PROGRAM OFFICER AT MACARTHUR FOUNDATION | PROGRAM OFFICER JOBS IN ABUJA

About Company:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.

Job Description:

As the MacArthur Foundation enters its new five-year strategic cycle in 2026, we are seeking a visionary Program Officer to lead our newest frontier: the intersection of Technology and Society. This is a high-impact, time-limited role (5 years) based in Abuja, designed for a "Policy Architect"—someone who can demystify complex AI and emerging tech issues and translate them into a robust research, grantmaking, and policy agenda.

You will act as the intellectual lead for a portfolio that explores how technology impacts Nigerian society. Your mission is to identify transformative projects, manage a diverse caseload of grants, and build a continental bridge between civil society, the commercial tech sector, and government regulators. If you have the diplomatic finesse to navigate global tech debates and the local expertise to apply them to the Nigerian context, we want you to shape this five-year legacy.

Requirements:

1. Strategic Grantmaking & Portfolio Engineering

• Strategy Design: Partner with the Nigeria and Chicago offices to design and adapt grantmaking strategies that address the ethical, social, and policy implications of AI.

• Proposal Development: Identify prospective grantees—from academic labs to grassroots NGOs—and work with them to develop proposals that push the boundaries of tech governance.

• Due Diligence: Conduct rigorous background research and evaluate the feasibility and impact of proposed projects for Board consideration.

2. Intellectual Leadership & Policy Advocacy

• Translational Expertise: Bridge the gap between technical AI development and social policy, ensuring that emerging technologies promote equity rather than deepening divides.

• Field Monitoring: Keep a "pulse" on global and continental tech trends, ensuring MacArthur’s portfolio remains relevant in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

• Public Diplomacy: Represent the Foundation as a thought leader at global conferences, serving as a speaker, moderator, and diplomat for technology-for-good initiatives.

3. Relationship Architecture & Collaborative Governance

• Stakeholder Management: Build and sustain high-level relationships with government agencies, private sector tech giants, and civil society leaders.

• Knowledge Exchange: Co-organize summits and roundtables that bring together program advisors and grantees to foster a collaborative research ecosystem.

• Internal Synergy: Serve on foundation-wide committees, ensuring that the Nigeria office's tech strategy aligns with global MacArthur values.

Qualifications and Skills:

Professional Profile

• Experience: Minimum 8 years of experience as a policy professional, researcher, or practitioner focused on AI and emerging technologies.

• Education: Graduate-level training (Master’s or PhD preferred) in a field related to Technology Policy, International Development, or Social Sciences.

• Domain Expertise: A strong grasp of the history and trends of "Tech & Society," including empirical research and theoretical literature on algorithmic bias, data privacy, and digital rights.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Communication: Exceptional writing skills (for internal briefing and public advocacy) and public speaking prowess.

• Diplomacy: The ability to work collegially with diverse actors, including those with conflicting views on tech regulation.

• Project Management: Proficiency in managing complex portfolios through digital grants management systems.

Salary

Application Closing Date: Not specified

Application Instructions:

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