This is an interim backfill role to cover for an employee who will be out on parental leave. The duration of the assignment is targeted for 17 months starting in November, 2019. However, the start and end dates may change.
The Global Growth & Opportunity (GGO) division works to catalyze sustainable transformative change in the face of inequities and market failures, to realize the potential of untapped markets, and to see the economic and social benefits of including everyone. We focus on the areas of Agricultural Development; Financial Services for the Poor; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; and Gender Equality. We seek solutions that are sustainable, transformative, and inclusive with an eye toward applying technology innovations as well as data evidence to drive change in the world’s developing countries.
The goal of the foundation’s Agricultural Development (AgDev) program is to support country-led inclusive agricultural transformation across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The program focuses on four strategic goals that help drive agricultural transformation and that ensure this transformation is inclusive: increasing agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers (SHF); increasing SHF household income; increasing equitable consumption of safe, affordable, and nutritious diets year-round; and increasing women’s empowerment in agriculture. We invest in this sector and in these ways because increasing productivity in agriculture has proven to be more effective at lifting people out of poverty than growth in other sectors.
This position sits within the Director’s Office under the management of the Associate Officer, Director’s Office. You will work in close collaboration with the SPA and other members of the AgDev PA team.
The Program Assistant is a key member of the team. This role provides administrative and organizational support for Program Officers, Sr. Program Officers and Deputy Directors on the team. Efficiency, attention to detail, flexibility and good judgment are critical in this role to ensure smooth operation of the team.
- Provide administrative support including document creation, expense reports, reimbursements, check requests, organization, and maintenance of files.
- Manage complex calendars including meetings with participants in multiple time zones.
- Assist in scheduling and planning events including coordinating arrangements for participants, handling logistics, and disseminating materials.
- Act as a liaison with internal and external partners, grantees, government officials and consultants.
- Coordinate arrangements and logistics for frequent domestic or international travel.
- Maintain an organized system of tracking, monitoring, and prioritizing tasks and projects.
- Provide administrative support including document creation, expense reports, reimbursements, check requests, organization, and maintenance of files.
- Prioritize communications to ensure prompt responses to inquiries.
- Provide high-quality interactions, clear, and consistent communication.
- A minimum of 3 years’ work experience in an office setting, preferably in an administrative role for a complex and fast-paced organization, interacting intensively with internal and external contacts
- Is highly proactive in identifying team needs and opportunities and helps champion and resolve them.
- Experience setting priorities and meeting deadlines while balancing the needs of providing support for multiple individuals, including: calendar management; travel arrangements; and event planning assistance
- Excellent oral and written communications skills in an environment requiring diplomacy and good judgement
- Demonstrated effectiveness meeting deadlines in a role requiring continual attention to detail in composing, typing, and proofing materials
- Experience establishing organizational systems to improve efficiency and functioning in a changing environment
- Experience in learning and mastering new software applications
- Demonstrated positive, collaborative approach, with a commitment to client-service and problem solving