JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Organizational Learning Associate

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

BACKGROUND

The Firelight Foundation is a private, family foundation based in Santa Cruz, California, USA. The mission of the Firelight Foundation is to support and advocate for the needs and rights of children who are orphaned or affected by HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Firelight provides grants of US$1,000 - 15,000 to community-focused organizations that support families and communities to meet the material, educational, and psychosocial needs of children. To date, Firelight has made over 750 grants to organizations serving children in sub-Saharan Africa. These grants have totaled nearly $10 million.

Through its Monitoring, Evaluation and Technical Assistance (META) Program, Firelight aims to nurture strong, sustainable grassroots organizations in order to contribute to a richer, more expansive civil society response to the needs of vulnerable children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. The full-time position described here has been developed in recognition of the growing needs of the Firelight Foundation to document and share evidence about its own impact as a grantmaker, and to support our grantees' in effectively carrying out their work on behalf of children.

OVERALL FUNCTION

• Lead data collection and analysis projects for evaluation of the effectiveness of the work of Firelight and its grantees (75%).
• Facilitate initiatives to strengthen the organizational and programmatic capacity of grantee-partners via their partnership with Firelight (25%).

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, lead and conduct specific data collection and analysis projects, for example, periodic reviews of outcomes from long-term relationships with CBOs, adolescent girls programming, or economic empowerment activities.
• With the Head of Organizational Learning, plan and conduct special studies, case examples, or evaluations. Produce reports and prepare materials to share findings and recommendations with wide audiences.
• Support the Head of Organizational Learning in the development and implementation of foundation-wide guidelines, procedures, tools, and mechanisms to more systematically collect and analyze data on the impact of Firelight's work.
• Work with grantmaking team and Head of Organizational Learning to enhance the collection, review and analysis and use of narrative and financial reports to assess the effectiveness of grantmaking activities.
• Work with the Head of Organizational Learning to plan, carry out, and assess thematic knowledge-sharing, peer-learning activities among grantee-partners.
• Document and share key findings from META Program Activities, including successes and challenges of Firelight's approach to M&E training.
• Conduct support visits to grantee-partners and participate in meetings, activities, and events organized by partners in order to 1) observe service delivery and operations, 2) generate practical and relevant information to support decision-making, and 3) ensure effective reflection and documentation of grantee accomplishments in support of vulnerable children.
• Generate content for Firelight's Newsflash to grantees.
• Build and maintain relationships with key in-country organizations and stakeholders who are involved with capacity building for CBOs.
• Support Firelight's grantmaking staff to utilize methods, procedures and tools to respond effectively to grantee-partners' varied capacity building needs and requests, ensuring an appropriate level of support.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• Degree in international development, public health, sociology, management or other relevant social?science field. Master's preferred.
• Five years professional work experience. Minimum of 2 years of relevant monitoring and evaluation or research experience, preferably including overseas work with HIV/AIDS and/or community-based programs, preferably in Africa.
• Experience in designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative research, preferably for HIV/AIDS-focused or community-based programs.
• Strong statistical and data analysis skills. Ability to interpret complex information.
• Strong communication and report writing skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to assume responsibility and take initiative in a fast-paced, flexible team. Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious, effective working relationships, within and outside the organization.
• Experience working and living in Africa highly preferable.
• Ability and willingness to travel at least 30% of the time in southern and eastern Africa.
• French skills highly desirable.

Application Procedure

By June 20, 2008, send an email to jobs@firelightfoundation.org, with "Organizational Learning Associate" in the subject line, to which you have attached the following four documents:

1. A cover letter explaining your relevant qualifications for the position,
2. Your résumé/CV,
3. A writing sample (5 page maximum), and
4. The names and contact information for three references familiar with your work.
   

Only those short-listed for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please.

The Firelight Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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