The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a 501(c)3 grantmaking foundation that receives an annual Congressional appropriation of over $315 million and is governed by a private, bipartisan Board of Directors. This unusual arrangement positions NED to play a unique role as America’s leading foundation for freedom, empowering the institution to be nimble, innovative, and risk-taking in support of democratic activists, civil society organizations, independent media, and the NED family core institutes (the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and the Solidarity Center).

We seek a motivated, energetic, organized, and resourceful Program Officer (LAC) to help strengthen the impact of our work and mission. This is an opportunity to join an ambitious institution and team committed to the cause of our time. The ideal candidate will be energized by the idea of being part of an expanding team supporting our brave partners on the frontlines of the fight for freedom and democracy around the world. This position is based in Washington, D.C.

Position Summary: 

The Program Officer will work with the LAC team leadership to manage the Endowment’s LAC program, particularly initiatives focused on Cuba and/or Venezuela. This role entails managing projects, conducting monitoring and evaluation, and providing political analysis.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely and flexibly with a diverse range of regional activists focused on the media, human rights, rule of law, conflict resolution, civic education, and other areas. 
• Monitor the implementation of NED-approved projects and evaluate the effectiveness and the institutional growth of NED grantees by analyzing grantee reports, providing feedback on implemented activities, maintaining continuous communication over the grant cycle, and conducting regular field visits.
• Produce written materials and presentations to provide funding recommendations to NED leadership.
• Monitor political developments in the region relevant to the portfolio to inform NED strategies and programming, including reading various US- and regional-based publications, meeting with political analysts and other contacts, keeping abreast of the changing political environment, and actively coordinating with other LAC team members on their country portfolios.
• Build and maintain relationships with like-minded organizations, including other donors, NED partners, and regional organizations.
• Travel to monitor existing grantees, identify new funding opportunities, and gain an on‑the-ground perspective on the political situation. The visits will include meetings with NED grantees, meetings with core institutes, potential civil society partners, other donors, and political analysts and opinion-makers.
• Think creatively about how to improve team effectiveness, grantee-reporting guidelines, communications with other teams at NED, etc.
• Liaise with other NED teams; participate in various working groups, and other efforts to improve NED’s overall functioning and effectiveness.
• Other duties as assigned.
• The level of responsibility and independence in assigned tasks will increase with experience.

Qualifications:

·       Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, Political Science, International Development, or a related discipline; Master’s degree preferred.

·       4+ years of experience for and 2+ years of living and working in the region. Prior experience on Cuba and/or Venezuela is a plus.

·       Significant experience in nonprofit work.

·       Experience in financial monitoring and reporting.

·       Knowledge of program evaluation techniques.

·       Regional knowledge of one or more countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

·       In-depth understanding of political issues and trends in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

·       Full professional fluency in Spanish is required.

·       Proficiency in Portuguese,  French, or Haitian Creole is a plus.

·       Ability to travel to countries within the region, as needed.

·       Excellent written and oral communication skills.

·       Exceptional analytical and interpersonal skills.

·       Ability to maintain professionalism under pressure.

·       High degree of organization and initiative.

·       Demonstrated ability to work as a team player, including coordination and facilitation skills.

·       Authorized to work in the United States. 

This position is part of the NED Bargaining Unit.

To Apply:

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, desired salary, and contact information for three professional references, of which one should be a supervisor.  Please, no phone call inquiries. 

Located in Washington, D.C., the salary range for this role is $64,500 - USD 102,750, plus benefits. The final offer for a successful candidate will be determined by a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations.

At NED, we recognize that our most important asset is our people. We value the diversity of skills and perspectives our team brings to our work. We believe an inclusive and supportive work environment fosters a culture of respect and appreciation for all individuals. NED is committed to creating a workplace that allows everyone to be their authentic selves and make meaningful contributions to our organization, our grantees, and our world.

NED strives to create a work experience that supports the well-being and healthy work-life balance of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package offers health insurance (includes no copay for mental health services), a generous retirement savings plan, paid parental, vacation, and sick leave, a hybrid workplace model, flexible work schedules, and wellness initiatives to ensure a positive work-life balance.

NED is dedicated to creating an environment of respect and collaboration where everyone is encouraged to participate and take ownership of their work. We offer flexible work schedules and, for most positions, the opportunity for weekly telework days. This hybrid approach allows our employees to balance their work and personal lives while still participating in the collaborative process at the heart of our mission.

The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics covered by applicable law. The NED is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for all qualified individuals and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business needs. The NED believes that diversity and inclusion among our team members are critical to our success as an organization operating globally and seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. 

Please, no phone call inquiries. For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org  or careers@ned.org.