Venture Officer

Background:

Ashoka’s mission is to create a competitive, entrepreneurial, and globally integrated citizen sector and to develop the profession of social entrepreneurship. Since 1981, Ashoka has identified, invested, and brought together more than 2000 leading social entrepreneurs in more than 62 countries around the world.

In the present political and social state in many of the countries of the Arab World, Ashoka is well placed to help leading social entrepreneurs step forward with leadership and ideas for a more open and developed future.

Ashoka’s roll-out plan in Egypt and the Arab world has built on the methodology we have developed and refined while launching 62 other countries, including the Arab World Regional Office in 2003.

Reports To: Ashoka Arab World Regional Director

Employment: Full-time

Office hours: 9 am to 5 pm, unless assigned to stay later to fulfill work requirements

Working days: Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday off, unless assigned to attend on weekends to fulfill work requirements

Tasks:

Assist Regional Director in the search and selection of Arab Ashoka Fellows, which entails:

1. Engaging our network of Nominators to submit their recommendations of exceptional social entrepreneurs to join the Ashoka Fellowship

2. Collecting and reviewing Fellowship applications

3. Interviewing candidates to the Fellowship, visiting their initiatives, and developing a comprehensive understanding of their work within the context of Ashoka's selection criteria

4. Writing and revising Fellow profiles that detail candidates' ideas for social change, the problems they address, the strategies they follow, and their personal history

5. Collect necessary documentation from all candidates, including Fellowship application, CV, letters of recommendation, and media articles about the candidate and/or their work

6. Conduct background research on candidates' work and similar initiatives

7. Organize and implement Candidate Retreats, where candidates meet with Ashoka Arab World staff to hone their presentation skills prior to regional Selection Panels. This requires:

a. Coordinating with Ashoka staff in Washington, DC and Cairo to make arrangements for retreat venue, travel, and other accommodations

b. Developing retreat schedule

c. Attending and reporting on retreat

8. Organize regional Selection Panels, where candidates are interviewed by international Ashoka senior staff and local experts in social entrepreneurs. Organizing selection Panels requires:

a. Coordinating with Ashoka staff in Washington, DC and Cairo to make arrangements for retreat venue, travel, and other accommodations.

b. Securing the participation of Panelists and briefing them on their duties and Panel procedures

c. Preparing Panel file that includes all candidate documentation, as well as the Panel schedule and newsletter, for Panelists and Ashoka senior staff

d. Attending Panel and documenting discussions

e. Preparing Panel Considerations, the document that is sent to Ashoka Headquarters in order for Ashoka's International Board to approve candidates as Ashoka Fellows

9. Complete final documentation required once Fellows are elected

10. Regularly submit progress reports on the search and selection process to Regional Director

Qualifications:

Education:

University degree in a relevant field, preferably Social Sciences, Business, Economics, or Political Science

Experience and Requirements
- 5 years of relevant experience is required.

- Excellent writing and analytical skills

- Proficiency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.

- Applicant must have strong initiative, independence, creativity, and sound judgment. They must be service-oriented and flexible, with excellent communication and organizational skills.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English

Work Conditions

- Applicant must be willing to work in the office 90% of the time, and in the field 10% of the time.

- We work normal office hours (9 a.m. until 5 p.m., five days a week) 80-90% of the time.

- We work until 6 or 7 p.m. at least 10 % of the time.

- During major events, we work until 8 or 9 p.m. (10 % of the time)

- Sometimes, we work during holidays, if necessary. (10% of the time)

Send your RESUME and COVER LETTER to Ashoka Arab World Office at recruiting@ashoka-arab.org