POSITION SUMMARY: Scholars at Risk (SAR) seeks a Program Manager to develop and lead a new outreach program that aims to identify, co-create, and support independent academic freedom coordinators/centers across the global south. The role crosses all of SAR’s program areas, and will play a critical role in conceptualizing, researching, implementing and integrating new regional activities into SAR’s existing global network and activities. Informed by SAR’s existing networks, partnerships and activities, the Program Manager will have primary responsibility for developing the program including: researching academic freedom conditions, researchers, advocates, organizations and networks in 3-4 world regions; identifying and cultivating local and regional experts to advise the effort; identifying and recruiting candidates to serve as paid coordinators of regional academic freedom-related activities; coordinating training and support for regional coordinators; with the regional coordinators, developing related research, teaching, and advocacy activities in each region; with the regional coordinators, developing cross-regional communication and activities, including an annual global meeting/training for coordinators; managing grant allocations to support regional activities; integrating existing SAR membership, protection, advocacy, research, and learning activities into regional outreach efforts, as warranted, with responsibility for information management and cross-SAR, cross-network communication; and related grant-reporting, media/communications, and administration. The Program Manager will report directly to the Director of Advocacy, with regular reporting to the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and Director of Membership and Network Services. The role is based in New York City and will involve substantial international travel including possibly to South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Primary responsibility for researching, identifying, recruiting, and supporting regional academic freedom coordinators in 3-4 global regions (65%)

• Building on existing SAR relationships, research academic freedom conditions, researchers, advocates, organizations and networks in 3-4 world regions
• Identify and cultivate local and regional experts to advise the outreach effort
• Identify and recruit candidates to serve as paid coordinators of regional academic freedom-related activities; manage selection process and on-boarding of new coordinators
• With the regional coordinators:
  • Research and coordinate training and other support for regional coordinators
  • Develop related research, teaching, and advocacy activities in each region
  • Develop cross-regional communication and activities, including an annual global meeting/training for coordinators
  • Integrate existing SAR membership, protection, advocacy, research, and learning activities into regional outreach efforts, as warranted

Primary responsibility for coordinating links among regional coordinators, and with existing SAR membership, protection, advocacy, research, and learning activities (25%)

• Develop and deliver annual global meeting/training for coordinators;
• Develop interim meetings, remote and in-person, within and across regions
• Incorporate regional coordinators, activities, and partners in SAR Congress and other events
• Present on regional activities to SAR’s International Advisory Committee (IAC) and Board

Related grant-reporting, media/communications, and administration (10%)

• Lead responsibility for information management and communications across SAR, network members and external stakeholders, and regional coordinators, including developing newsletter content, email lists and bulletins, and media reports as warranted
• Manage sub-grant allocations, tracking and reporting in support of regional activities
• In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $70,000 – $95,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in a relevant field or extensive comparable experience required.
• 7+ years experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Manager level experience in strategic decision-making and operations.
• Previous experience in the fields of academic freedom/free expression, higher education, international higher education, membership development, program management, human rights, immigration/refugee services, leadership/movement development, or related fields preferred.
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to problem solving that strengthens partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, track progress, and allocate limited resources to achieve results.
• Ability to create realistic goals and implementation plans.
• Flexible and comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; able to work through evolving situations.
• Ability to generate and present data to SAR leadership to support decision-making
• Excellent research, analytical, oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Fluent written and spoken English required, other language fluency beneficial (including especially major languages spoke in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America)
• Humility, confidence, flexibility, resilience, unquestionable personal integrity, strong personal and professional judgment, good listener, global mindset, culturally sensitive, welcomes and promotes diversity in all its form.

Application Instructions
Apply by uploading the requested materials in one combined PDF: (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume, (3) list of references or letters of reference, and (4) a brief, unedited writing sample). DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPLICATION REVIEW IS FEBRUARY 28, 2023. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until the position is filled. No phone calls or email inquiries, please.

Regrettably, SAR is not able to sponsor work-eligible visas.