Oxfam America

Gulf Coast Program Manager

Department: US Regional Office

REPORTS TO: 

Regional Director of US Regional Office

DURATION OF POSITION: 

Through June 2010

LOCATION: 

New Orleans, Louisiana or Biloxi, Mississippi

COORDINATES WITH:

Boston-based staff of US Regional Office; Sr. Domestic Policy Advisor; Gulf Coast Media Officer; Senior Research and Learning Officer; staff of Climate Change Team and Humanitarian Response Department as well as relevant program managers and staff of the Regional Program Department and the Policy and Communications Division.   

SUPERVISES:  

Gulf Coast field staff (approximately 7 people)

PURPOSE OF POSITION:  

Under the direction of the US Regional Director, the Program Manager will directly oversee Oxfam America’s Gulf Coast Program in Louisiana and Mississippi.  The Gulf Coast program is one of two programs of the US Regional Office.  The Program Manager will supervise field staff within a team-based environment, oversee the grants program, and provide overall coordination of the Gulf Coast program including evaluation, research, policy advocacy, media & communications and campaigning components.  The Program Manager will serve as the lead Oxfam America representative in the Gulf Coast region and demonstration leadership within the US Regional Office and within Oxfam America.  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Supervise field based staff in Mississippi and Louisiana and provide leadership for team approach in program development;
  2. Manage planning and strategic operations of Gulf Coast program in accordance with budget, strategic plan and organizational commitments;
  3. Provide support and direction to field staff in management of grantmaking and partner/ally relations in the Gulf Coast region; grantmaking program includes partner selection and support, program development, grant application process, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.
  4. In consultation with Regional Director, coordinate relevant Gulf Coast research, policy, media and communications, and campaigning efforts across relevant Oxfam America departments which include US Regional Office, Policy and Communications, Humanitarian Response Department and the Learning and Evaluation Department.  This includes coordinating work plans of Gulf Coast-dedicated staff which are managed by other department managers. 
  5. Institutionalize management and administrative systems appropriate to a regional field office;
  6. In consultation with the Regional Director and in coordination with the Gulf Coast team, lead program development of Oxfam initiatives in the Gulf Coast region in a post disaster context and within the Oxfam America strategic plan parameters.
  7. Provide leadership in creating environment in which field staff, other USRO staff and Oxfam America staff learn from our program actions and from economic, political and social dynamics and trends in the Gulf Coast region;
  8. Participate and represent Oxfam America in different external settings including meetings with peer funders; regional coalitions; government officials; national allies; etc. 
  9. Represent the USRO Gulf Coast program within Oxfam America and Oxfam International settings for purposes of planning, coordination, representation, learning, and other reasons.  It is expected that this will involve 4-6 trips to Boston, Washington, DC and other locale per year.
  10. In the event of another major emergency in Louisiana or Mississippi, provide operational leadership for an Oxfam America humanitarian response.  

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE POSITION:

  • Incumbent will stay abreast of professional standards, trends and issues affecting this set of responsibilities, demonstrating continuous learning of the field
  • S/he will work effectively and collaboratively in support of building a team-based culture of work, will perform all duties appropriately for a multi-cultural environment, treating all persons with dignity and respect, and will be familiar with and committed to Oxfam America mission and goals

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant social science field (political science, economics, sociology, international relations, geography, anthropology, etc

Required Experience and Core Competencies:

  1. 7 to 10 years of professional experience in grantmaking and philanthropy; social change; community development; non-profit management or other related area.
  2. Strong management skills including personnel management and program management including at least three years of program management experience including supervision of personnel; ability to use different management tools preferred;
  3. Strong track record of innovative and effective professional work including successful design and implementation of policies and programs.
  4. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a proven ability to write precisely and concisely for the general public and the internal Oxfam audience, as well as, the ability to address varied audiences.
  5. Highly developed organizational skills:  detail-oriented and able to develop and implement effective administrative and managerial systems. 

Preferred Experience and Core Competencies:

  1. Three to five years of relevant academic or professional work in the Gulf Coast region preferably, or in the Southeast region secondarily;
  2. Relevant experience in policy advocacy, government relations, campaigning, and/or corporate social responsibility;
  3. Experience in fundraising, managing foundation grants, and donor reporting.
  4. Fluency in conversational Spanish;

Please see our How to Apply page for application information. Oxfam America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.