Associate Director-International Development

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
The mission of the Rockefeller Foundation is to “promote the well-being” of humanity.
The Foundation focuses on addressing the root causes of serious problems, and on doing so around the world. As John D. Rockefeller said, “The best philanthropy is constantly in search of the finalities—a search for a cause, an attempt to cure evils at their source.” This approach has produced such breakthrough work as the professionalizing of public health, the eradication of yellow fever, the “Green Revolution” in Latin American, Asian and Indian agriculture, and the creation of public-private partnerships to develop promising new vaccines. With assets of more than $3 billion, it is one of the nation’s largest private foundations.

The Rockefeller Foundation works around the world to expand opportunities for poor or vulnerable people and to help ensure that globalization’s benefits are shared more equitably. It is one of the few institutions to conduct such work both within the United States and internationally.

Our approach is driven by a search for new ideas with unusual potential for significant impact. We seek big ideas in both traditional and non-traditional ways, using facts, analysis, current academic thought and literature, experts and the views of the ultimate beneficiaries. Ideas are selected based on their potential for impact; each must address a problem with severe consequences and have the potential to positively affect a large number of poor or vulnerable people.

The Foundation then takes those ideas and turns them into actionable initiatives using the full range of its assets and capacities to support each initiative. Finally, we then learn from our work, and help others to do so, seeking to identify, measure and disclose what works and what doesn’t.

The Foundation currently maintains offices in New York and San Francisco in the United States, a study and conference center in Bellagio, Italy, and regional offices in Bangkok, Thailand, and Nairobi, Kenya. Annual grant-making has averaged over $130 million per year in the past five years. The Foundation currently employs a total workforce of 175 employees in its New York and regional offices.


POSITION SUMMARY
Associate Directors are the Foundation’s core professional staff members. They will play a key role in finding, shaping, developing and implementing new initiatives for the Foundation. They work with research professionals to identify and understand global trends, issues, challenges and opportunities. They are members of teams exploring for ideas, and they help to catalyze ideas and turn them into actionable initiatives. They partner with evaluation professionals to learn from the work and incorporate lessons learned.

Associate Directors should possess the skills to contribute to the emerging work of the Foundation—regardless of the particular population, issue or geography. The work will be fast-paced, and requires flexibility in approach and focus. A successful candidate must be able to prioritize, focus on end products, take initiative, and work both independently and with teams spread out across the globe.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working within a team structure, sharing information and insights, and engaging in ongoing intellectual exchange. The candidate must be comfortable working with the academy, non-profit, government and corporate sectors. This position will report to a Managing Director, who in turn will report to a VP, Foundation Initiatives.


RESPONSIBILITIES
Bring intellectual leadership and creative thinking to the design and development of new program initiatives that flexibly respond to opportunities that are high impact and are responsive to need
Initiate and execute an implementation strategy, working as a member of a team
Contribute to initiative execution, including work with diverse grantees and funding partners
Work with program staff, grantees and partners to facilitate the flow of information, evaluation and learning
REQUIREMENTS
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS
We seek highly motivated people with outstanding credentials and a strong record of professional accomplishment and leadership. In addition, we place high value on: flexibility, resourcefulness, responsibility, tenacity, independence, energy, and self-confidence.
A proven ability to think analytically, critically and possesses the agility to translate ideas and insights into action through coherent and viable initiatives
An action oriented, entrepreneurial person who is a self starter that can work independently, as well as in teams
Demonstrated people management skills, including the ability to manage complex relationships with grantees, partners, and consultants
Administrative skills, in particular an appreciation for the importance of strong fiscal management
Meeting facilitation skills – the ability to listen and learn from diverse constituencies
Exemplary communication skills, both oral and written
Demonstrated organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Strong time management proficiency
Sound judgment and integrity
Ability to motivate staff through effective leadership, mentoring, coaching, development, facilitation, evaluation and rewards
Commitment to RF's mission and core values of equity and fairness, diversity, voice and participation, knowledge and creativity, humility and respect, and honesty and integrity


REQUIREMENTS
PhD in Economics or Development plus a minimum of 5 years related working experience
Experience working as an economist or development expert in either the public or nonprofit sector
Experience developing, analyzing or researching economic policy, or experience developing, managing or analyzing development practices or programs
Experience working with global institutions, direct work experience in developing countries preferred
Creativity and the ability to apply a new perspective to problems and opportunities
A track record of turning ideas into measurable outcomes
Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, outlining options, presenting position papers that articulate a well-supported point-of-view and point to concrete actions
Experience on multi-party projects with defined objectives, deliverables, monitoring and evaluation of results
Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort
Experience with evaluative research methods helpful
The ability to travel extensively both domestically and internationally


COMPENSATION
The Rockefeller Foundation offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. The Foundation provides a very generous package of benefits.

HOW TO APPLY
To be considered for this position, please visit our web site at http://www.rockfound.org/AboutUs/CareerOpportunity/206. Please note that only candidates whose backgrounds appear to be the best potential match will be contacted.