Job Description

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Summary

Wikipedia and its sister projects are created by volunteers. They curate the knowledge that the world has come to rely on.  The Senior Program Officer is charged with co-designing and implementing a grantmaking strategy to 1) Grow our communities of volunteers, especially in places in the world that are just coming online, 2) Empower our existing communities to be more effective in their work and 3) Ensure that community investments are made more equitably around the world.  You will do this by making grants to our Wikimedia affiliates and free knowledge ecosystem partners and individuals, with an emphasis on those who are organizing seedling efforts to sprout communities in emerging parts of the world. It is an exciting time to join a team and help define the path forward for the grant programs. 

This Senior Program Officer will also manage one the current grant program which support the growth of emerging communities that have annual programs and operating expenses with previous experience with funding mechanisms. The program is run through a participatory grantmaking process and a focus on supporting programs that help diversify the knowledge content. They will work together with participatory grant committee members, grant applicants and grantees, and members of the Community Resources team.

This is a remote role and interested applicants from outside of the US are encouraged to apply.

You are responsible for:

• Contributing to the strategic direction of the team
  • Continually develop the program to support the priorities of the Foundation and the goals of the Wikimedia movement
  • Support the development and implementation of a measurement and evaluation system to track ongoing progress for the grants program
  • Ability to proactively network, identify, and recruit prospective grantees
  • Apply your domain expertise in free knowledge ecosystems and volunteer communities to support the design and implementation of solutions that achieve the desired outcomes of the 2030 Strategic Direction and Movement Strategy

• Supporting the grants cycle
  • Oversee one of the grants proposal process from start to finish
  • Manage communications related to the grants cycle
  • Work closely with grant applicants in the preparation of their proposals and reports, providing guidance on strategic planning, programming, staffing, board development, and financial management
  • Support due diligence and eligibility reviews for interested organizations
  • Coordinate WMF staff, committee, and community inputs following the grants process, and ensure timely creation of expert materials in preparation for proposal review
  • Work together with the Grants Administrator and the Finance & Administration team to obtain approvals, disburse and track grant funds, and ensure that accurate data is maintained in the Fluxx grants database
  • Evaluate the annual plan grant process after each round, summarize feedback and implement recommendations for process improvements
  • Review mid-term and final grant reports, provide feedback to grantee, and share findings with committee, fellow staff, and the community at large
  • Support grant analysis on impact of funds, share results publicly
  • Hold regular meetings with grantees
  • Conduct site visits, perform on-site financial review, and document and share learning with relevant stakeholders
  • Update the grants space on Meta wiki as needed

• Facilitating the grants committees’ participatory decision-making
  • Recruit and orient new committee members
  • Facilitate regular committee meetings
  • Create and analyze the results of surveys and other assessment tools at all stages of the review process
  • Co-create and publish detailed public staff assessments of each proposal
  • Create or coordinate analysis, including detailed financial analysis, and oversee all material in preparation for deliberations, and be prepared to field detailed questions about proposals and analysis from the committee during the deliberations

Skills and Experience:

• Solid knowledge of community-based or place-based grantmaking
• Experience in nonprofit capacity building as a funder, consultant, or nonprofit leader
• Strong strategic and analytical skills and creative problem-solving ability
• Excellent organizational skills and judgment; ability to prioritize work, manage time and multiple priorities, and meet deadlines;
• Attention to detail and accuracy as well as the ability to set realistic goals and objectives
• Proven ability to create constructive partnerships with the Wikimedia community, stakeholders, and fund-seekers: skills in facilitating engaging, motivating, coordinating and supporting volunteer communities, and in negotiating the sometimes chaotic and contentious nature of free-thinking communities
• An open and transparent communication style; ability to engage and have dialog with individuals in a public setting and in a non-polarizing way
• Willingness to accommodate scheduling requirements of frequent interactions across time zones, with individuals and organizations across the world
• Proven English proficiency in written and spoken communication, including speaking in front of large groups and reacting publicly in high pressure situations, and comfort in producing widely distributed written material
• Fluency in another language other than English, preferably in an East and Southeast Asian language
• A global perspective, with significant experience living or working internationally
• Demonstrated commitment to and belief in equity, inclusion, and diversity
• This position may require 3-6 international trips each year when circumstances allow

Additionally, we’d love it if you have:

• Experience in grantmaking, particularly in an international context
• Experience working with online communities, particularly in the free knowledge movement
• Experience in participatory decision making structures
• Passion for or experience contributing to Wikipedia/Wikimedia project

The Wikimedia Foundation is… 

…the nonprofit organization that hosts and operates Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world in which every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We believe that everyone has the potential to contribute something to our shared knowledge, and that everyone should be able to access that knowledge, free of interference. We host the Wikimedia projects, build software experiences for reading, contributing, and sharing Wikimedia content, support the volunteer communities and partners who make Wikimedia possible, and advocate for policies that enable Wikimedia and free knowledge to thrive. The Wikimedia Foundation is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that relies on donations. We receive financial support from millions of individuals around the world, with an average donation of about $15. We also receive donations through institutional grants and gifts. The Wikimedia Foundation is a United States 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with offices in San Francisco, California, USA.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Wikimedia Foundation values having a diverse workforce and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate against any person based upon their race, traits historically associated with race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy or related medical conditions, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.

If you are a qualified applicant requiring assistance or an accommodation to complete any step of the application process due to a disability, you may contact us at re********@wi*******.org or (415) 839-6885.

U.S. Benefits & Perks*

• Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage for employees and their eligible families (yes, fully paid premiums!)
• The Wellness Program provides reimbursement for mind, body and soul activities such as fitness memberships, baby sitting, continuing education and much more
• The 401(k) retirement plan offers matched contributions at 4% of annual salary
• Flexible and generous time off – vacation, sick and volunteer days, plus 19 paid holidays – including the last week of the year.
• Family friendly! 100% paid new parent leave for seven weeks plus an additional five weeks for pregnancy, flexible options to phase back in after leave, fully equipped lactation room.
• For those emergency moments – long and short term disability, life insurance (2x salary) and an employee assistance program
• Pre-tax savings plans for health care, child care, elder care, public transportation and parking expenses
• Telecommuting and flexible work schedules available
• Appropriate fuel for thinking and coding (aka, a pantry full of treats) and monthly massages to help staff relax
• Paid travel to Wikimedia Foundation events all around the world!
• Equipment including a laptop, monitor, plus a one-time stipend to cover any additional needs to make sure you have the best work experience
• Great colleagues – diverse staff and contractors speaking dozens of languages from around the world, fantastic intellectual discourse, mission-driven and intensely passionate people

*Please note that for remote roles located outside of the U.S., we defer to our PEO to ensure alignment with local labor laws.

More information

Wikimedia Foundation
Blog
Wikimedia 2030
Wikimedia Medium Term Plan
Our Commitment to Equity
This is Wikimedia Foundation
Facts Matter
Our Projects
Our Tech Stack

How to Apply

Job Types: Full-Time.

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