Job Description About Us:

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is an alliance of foundations committed to cultivating healthy, equitable, renewable, resilient, and culturally diverse food and agriculture systems shaped by people, communities, and their institutions. The Global Alliance represents approximately 30 foundations from 10 countries with diverse interests and expertise, spanning health, agriculture, food, conservation, cultural diversity and community well-being. At the core of the Global Alliance is a shared belief in the urgency of leveraging our resources to help shift food and agriculture systems towards greater sustainability, security, and equity, and in the power of working together and with others to effect positive change. The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grantmaking programs.

Position Description:

The Global Alliance is seeking a new Working Group Coordinator to support its four current Working Groups: Championing Agro-Ecological Transitions Working Group (AETWG); Advancing Well-Being Working Group (AWBWG); Externalities and True Cost Accounting Working Group (ETCWG); and, Scaling for Sustainability Working Group (SFSWG).

Responsibilities and Tasks:

The Working Group Coordinator will contribute to the Working Group’s ambitions and the Global Alliance’s broader mission and mandate through:

Working Group Coordination and Management:

• Serve as liaison for, and ensure that information is flowing within and between, Working Groups and between the Working Groups and the Steering Committee
• Report regularly to, and serve as primary point person for, the Global Alliance Coordinator on the Working Groups and their activities
• Develop Working Group agendas in collaboration with Working Group Leads, and support the coordination of routine calls and meetings as well as larger stakeholder convenings including scheduling, logistics, meeting summaries, etc.
• Contact and coordinate with members about Working Group responsibilities

Strategy Development:

• Monitor/follow on-going discussions and identify emerging issues, research questions, policies, trends, and potential strategic responses within each of the Working Groups
• Work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-sector context on complex issues, facilitating progress towards tangible results and solutions
• Proactively make connections across issues, people, ideas, and practice to advance the Working Groups’ goals and ambitions
• Assist in development of alliance-wide meetings and strategies such as the annual gathering

Project Management:

• In collaboration with Working Group Leads, assist in management of Working Group projects and funding
• Support the cultivation of project funding and follow-up in partnership with participating foundations
• Support partnerships and collaboration with partners, other institutions, and relevant affinity groups
• Assist with the management of project reporting, grant-tracking, and financial oversight

Organizational Development:

• Collaborate with the Coordinator, Steering Committee, Working Group Leads, and participating foundations to realize the Global Alliance’s goal and principles
• Facilitate online and offline Working Group communications and organizing with processes and tools to maximize effective communication and coordination
• Develop and regularly update Working Group communications materials, including the Global Alliance’s website and communications hub
• Help build, and contribute to, the Global Alliance’s culture of being strategic, targeted, collaborative, integrated, iterative, and participatory

Learning and Evaluation:

• Participate on the Global Alliance’s M&E Committee and engage in ongoing and active assessment of Working Group design and effectiveness
• Support documentation and evaluation of the work of the Working Groups, including Developmental Evaluation (DE) within the Working Groups

Qualifications:

• Work effectively across multiple issues as it relates both to programmatic content and to broader social change processes
• Have an understanding of, and explicit experience working within, the field of philanthropy, preferably related to strategic networks, social change strategies, and collective impact
• Have a high level of energy and passion and be a strong advocate for the Global Alliance’s goal and principles and its role within the philanthropic landscape
• Have experience managing relationships with senior-level stakeholders in the public, private, and/or nonprofit sectors
• Have demonstrated leadership and management experience in an organization similar to the Global Alliance
• Be open to diverse opinions and points of view and promote collaboration, conflict resolution, and decision- making
• Possess the ability to take initiative, think strategically, and work creatively
• Be a self-motivated creative problem solver, highly organized and detail-oriented, able to prioritize multiple New Venture Fund / Global Alliance Call For Applications: Working Group Coordinator 2 demands and complete tasks on time
• Be an effective team player and relationship-builder with others in a collaborative workspace
• Possess cultural competence with advocates and funders from different parts of the world
• Exhibit a high level of discretion and confidentiality
• Have excellent and effective oral and written communication skills in many settings
• Have a high level of administrative acumen
• Have computer proficiency, as well as familiarity with WordPress and BuddyPress
• Be proficient in basic financial management
• Have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree; a Master’s degree is considered an asset
• Have 7+ years of experience, with a significant emphasis on experience relevant to this role
• Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French preferred

Other Details of the Position:

Competitive consulting rate commensurate with experience and qualifications. Initial contract is 0.6 FTE (negotiable) for 12 months, with the possibility to renew based on funding. Work flow may require flexible time commitments. Location is negotiable and the ability to travel is considered an asset. Compensation this position is How to apply DeadlineSeptember 12, 2014