Program Associate, Bantwana Initiative

Description

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is a global nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world. Its fundamental goal is to ensure that all individuals can live their best and healthiest lives. World Education is a division of JSI that is dedicated to improving people’s lives around the world through education, social and economic development programs. The Bantwana Initiative of World Education is a specific initiative that works with governments, local organizations, and communities in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen comprehensive health, education, social protection, and economic resilience supports that improve the wellbeing of children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, violence, and harmful norms.

The Program Associate for the Bantwana Initiative will provide broad support to Boston-based and field staff. Key job responsibilities include administrative, travel, and finance backstopping, communications support, and new business development. Depending on shifting needs, the Program Associate may focus more heavily on one or two of the key areas of responsibility outlined below, or they may span all three.

Responsibilities

Administration and Communication Responsibilities (50% approximately)

• Support travel logistics and coordinate with the travel agency for conference and meeting travel
• Support development and upload of website and social media content, in consultation with program colleagues
• Maintain the division email accounts and shared events calendar as well as act as the “keeper” of logins and passwords for all division-wide accounts
• Support preparation and design of documents, presentations, proposals with basic content creation, formatting, and copy editing, production of graphics, etc.
• Plan/organized regular Boston office staff meetings and events, including support for remote (Zoom) webinars or online/hybrid meetings
• Ensure organized, up-to-date, and accessible maintenance and safekeeping of division documentation, tools, and other administrative resources

New Business Development (30% approx.)

• Work with NBD team to update and maintain NBD tracker and Action Plans
• Conduct daily web searches on identified platforms for funding opportunities and disseminate as appropriate
• Complete background research on potential opportunities or funders as requested
• Maintain division repository of final proposals, RFAs, corporate capability statements, partnership contacts up to date
• Support the development of proposals as needed, often in the role of Proposal Coordinator to ensure task distribution and accurate, on-time completion of content

Finance Backstopping (20% approx.)

• Participate in project budgeting and planning processes
• Support Program Officers to maintain project financial files, ensuring documentation is complete and audit ready
• Review field office financial documentation for compliance and audit readiness
• Prepare and submit purchase orders, invoices, and expense reports for approval

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Self-motivated and able to work independently – while also being a team player, ready to pitch in where needed
• Bachelor’s Degree (public health, education, international development, social work, or other relevant social sciences preferred but not required)
• Demonstrated skill set in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Commitment to providing high quality support and services to World Education’s field programs and local partners
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong interest in finance and administrative aspects of international development
• Strong problem solving skills and ability to work long/odd hours on tight deadlines on occasion
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and cross-cultural facility

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (a Plus, But Not a Requirement)

• Experience working or living in Sub-Saharan Africa or a developing country context
• Experience with systems such as WordPress, Concur, Salesforce, and AODocs
• Portuguese language skills