about the job
The School for Moral Ambition (SMA) is a new organisation that will focus on attracting the most talented people to work on the most pressing issues of our time. The activities of SMA fall into the following categories:
- Book and Branding: Launch of Rutger Bregman’s book on the topic of moral ambition - the idea that people’s talents should be used for working on global challenges. Launch of a corresponding campaign to establish a prestigious brand that attracts talent and sparks a movement around moral ambition.
- Community Activities: We will organise Moral Ambition Circles and offer the resources to start their own Circle. These circles help morally ambitious people develop a career that matches their ideals.
- Exclusive Fellowship Programs: Initiation of targeted, highly selective programs in which small groups of fellows (~12 people) will focus on solving one of the most pressing and neglected global problems together.
about the role
As the Program Manager for Fellowships at the School for Moral Ambition (SMA), you will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving our 6-9 months full time exclusive fellowship programs. During these programs fellows are trained and placed within influential organisations in order to maximise their impact potential.
For our exclusive fellowships we are inspired by the legendary Nader's raiders, an activist group led by the political activist and lawyer Ralph Nader. He and his fellows made history by pushing for massive reforms in consumer protection. Nader established many advocacy groups, like Public Citizen, which – to this day – campaigns for corporate accountability. One historian estimates that the Raiders influenced as many as twenty-five pieces of federal legislation on air and water pollution, energy production, animal welfare, toxic substances and workplace safety. Their fact-finding research, analysis and lobbying can demonstrate to our program fellows what can be achieved by a small SWAT-team of morally ambitious, highly talented professionals.
These programs are central to our mission of addressing the world's most pressing and neglected problems by harnessing the talents of exceptional individuals. Your role will involve end-to-end management of these fellowship programs, from conceptualization to execution, ensuring they align with SMA's vision and goals. In the first year you will probably be responsible for one specific program that focuses on radical global health improvements. The program topic is determined following a 3-month in-house research process by our own research team.
Key responsibilities
- Program Development and Management: Design and implement fellowship programs that are chosen based on SMA’s research process. This includes setting program objectives, developing curriculum, and establishing success metrics.
- Fellow Recruitment and Selection: Oversee the recruitment process for fellows, ensuring a diverse and talented pool of applicants. This involves marketing the program, screening applications, conducting interviews, and selecting candidates.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with internal teams, external (placement) partners, and mentors to create a supportive and enriching environment for fellows. This includes coordinating with experts for guest lectures, workshops, and mentorship sessions.
- Event and Workshop Coordination: Organise and facilitate events and workshops that are integral to the fellowship experience. This includes logistics planning, content creation, and ensuring participant engagement.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly assess the effectiveness of the fellowship programs through feedback collection and performance metrics. Implement improvements based on these evaluations.
- Community Building: Foster a strong sense of community among fellows, alumni, and the broader SMA network. This includes organising networking events, maintaining communication channels, and encouraging collaboration.
- Resource Development: Create and curate resources, such as career planning templates and guidance materials, to support fellows in their journey.
What We’re looking for
- Passion for the concept of moral ambition and global health and development
- Proven (>5 year) strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Experience in program development, educational initiatives, or fellowship management is highly desirable.
- Experience in the world of policy change and advocacy is highly desirable
- Creative strategic abilities and a proactive approach to challenges.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. We welcome applicants of all races, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, national origins, disabilities, and other diverse backgrounds. Also, if you do not have all of the requirements above we encourage you to apply. At the School for Moral Ambition, we value talent and a can-do attitude above traditional credentials.
What we offer
- Gross yearly salary will be EUR 40k-50k (full time equivalent) based on earlier experience
- A nice office with shared lunch
- 25 days of paid holiday per year
- Growth opportunities: we are an ambitious team that expects a steep growth trajectory and geographical expansion which means you could grow with us
- A team that genuinely cares about each other and is exceptionally passionate about improving the world. We are a close-knit team that values having fun together more than most impact-focused organisations
Application process
- Application form: To get started, please fill out the application form January 24, 2024, 11:59 PM CET
- Work sample: If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to complete a test task (~120 min.) that represents work tasks that would be undertaken in the role.
- Interview: We’ll invite shortlisted candidates to a 45-60 minute interview with Fellowship Director Jan-Willem van Putten, where we’ll ask a combination of situational judgement and experience-based questions, and open up time to discuss the role in more detail
- Work trial: A ~1-2 day work trial
Expected duration of this application process: maximum 4 weeks from job closing date. We will be flexible regarding the procedure for some particularly qualified applicants.