Jobs and Internships

LATIN AMERICA PROGRAM MANAGER

Job Description

The Bank Information Center (BIC) partners with civil society in developing and transition countries to influence the World Bank and other international financial institutions (IFIs) to promote social and economic justice and ecological sustainability. BIC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization that advocates for the protection of rights, participation, transparency, and public accountability in the governance and operations of the World Bank, regional development banks, and IMF. 

The Latin America regional work focuses on the World Bank Group (WBG, including the International Finance Corporation). BIC has strategic partnerships with non-governmental organizations throughout the region, and a key component of the program is to strengthen civil society capacity for informed engagement with the WBG on development issues in Latin America.

KEY Responsibilities

The position requires an individual who is a proven strategist, manager and fundraiser, and can provide guidance direction in managing a Latin America program. The Program Manager’s (PM) key responsibilities are listed below.

1) Management and Strategic Development

· Lead BIC’s Latin America program in coordination with senior management on program development and implementation.

· Manage LAC project staff and full or part time intern or assistant and other consultants who may be hired to carry out projects within the scope of the Latin America Program.

· Lead strategic planning and design of LAC Program work plan ensuring close coordination and alignment between the LAC work plan and the overall BIC Strategic Plan, working together with BIC’s Executive Director, Campaign Director and other BIC staff.

· Lead relevant WBG policy advocacy and analysis

·  Ensure execution of current grant deliverables for the Latin America Program, and ensure program stays within its budget.

2) Outreach and Communications

· Conduct outreach activities in the region that allow BIC to share information and to deepen its understanding of relevant issues and range of actors interested in IFI activities.

· Strengthen existing relationships and cultivate new contacts with civil society organizations (CSOs) and networks in the region, as well as with relevant academics, policy-makers, and the press. 

· Build and maintain relationships with organizations in the US and Europe that share BIC’s advocacy goals.

· Serve as an ‘IFI liaison’ for civil society, by developing relationships with IFI officials involved in the design, approval, and implementation of development policy and projects in the region, in order to inform and facilitate the direct engagement of local partners with these institutions.

3) Capacity Building and Advocacy Support

· Provide in-country training and ongoing advocacy support to strengthen the ability of CSOs in the region to influence WBG projects and policies effectively.

· Support affected communities in their analysis and advocacy campaigns on WBG-related “problem projects.”

· Collaborate with BIC’s partners to advocate for reform of the projects, policies and strategies of the World Bank Group with an emphasis in the following areas: transparency, accountability, participation, environment and human rights.

· Convene partners in specific WBG advocacy efforts associated with policy reviews or the WBG annual Board Fall and Spring meetings.

· Develop relationships with WBG staff who work in the LAC region.

4) Research and Writing

· Monitor World Bank Group, projects, policies, and initiatives that are of significant economic, environmental and social concern for affected groups in Latin America.

· Lead updating of LAC Institutional Web page/Toolkits.

· Produce analytical briefings and country-specific IFI updates on a periodic basis.

· Keep up to date on the WBG program in the LAC region and the analytic work that the WBG does there.

5) Fundraising

· Work with the Executive Director and Director for Finance in raising funds for the regional program, through identifying potential new funding sources, writing proposals, communicating with funders and producing periodic grant reports.

Qualifications

1) Demonstrated commitment to social change

2) Graduate-level degree in relevant social science field such as political science, Latin American studies,
environmental science, economics, etc.

3) At least 10 years of experience in the development or environment fields working for or collaborating
with NGOs or social movements, with at least 5 years experience with organizations in Latin America.

4) Thorough understanding of international development issues and specifically the role and activities of International Financial Institutions, and specifically the WBG.

5) Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.

6) Fluency in Spanish is essential and the ability to communicate in Portuguese is preferred.

7) Washington based with willingness to travel up to 30% of the time.

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

This is a full-time (40 hrs/week), salaried position.  Salary will be competitive for an equivalent NGO staff position and commensurate with experience. BIC offers outstanding benefits including generous annual leave with pay, fully covered health insurance, and a friendly work atmosphere in an international team.

Process

Send a cover letter, resume/CV and two short writing samples to  
or by fax to 202-737-1155.  Write “LAC Program Manager” on the
subject heading.  Qualified candidates will be considered on a rolling
basis. No phone calls, please. See www.bicusa.org for more
information.