach to build an inclusive and intersectional field.
• Is a problem-solver: This person is energized by working in entrepreneurial or small start-up environments, where you must be creative with resources. They see gaps or unmet needs quickly, and develop creative and impactful ways to address them.

To be successful in this role, the Program Officer will need:

• Significant experience working with Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities at the local and national level.
• Experience with grantmaking and program development and administration
• Significant knowledge of relevant racial justice, civil liberties and national security efforts
• Ability to assess an organization’s capacity for success, understanding its specific needs, and its potential to overcome barriers, as well as determine its fit with SRC’s program strategy and values.
• At least five to seven years of experience in a relevant nonprofit/philanthropic setting with over three years of program leadership experience.
• Comfort working with foundations and individual donors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail and a high degree of personal organization
• Ability to use creative problem-solving tactics with solution-oriented approaches
• Ability to adapt and be versatile in a team-focused, fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently with limited clerical support.
• Ability to work efficiently and independently in a remote, virtual setting.
• A bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, social science or related field; advanced degree in public policy, public administration, social science or related field is preferred.
• Ability to travel as needed (up to 30%).

COMPENSATION

The Proteus Fund offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive, progressive benefit program to attract, retain, and motivate a high-performing and dedicated workforce.

TO APPLY

For immediate consideration, please email cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and contact information for three references by January 8, 2018 to jobs@proteusfund.org with subject line: SRC Program Officer. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Proteus Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Proteus Fund believes that one of the great strengths of the community is the rich diversity of its residents and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, physical or mental handicap, whistleblower status, or any other category protected by state or federal law. Proteus Fund’s policies and practices are to reflect Proteus Fund’s commitment to nondiscrimination in all areas of employment.