Program Manager, Economic and Climate Prosperity

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. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems. This is work worth doing.

Program Manager, Economic and Climate Prosperity

Role Purpose

• The Program Manager will lead the design, implementation and ongoing development of Economic and Climate Prosperity’s country-level work in South Africa and Senegal, while contributing to selected regional and pan-African initiatives

• Combining technical policy expertise, political-economy analysis, grant-making and partnership development, the role will advance national and regional priorities in green industrial policy, international finance and trade systems. Strong understanding of South Africa’s policy environment and trusted relationships with government, development finance institutions and other partners will be central to identifying opportunities and influencing policy design, implementation and accountability.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and Country Planning

• Develop country-level work plans including mapping of policy windows and politically feasible pathways for reform

• Effectively manage the grant-making process by communicating with grantees for proposal submission, assisting in grant record preparation, grants processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes

Policy Analysis and Influence

• Translating technical evidence into policy options, briefs and engagement strategies

• Supporting partners to influence policy design, implementation and accountability

Stakeholder Relationships and Representation

• Represent ECP in relevant policy forums and build trusted relationships with government, public finance institutions, civil society, research organisations, private-sector actors and regional institutions

• Managing sensitive relationships in complex or contested political environment.

• Convening stakeholders with different interests

• Work collaboratively with other members within ECP and with colleagues across OSF to ensure the opportunity is effectively leveraging OSF’s capabilities to reach the agreed outcome.

• Build relationships with senior government officials, public institutions, development finance institutions, civil society, researchers, private-sector actors and regional bodies

Grant and Consultant Contract Management

• Effectively manage the grant-making process by communicating with grantees for proposal submission, assisting in grant record preparation, grants processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes

• Contribute to larger opportunity strategy

• Process and oversee progress of consultant contracts

Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor progress implementation, project risks, and other relevant status updates and communicate to Associate Director of Programs regularly

The ideal candidate (essential criteria)

Essential Education

• University degree or equivalent experience.

Essential Experience

• Substantial relevant experience in green industrial policy, international finance and trade systems.

• Experience working with national governments, national development banks and/or other development finance institutions.

• Strong understanding of South Africa’s political and policy environment, with demonstrated ability to navigate policy processes.

• Ability to assess how political institutions, stakeholder interests, incentives and power dynamics affect policy design and implementation.

• Proven ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with government officials, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.

• Ability to translate technical evidence into policy options, briefs and engagement strategies.

• Experience collaborating with stakeholders across countries.

• Excellent command of English.

• Extensive experience in program/grant management, climate policy, or sustainable finance or similar

• Willingness to travel internationally and adjust working h

Desirable Experience