Description

Program Manager. Nairobi. Posting Date: 02/10/2026. Deadline: 02/24/2026

Role Title: Program Manager

Contract Type: Regular

Reporting To: Program Director

Program/Department/Unit Name: Programs

Location: New York

Team Name: Security and Rights

The Security and Rights Opportunity aim to strengthen public safety in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, and Nigeria by advancing people-centred alternatives to punitive security approaches that undermine rights and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. Working with local communities, civil society, and governments, it aims to elevate citizen voices in shaping security policies, demonstrate effective community-driven safety models, promote rigorous civilian oversight of security institutions, develop holistic safety metrics, and cultivate public champions and coalitions that advocate for rights-respecting reforms. Over the next four years, it will connect local innovations to national, regional, and global policy arenas, counter fear-based security narratives through strategic communications, and foster South-South knowledge exchange to support systemic, democratic, and inclusive approaches to public safety.

Role Purpose

The Security and Rights Opportunity is designed to mobilize teams, partners, and resources around the complex public safety challenges facing communities in Kenya, Nigeria, Colombia Brazil and Mexico. It supports the implementation of people-centred approaches to safety that challenge securitized, punitive models and instead prioritize dignity, accountability, and the lived realities of affected communities. Working closely with colleagues and partners, the Program Manager will help execute the Opportunity's strategy in Kenya and Nigeria specifically, supporting ongoing community-level pilots, narrative interventions, strategic litigation efforts, and engagements with local and national actors. The role requires sustained attention to volatile and politically sensitive environments while enabling adaptive learning and collaboration across diverse partners.

The Program Manager will work jointly with other members of the team to manage day-to-day coordination with grantees and collaborators in Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, and Benue and Bayelsa States in Nigeria

Key responsibilities

• Effectively manage the grant-making process by communicating with grantees for proposal submission, assisting in grant record preparation, grant processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes.

• Manage relationships with partners, in close coordination with Geographic Policy Groups as relevant, and work with them to achieve OSF's strategic objective through the opportunity.

• Work collaboratively in developing, assessing, and revising program strategies.

• Work with leadership to maintain grant-making practice aligned with OSF's approach to grant-making and in compliance with organizational and external standards and regulations.

• Assist in the construction, maintenance, and assessment of grant making portfolio(s).

• Contribute to larger opportunity strategy

• Process and oversee progress of consultant contracts

• Monitor progress implementation, project risks, and other relevant status updates and communicate to Director of Programs regularly

Key internal relationships

Director, Programs; Managing Director Programs; Core Security and Rights team members, Partners, Special Advisors, Grants Management, Operations

Key external relationships

External Partners

The ideal candidate

• At least 7 years of professional experience working on issues connected to public safety, security sector accountability, community-led safety models, or related areas in East and/or West Africa.

• Direct experience working in Kenya and/or Nigeria, with a strong understanding of the sociopolitical and security landscapes in these contexts.

• Prior experience supporting civil society organizations, movements, or community actors working to address state security abuses, community safety challenges, or rights-based security related reforms.

• Experience operating within non-profit, multilateral, philanthropic, advocacy, research, or community-based environments.

• Fluency in English, with proficiency in one or more local languages relevant to Kenya or Nigeria such as Swahili, Tiv or Ijaw or other widely used languages in the regions where the Opportunity operates.

• Experience supporting or implementing people-centred public safety initiatives, including community-level pilots, participatory research, or narrative-change work.

• Familiarity with strategic litigation, legislative reform, or accountability mechanisms related to policing, military, or intelligence services.

• Experience engaging with movements, youth-led networks, creatives, or local leaders working to advance rights-respecting approaches to safety.
  Experience documenting community experiences of insecurity and translating them into actionable programmatic insights or advocacy messages.

What we offer

• Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.

• Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including:

• Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.

• Employer-paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).

• Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.

• Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more.

• A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.

Who we are

Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems.

Guided by our founder's values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take.

Additional information

Open Society Foundations is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively seek applications from talented individuals across all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. Each candidate is evaluated solely on their unique qualifications without regard to race, age, sex, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or any other legally protected characteristics.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities.

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.