[Hiring] Senior Program Officer @Wikimedia Foundation

Role Description

The Senior Program Officer will implement the regional funding programs serving Wikimedian communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Funding Strategy & Portfolio Management:
  • Implement the Community Resources grantmaking strategy while considering community needs, opportunities, movement trends, and the regional geopolitical and cultural context.
  • Analyze regional and global patterns to shape funding rationales and priorities.
  • Design program activities with colleagues to achieve significant, scalable impact.
  • Manage, implement and monitor the regional grant portfolio to ensure alignment with strategy, criteria, and impact goals.
  • Lead annual grant planning: identify and support prospective and returning grantees, review proposals, co-develop funding rationales with the regional funding committee, and conduct organizational assessments.
  • Work collaboratively across Foundation teams to support implementation of funding program and team objectives.
  • Represent the Foundation internally and externally as an ambassador for regional knowledge, priorities, and insights.
• Committee Development:
  • Build, onboard, and develop regional funding committees aligned with regional needs and opportunities.
  • Set agendas for committee discussions and facilitate inclusive funding deliberations.
  • Provide context, analysis, and synthesis of committee feedback into funding recommendations and decisions.
  • Provide constructive feedback to applicants and grantees on outcomes and expectations linked to funding decisions.
• Community & Funding Partner Management:
  • Build and sustain trust-based relationships with communities, grantees, and applicants across the region.
  • Understand community needs, dynamics, and challenges; support conflict resolution or sensitive discussions when required.
  • Support community, organizational/institutional strengthening of grantee partners.
  • Design and support convenings, collaborations, and knowledge sharing to enable learning amongst partners.
  • Engage regional philanthropic spaces and leaders to strengthen grantee support and advance meaningful philanthropy practices.
• Evaluation and Learning:
  • Review grantee progress through conversations, reports, and site visits, and share insight reports.
  • Review and approve grant reports, following up when necessary to ensure completeness.
  • Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities from grantmaking data to inform the grant strategy.
  • Share learnings with colleagues, committees, and movement partners.

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge of trust-based philanthropy or community-based grantmaking.
• Experience in participatory decision-making structures.
• Experience in grantmaking, particularly in an international context.
• Experience in nonprofit capacity building as a funder, consultant, or nonprofit leader.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills and creative problem-solving ability.
• Excellent organizational skills and judgment; ability to prioritize work and manage time.
• Proven ability to create constructive partnerships with the Wikimedia community, stakeholders, and fund-seekers.
• An open and transparent communication style.
• Experience managing high complexity projects and stakeholders.
• Willingness to accommodate scheduling requirements of frequent interactions across time zones.
• Proven English proficiency in written and spoken communication.
• Demonstrated commitment to and belief in equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• A global perspective, with significant experience living or working internationally.

Requirements

• This position may require 1-3 international trips each year when circumstances allow.

Benefits

• Competitive and equitable salaries.
• Remote-first organization with staff members in 40+ countries.
• Support for a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace.