Associate Director-U.S. Economic Security

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. It is our anticipation that this position will be of finite duration and of limited term, the length of which will be determined as the initiative progresses.


RESPONSIBILITIES
Coordinates research and knowledge building for the Foundation in U.S. fiscal policy and economic security issues
Works as part of a team of program professionals to evaluate opportunities for investment in possible initiatives that address issues surrounding fiscal policy and economic security issues
Works with Evaluation professionals to ensure that knowledge gained from initiatives is channeled into ongoing programming
Represents the Foundation at external meetings and conferences
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
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
Graduate degree plus a minimum of 5 years experience in developing, analyzing, and framing economic security issues in government and not-for-profit sectors
Demonstrated expertise in specific economic security issues (e.g. pensions, healthcare, unemployment, employment, etc)
Demonstrated understanding of domestic economic and labor market dynamics, trends in pensions, savings and health care
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Experience building alliances and collaborative work with other partners
Advanced degree in economics, public policy or related field
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/211. Please note that only candidates whose backgrounds appear to be the best potential match will be contacted.