Remote opportunity at
Wikimedia FoundationSenior Program Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa to implement regional funding programs and support Wikimedian communities. Operating major free knowledge initiatives…
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About This Role
The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa to implement regional funding programs and support Wikimedian communities. Operating major free knowledge initiatives including Wikipedia, the non-profit organization relies on volunteers and donors to expand global access to educational content. This role sits within the Community Resources team, which serves as the primary funding arm to support affiliates and volunteer contributors. The person in this position will…
Job Description
The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa to implement regional funding programs and support Wikimedian communities. Operating major free knowledge initiatives including Wikipedia, the non-profit organization relies on volunteers and donors to expand global access to educational content. This role sits within the Community Resources team, which serves as the primary funding arm to support affiliates and volunteer contributors.
The person in this position will manage grant portfolios, establish regional funding committees, conduct organizational assessments, and build trust-based partnerships across the region. Responsibilities also involve analyzing regional trends, designing grant strategies, facilitating collaborative learning, and reviewing grantee progress through reports and site visits. The role requires handling high complexity projects and collaborating with international stakeholders.
Candidates must be based in one of the approved hiring locations within the Sub-Saharan Africa region or other eligible countries and US states listed by the Foundation. International travel of one to three trips per year may be required when circumstances allow. Compensation is determined by factors such as skills, experience, and the applicant's location.
Responsibilities
- Implement the regional grantmaking strategy while factoring in community needs and regional context
- Manage, implement, and monitor the regional grant portfolio to align with impact goals
- Lead annual grant planning including proposal reviews and financial and narrative organizational assessments
- Build, onboard, and develop regional funding committees for transparent decision-making
- Establish and maintain trust-based relationships with regional communities, grantees, and applicants
- Review and approve grant reports and assess grantee progress through conversations, reports, and site visits
- Identify data trends and share insights with colleagues, committees, and movement partners
Requirements
- Solid knowledge of trust-based philanthropy or community-based grantmaking
- Experience in participatory decision-making structures
- International grantmaking experience
- Experience in nonprofit capacity building
- Strong strategic, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Proven communication and facilitation skills for working with volunteer communities
- Experience managing high complexity projects and stakeholders
- Willingness to accommodate cross-timezone scheduling requirements
- Proven English written and spoken proficiency
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity
- Global perspective with international living or working experience
- Must reside in an approved hiring location
Qualifications
- Experience working with online communities in the free knowledge movement
- Passion for or experience contributing to Wikipedia or other Wikimedia projects
- Proficiency in an additional language besides English
Core Skills
Benefits
- Competitive salary scaled to the applicant's location and experience
- Employment via a local third-party Employer of Record for non-US workers
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
What is the location policy for this role?
The position is remote, but applicants must be based within specific approved countries or US states. For Sub-Saharan Africa, applicants must be based in a country within current hiring locations in the region.
What is the salary range for this role?
For applicants based in the United States, the anticipated annual pay range is US$85,761 to US$130,513, adjusted for factors like local cost of living. For applicants outside the US, pay is adjusted to the country of hire.
Will this position involve travel?
Yes, the position may require one to three international trips each year when circumstances allow.
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