Wellspring Advisors, a private philanthropic consulting firm, seeks a Program Officer to join its Atrocities Prevention and Response (APR) Program, based in Washington, D.C. 

The APR Program Officer works with the APR Program Director, Program Assistant, and other Wellspring staff on an international grantmaking program focused on ensuring that the international community effectively prevents and responds to large-scale, systematic violence against civilians—situations that include genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and other types of “mass atrocities.” The program includes thematic concentrations on atrocity prevention, international response mechanisms, and emergency prevention and response activities.

The work of the Program Officer will consist of staying abreast of relevant issues, trends, and policy developments; managing part of the program’s grants portfolio, to include monitoring and evaluating existing grants and soliciting and recommending new or continuing grants, building and maintaining relationships with other donors, and participating in funder collaboratives, among other things. Additional responsibilities include mentoring junior staff, participation in cross-programmatic and company-wide activities, and development and implementation of funding strategies and grantmaking best practices. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy

• Under the guidance of the Program Director, develop, refine, and implement grantmaking priorities and strategic approaches concentrated primarily on the Atrocity Prevention theme, including work on early warning and early response mechanisms, as well as “dangerous speech,” consistent with the program’s current multi-year work plan, proactively researching grantmaking opportunities and challenges.
• Monitor developments in the field to identify emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities.
• Work with Wellspring’s Chief Learning and Evaluation Officer and other staff to integrate measurement and evaluation as well as capacity‐building and technical assistance throughout the program, internally and among grantees.
• Partner with staff from other Wellspring program areas to share strategic thinking.
• Attend conferences and other events on field-specific issues.

Grantmaking

• Undertake initial screening of potential grantees, manage grantee relationships, analyze and assess background information, conduct site visits, solicit and develop funding proposals, determine appropriate funding levels (in compliance with Wellspring guidelines), and prepare grant recommendations.
• Review progress reports, conduct evaluations of grantee programs, and monitor use of grant funds.
• Advise grantees, especially start-ups, on best practice approaches, tools, and information for organizational growth and development, managing leadership and staff transitions, multi-year strategic planning, and due diligence.
• Ensure adherence to internal grantmaking processes via appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, and reporting.
• Stay abreast of new developments and trends in the mass atrocities field and provide analyses to synthesize implications for the program.

External Relations

• Create annual work plans, annual reports, and undertake other activities to educate donor clients on issues related to the APR Program.
• Exercise leadership through active engagement with peer funders, affinity groups, and civil society organizations working in fields relevant to the APR Program.
• Engage in creative use of convenings, co-funding, partnerships, pooled funds, and other tools together with other partners to promote a common grantmaking agenda and advance learning in the philanthropic and advocacy sectors, among others.

Organizational Engagement

• Participate in the advancement of organization‐wide initiatives at Wellspring, including internal committees or task forces.
• Initiate and lead institutional discussions as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience with a social justice organization or in philanthropy working on international development or international human rights issues.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree in conflict studies or another relevant field preferred.
• Familiarity with the NGOs, researchers, and funders working in this issue area.
• Familiarity with trends in public, private, and philanthropic investment in mass atrocity prevention and response.
• Experience working as an impartial player in coalitions across a range of progressive movements and with a diverse set of actors, developing and implementing strategic plans or initiatives that engage diverse perspectives and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain close, neutral, collegial, and effective working relationships with colleagues and grantees of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Excellent judgment and ability to synthesize information.
• Strong research, analytical, problem-solving, and writing skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• Desire to work as part of a small team in a highly collaborative environment.
• Ability to plan and manage multiple priorities on different timelines.
• Close attention to follow-up and detail, and ability to manage time effectively.
• Ability to handle confidential donor-client information with complete discretion.
• An understanding of the power differential in the funder–grantee relationship and ability to handle relationships with humility and respect.
• Ability to travel for protracted periods.
• Capacity to approach the work with a sense of hope and humor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience living and working overseas or traveling to conflict zones.
• Experience working on conflict and atrocity prevention, including scoping and identifying opportunities for practical upstream interventions to mitigate the potential for mass atrocities.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary range: $100,000–$120,000, based on experience. Wellspring offers a very generous benefits package including payment of 100% of the health insurance premium for employees (and 80% of the premium for spouses, domestic partners, and qualified family members). Wellspring also offers other benefits including life insurance, long‐term disability protection, a group 401(k) retirement plan (with an employer match), and support for continuing education; Wellspring is committed to providing transgender‐inclusive healthcare.

ABOUT WELLSPRING ADVISORS

Established in 2001, Wellspring is a private philanthropic organization that operates grantmaking programs that advance the realization of human rights and social and economic justice for all people. Wellspring has offices in New York, NY, and Washington, DC.

 Wellspring’s work is rooted in respect for the dignity and worth of every human being and is informed by the following beliefs:

• Social institutions and structures should promote the full realization of human rights and human potential, and should be accountable to these ends.
• The rights of all people are advanced when the rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable peoples are protected.
• Social justice movements should employ means that are consistent with their ideals, and should give agency to the people whose interests they seek to advance.
• As responsible stewards, we must strive to maximize the impact of our charitable investments. 

Wellspring’s services include: working with donors to develop, implement and administer giving programs that meet their philanthropic goals; conducting research and education tailored to the interests of our donors; managing programs, administering grants and monitoring grantee performance; and working to promote the effectiveness of programs that receive Wellspring funding.

Wellspring Advisors, LLC, hires, promotes and retains employees based on their professional qualifications, demonstrated abilities and work performance, as well as on the degree to which these qualities are required in the employment positions made available by the Firm’s service needs and business requirements. Wellspring welcomes candidates with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and strongly encourages people of color to apply.

All personnel decisions are made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital or familial status, domestic partner status, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (each a “protected characteristic”). This policy applies to all our activities, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, discipline and discharge. This policy also bans discriminatory harassment. Qualified candidates for employment having records of arrest or criminal conviction will be considered. 

HOW TO APPLY

For employment consideration, please submit an application to [email protected]. Subject Line: “[Your name]—APR PO.” All applications must include:

• a résumé;
• a thoughtful cover letter, including how you became aware of this opportunity (i.e., job portal, referral, etc.), and your salary requirement (you must specify an actual amount and range); and
• one writing sample (no less than 3 and no more than 5 pages, attached in PDF format).

No phone calls please.

NOTE: At this time, our preference is that applicants have authorization to work in the United States. If you need sponsorship, please let us know in your cover letter.

The application deadline is September 22, 2017!