About Global Greengrants Fund

Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) is a public charity registered in Boulder, Colorado, and London, UK, that supports grassroots activists and civil society organizations around the world working to address environmental and social justice in over 160 countries. GGF applies a participatory and decentralized model in making grants to grassroots groups through regional and thematic boards of advisors, global partner networks, and independent funds, to support grassroots environmental and social justice action. Global Greengrants Fund believes solutions to environmental harm and social injustice come from people whose lives are most impacted. Every day, our global network of people on the frontlines and donors comes together to support communities to protect their ways of life and our planet. Because when local people have a say in the health of their food, water, and resources, they are forces for change.

In 2024, Global Greengrants Fund is amid a strategic journey in which we collectively center our values, including diversity, equity and inclusion, and organizational care in our work, and to rediscover our identity and potential after 30 years of work. We have experienced tremendous growth over the past two years and we are thoughtfully, yet rapidly, growing our annual grantmaking, our philanthropic advocacy, and our global partnerships and collaborations to new levels. This includes creating a globally networked learning organization and transforming our organizational culture to be more collaborative and self-steering – we call this our transformative journey. The Regional Program Director needs to understand the challenges and opportunities that come with these transformations and be able to remain flexible, steady, and adaptable while inspiring the team through change processes.

‍

The role

Global Greengrants Fund is looking to hire an energetic and passionate individual who has a deep understanding of philanthropy and grantmaking in Latin America and the emergent safety and security needs of environmental defenders and activists both in the region and globally. They have a commitment to climate, environmental, and social justice grassroots movements and their importance in shifting social, political, and economic systems from ones that are vulnerable, unsustainable, and unjust, to ones that are resilient, sustainable, and equitable while providing holistic support to activists under threat. The Regional Program Director – Latin America is a full-time role providing leadership in developing and implementing the goals and strategies of GGF through being connected to environmental and social justice movements, and by identifying emerging opportunities and needs for strategic points for impact in the Latin American Region.

In taking up this role, the successful individual will be instrumental to:

• Provide leadership and expertise for the operationalization of GGF’s strategic plan to ensure achieving organizational outcomes from a regional perspective and where required globally; ensure that the programmatic work substantively and effectively advances strategic goals in Latin America, is highly relevant and responsive to the context of environmental and social justice movements in the region, and is aligned with organizational priorities and values.
• Oversee regional program strategy development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for GGF’s program work in Latin America, ensuring our grantmaking process is robust, responsive, and aligned with GGF’s values and strategy, and that our work generates solutions and addresses challenges and opportunities of our regional networks, with a particular focus on environmental and social justice movements in Latin America.
• Build, manage, and maintain relationships with the regional network of advisors, regional movement actors, and relevant peer organizations in Latin America, to connect with and listen to the voices of the advisory network in guiding our programmatic vision in alignment with GGFs overarching strategy as a network organization, including for safety and security issues. Work to build collaborations and partnerships to identify gaps and avail of opportunities in strengthening GGF’s model of a learning organization.
• Oversee strategic development and implementation of global program strategies, projects, and initiatives as part of the overarching program strategy as required.
• Oversee strategic development and implementation of an integrated approach to providing holistic support to activists under threat, direct context-responsive operational mechanisms, and coordinate organizational approaches, strategies, and responses to safety and security needs.
• Contribute to ensuring strategic alignment, synergy, and cross-team integration among the programs team as well as across the development, communications, and other GGF teams as well as GGF’s regional network of coordinators and advisors in their efforts to make an impact.
• Actively participate in the leadership of the organization, providing valued and solution-oriented input on critical problems, working with others to address programmatic, human resource, financial, and legislative issues as they arise to ensure that GGF is effective in achieving its desired outcomes as well as conducting itself as a strong and values aligned organization.

The Director will come into the role as part of a team of approximately 40 staff, with a strong culture grounded in a commitment to learning and growing and mutual accountability. The Regional Program Director in the present accountability structures is managed by the Vice President of Programs while building and working in more collaborative ways.

‍

The candidate profile

Successful applicants will have significant relevant experience in similar roles in non-profit environmental, development, social/environmental justice, feminist, gender, human rights organizations, philanthropy, movement building, and/or funding organizations. They are someone who understands how social change takes place and the different ways and strategies social and environmental justice movements use to make an impact in the world (from grassroots activism to international advocacy) and can apply that understanding to develop and implement program strategies and plans for GGF’s program initiatives to make the most meaningful impact. Demonstrated experience in creating Latin American regional program strategies and operationalizing their implementation to address the needs of movements and how movements are supported by philanthropy. Strong familiarity with social and environmental justice movements in Latin America and relevant frameworks. Proven experience in developing safety and security protocols for environmental defenders and demonstrated knowledge of protection tools for nonprofits and grassroots organizations, including physical security, tech and digital security, and emergency support. They will demonstrate abilities to create a values-aligned environment of trust, equity, and accountability to our work and mission, and ensure involvement of the team in developing strategies and in the sharing of information. They should have excellent interpersonal understanding, relationship building, and interpersonal skills to build strong alliances with diverse constituencies and manage complex politics, positioning, and relationships. They will also thrive in a virtual environment, motivated to take on challenges and collaboratively find innovative and creative solutions.

‍

Personal characteristics

The successful candidates will be rooted in feminist politics while pushing the boundaries of philanthropic discourse and be comfortable holding and articulating a radical vision that seeks to go beyond conventional thinking. They will have experience and/or be knowledgeable about social movement building and have demonstrable skills and ability to broker conversations and negotiations with people from the Latin American region and across the world. They will be transparent and adaptive leaders with a commitment to lifelong learning and a drive to mentor, coach, and share leadership and who can intellectually drive the vision and ensure that there is space and opportunity for others to come along on their transformational journey while taking meaningful purpose-driven actions. They will have skills to give, receive, and work with feedback constructively, with the intellectual and emotional resilience necessary to take up critical responsibilities for an international global organization. They are self-reflective and passionate about multi-directional accountability. Relevant lived experiences related to GGF’s work and community would be a distinct advantage. Multiple language skills would be ideal, while English and Spanish fluency is a must.

The right candidate will understand Global Greengrants Fund’s core values and be committed to the guiding principles and mission of Global Greengrants Fund and ensure they uphold them in the way they take up the responsibilities of the role.

‍

Salary & benefits

Salaries at Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) depend on applicable salary scales and internal pay policies including equity considerations and budget. Due to how salary negotiations perpetuate existing structural inequities, GGF has moved away from salary negotiation processes for any candidate. We will make our best offer, and it will be the same regardless of the candidate.

The salary range for this position for someone based in the Latin America region as per workband E is between $100,000 and $110,000.

Benefits: Group medical and life insurance. Paid time off (10 vacation days in the first year, 12 sick days, four personal days, and up to 11 paid public holidays). Contribution to retirement savings. Remote work and flexible work arrangements.

‍

Location

Remote in Latin America with significant travel. You must have the legal right to work where you are located.

‍

How to apply

Please submit in English, a current CV, along with a cover letter explaining why you want to work for Global Greengrants Fund and how you meet the requirements of the role. Please include “Regional Program Director – Latin America” in the subject line of the email and submit it to careers@greengrants.org by September 15, 2024, at 23:00 MT. Please see the detailed Job Description by clicking here. If you’re intrigued by this position but feel like you don’t fit the profile precisely, please still apply. You can ask questions or seek further information to feel able to apply by writing to careers@greengrants.org.

We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Women; trans, non-binary, and intersex persons; persons with disabilities and other candidates from historically oppressed groups, of all ages, are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Global Greengrants Fund is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Global Greengrants Fund are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression.

‍