Senior Program Officer (SPO)

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Position Title: Senior Program Officer (SPO)
Location: Seattle
Country: United States
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the principle that all individuals, regardless of their identity or circumstances, deserve the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the organization emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. It offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employee engagement in various communities. The organization is committed to fostering a supportive environment for personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
As the Senior Program Officer on the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) team, you will be responsible for leading the global scaling and evolution of digital identity policies and technologies. Your primary focus will be on delivering impactful solutions for marginalized and vulnerable populations by addressing inequities and inefficiencies in policy implementation through digital platforms. You will drive the adoption of innovative digital identity technologies while proactively mitigating risks and overcoming barriers to access and use. A significant aspect of your role will involve advancing open ecosystems that promote the development of digital public goods, ensuring that digital technologies are adaptable and future-ready. You will collaborate with various stakeholders, including internal teams, governments, academia, and private sector partners, to build a robust ecosystem for digital identity solutions, emphasizing privacy and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security technologies to safeguard digital infrastructure.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and Execute Strategy: Design and implement global strategies to scale digital identity solutions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and emerging trends in digital public infrastructure.
• Make and Lead Investments: Create a portfolio of grants, contracts, and investments to achieve programmatic goals, working with partners to ensure successful impact outcomes.
• Consult with Grantees and Partners: Improve project impact by conducting site visits, providing operational guidance, and convening meetings with key partners.
• Scale Digital Identity Systems: Lead efforts to implement inclusive, secure, and accessible digital identity solutions for low-income and marginalized populations.
• Promote Digital Public Goods: Advocate for the adoption of open-source solutions and governance models that ensure sustainability and interoperability.
• Mitigate Risks: Develop strategies to enhance privacy and security in digital infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity preparedness in low-resource environments.
• Drive Innovation: Identify and implement new use cases and technologies that advance the impact and scalability of digital identity systems.
• Build Ecosystems: Cultivate partnerships to strengthen global and local ecosystems for digital identity, focusing on innovation and collaboration.
• Advance User-Centric Solutions: Test and scale technologies designed with end users in mind, prioritizing inclusivity and responsiveness to local contexts. 1
• Measure and Optimize Impact: Design metrics to assess the societal and economic impacts of digital identity, ensuring continuous refinement. 1
• Engage Partners: Build relationships with diverse stakeholders to co-develop solutions and drive global adoption of open digital ecosystems. 1
• Build Capacity: Strengthen the capabilities of governments and local institutions in low-resource geographies through technical assistance and knowledge transfer.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced Degree: A graduate degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as engineering, computer science, or physical sciences is required.
• Technology Scaling Expertise: Experience in designing, prototyping, scaling, and deploying digital systems, particularly with open-source platforms and AI/ML technologies.
• Critical Thinking: Ability to create and implement strategies in complex environments, integrating risk mitigation and sustainability.
• Global Perspective: Professional or lived experience in low-income and lower-middle-income countries is strongly preferred.
• Cybersecurity and Privacy: Knowledge of cybersecurity and privacy technologies in digital infrastructure implementation.
• Partnership Development: Proven success in building partnerships across diverse groups, including governments and private sector players.
• Impact Orientation: Commitment to equity and reducing barriers for underserved populations.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Ability to lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex concepts to diverse audiences.

Educational Background:
A graduate degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as engineering, computer science, or physical sciences is required to ensure a deep technical understanding of digital technologies and their implications.

Experience:
The position requires significant experience in designing, prototyping, scaling, and deploying digital systems, with a strong emphasis on open-source platforms and technologies. Private sector experience in leading large teams and projects is preferred, along with a demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement strategies in complex environments.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international scope of the role. Additional languages relevant to the regions of focus may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Seattle, WA, and requires the ability to travel up to 30% of the time, both domestically and internationally. The salary range for this role is between $166,300 to $249,500 USD, with higher ranges for Seattle and Washington D.C. Actual placement in the salary range will depend on the candidate's skills and experience. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, and candidates must be legally able to work in the country without visa sponsorship. The organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring practices.