ICE Program Officer; WF

Overview

The International Children’s Education (ICE) Program Officer works with the Program Director, the Senior Program Officer, a Program Associate, and other Wellspring staff on an international grantmaking program that works to transform basic education in Africa to ensure a relevant, high-quality primary and secondary education for all children within more equitable and accountable educational systems. The program includes thematic concentrations on evidence-building and accountability for the right to education.

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; building and maintaining new and current grantee relationships; and participating in funder collaboratives, among other things.

Additional responsibilities include mentoring junior staff, participation in cross-programmatic and foundation-wide activities, and development and implementation of funding strategies and grantmaking best practices.

It is envisioned that the new Program Officer’s onboarding will include significant overlap with the Senior Program Officer who currently manages ICE grants.

• Under the guidance of the Program Director and in collaboration with the Senior Program Officer, develop, refine, and implement grantmaking priorities and strategic approaches consistent with the program’s current multi-year work plan, proactively researching grantmaking opportunities and challenges.
• Work with the Senior Program Officer to refine the theory of change logic and tactics for the Evidence-Based Practice and Policy and Accountability for the Right to Education themes.
• Monitor developments in the field to identify emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities in alignment with approved program strategy.
• Attend conferences, funder collaborative meetings, and other learning-focused events on field-specific issues.
• Engage with the community of donors, NGOs and others working in the areas of Wellspring’s approved strategy for this program.
• Engage in creative use of convenings, co-funding, partnerships, pooled funds, and other tools alongside other partners to promote a common grantmaking agenda to advance the strategy, field learning, and leadership.
• Oversee regional and thematic knowledge-exchange convenings to promote learning among grantees

• Co-Manage an extensive existing grant portfolio from solicitation through assessment, recommendation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Conduct and maintain due diligence in sourcing, screening, selecting, evaluating, and strengthening existing and potential grantee partners
• Manage grantee relationships, conduct site visits, maintain regular contact with grantees about programming, solicit and develop funding proposals, determine appropriate funding levels (in compliance with Wellspring guidelines), and prepare grant recommendations.
• Ensure adherence to internal grantmaking processes via appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, and reporting.
• Write and edit grant summaries and other materials for official approval.
• Review progress reports, conduct evaluations of grantee programs, and monitor use of grant funds.
• Advise grantees, especially start-ups, on best practice approaches and tools, as well as information on organizational growth and development, managing leadership and staff transitions, and multi-year strategic planning as appropriate.
• Meet with current and potential grantees and conduct site visits internationally, including travel to remote areas.

• Educate Wellspring’s donors and engage in learning with team members on issues related to education quality and the right to education.
• Write and edit overview materials customized for internal Wellspring use, for donors, and for a public audience.
• Collaborate with colleagues and external parties to help guide a learning initiative for Wellspring grantees.
• Recommend and supervise consultants for specific projects as needed.
• Participat…