ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice is the only philanthropic organization working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support brilliant and brave grantee partners in the U.S. and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice because we all deserve to live our lives freely, without fear, and with dignity. 

Astraea is the first grantmaker to hundreds of organizations; Astraea plays a catalytic role for LGBTQI groups worldwide – notably those led by lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, trans and gender-nonconforming folks, intersex people, and people of color. Our grantmaking, capacity building, media and communications, and philanthropic advocacy programs support their work to build powerful justice movements. Astraea has granted over $49 million to LGBTQI activists and artists in our 45-year history, a proud public foundation, and one of the world’s first queer feminist funds.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Astraea seeks a dedicated, passionate, and collaborative Program Officer to sustain our Intersex Human Rights Fund (IHRF) and join our program team. Working with the Intersex Fund and the program team, the Program Officer, IHRF will be responsible for managing relationships with grantee partners, providing support and accompaniment, engaging in capacity building and advocacy in philanthropy, and participating in learning and evaluation of IHRF and Astraea’s programs. The program officer reports to Astraea’s Associate Director, IHRF, and can be based anywhere in the world. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Grantmaking

• Develop and manage the Intersex Human Rights Fund’s (IHRF) grantmaking portfolios in relevant regional and thematic portfolios, including designing, updating, or reviewing regional or thematic strategies and budgets, conducting outreach to applicants, writing, and disseminating requests for proposals, soliciting input from activists and advisors, writing grant summaries, and recommending grants for approval
• Contribute to the development of in-depth knowledge and strategic analysis of the IHRF portfolio, including current trends, threats and opportunities, and critical resources for people and organizations
• Manage relationships with the IHRF’s Advisory Board, including support and communication with advisors. 

Capacity-Strengthening and Accompaniment

• Manage relationships with potential applicants and current grantees, including resolving questions and issues, maintaining regular communications, engaging in networking, and conducting site visits
• Provide capacity strengthening and accompaniment support to grantee partners, including through organization of convenings and training, securing their access to technical assistance resources, and support with resource mobilization

Philanthropic Advocacy

• Engage in strategic philanthropic and movement partnerships by working closely with partner organizations, consultants, and funder and activist advisory groups
• Be a key player in representing Astraea at local and international grantmaking and advocacy conferences and donor affinity groups as appropriate to Astraea’s philanthropic advocacy goals and participate in public speaking engagements, and support grantee partner access to such spaces 
• Work collaboratively with IHRF and program team leadership, and Astraea’s development team to help secure and retain resources for Astraea’s programs
• Coordinate philanthropic advocacy or organizational initiatives through programmatic oversight, project coordination, budget management, strategy co-creation, and implementation, as well as liaison with activists, peer organizations, and consultants

Research & Communications

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of issues and trends facing intersex organizations and movements globally, with specific regional expertise and focus, particularly in Astraea’s and IHRF’s geographic and thematic focus areas
• Collaborate with the communications team on media and communications, generating data and reporting to impact philanthropy and develop materials that highlight the work of the IHRF grantee partners and support Astraea’s strategic goals

Learning & Evaluation (L&E)

• Gather, analyze, and document issue-, country- and grantee-specific information to feed into Astraea’s grantmaking, learning and evaluation, and development efforts 
• Participate in the program design, implementation, and evaluation processes, including evaluating grantee progress and ability to link analysis, planning, and evaluation
• Support the learning & evaluation activities of IHRF, including coordinating with IHRF and program team members on mid-term check-in calls with grantee partners and contributing to the review and analysis of grantee reports/program activities

Cross-team Collaborative Work

• Participate in efforts to strengthen team capacity around digital security, particularly in the areas of communications and data storage

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields (e.g., gender studies, international relations, social sciences, public policy, international human rights law) or equivalent work experience 
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience with intersex movements, gender, and racial justice, women’s rights, LGBTQI and human rights or social justice movements
• Commitment to and knowledge of issues facing intersex, LGBTQI and feminist movements and activists globally
• Experience in working in or with gender justice and racial justice, women’s rights, LGBTQI, human rights, or social justice movements 
• Proficiency in general computer and web-based technology, including word processing, spreadsheets, and grantmaking databases
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines and develop creative solutions
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to articulate a clear vision for social justice using a gender and racial justice lens, facilitation, and public speaking skills  
• Ability to work and communicate with diverse audiences and multi-stakeholders, including donors, peer funders, community members, and grantees
• Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to travel within the US and internationally up to 25% of work schedule 
• Passion for Astraea’s mission as a public foundation and a queer feminist fund
• Understanding and acceptance of Astraea’s core values and guiding principles as a social justice funder

Preferred:

• Experience working in an international organization, including experience working with remote teams
• Experience with overseeing the work of consultants
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience with grantmaking processes and procedures and familiarity with participatory or trust-based grantmaking models
• In addition to English, knowledge of a second language related to IHRF’s programmatic portfolios
• Comfortable talking about identities and issues related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, class, ability, or gender in plain, specific terms 

COMPENSATION

Astraea offers a competitive salary and benefits for this position, including resources for professional development. The annual compensation is $80,000USD. 

HOW TO APPLY

All applicants must provide a resume/CV and cover letter to jobs@astraeafoundation.org with Program Officer, IHRF, in the subject line or submit via the form on our website by October 15th, 2022. The resume/CV and cover letter can be in a combined document where necessary. Please, no phone calls. Only applicants being considered for interviews will be contacted. 

 Astraea is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse (multi-gender, cross-class and multi-racial), collaborative and sustainable work environment. We select, place, train, and promote the best-qualified individuals based upon relevant factors such as work quality, attitude, and experience to provide equal opportunity for all of our employees without regard to non-work-related factors such as sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sex characteristics, age, marital status, disability, economic status, personal appearance including height and weight, family responsibility, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other status. We strive to provide an inclusive interview experience for all, including people with disabilities. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates needing individualized support during the hiring process. Please express that with your cover letter and resume submission.

For more information, visit www.astraeafoundation.org.