Terms of Reference for Recruitment Consultant

The International Trans Fund seeks a consultant to design and implement a hiring process with particular attention to addressing underlying bias and structural inequalities for trans people in accessing employment in a global setting and create a written organizational policy that includes findings and recommendations.

Overview of the International Trans Fund 

The International Trans Fund (ITF) is a participatory grantmaking fund. The staff manages the daily operations of the fund and, along with the Steering Committee which is made up of trans activists and donors, leads the strategic development processes of the fund. The Grant Making Panel, composed entirely of trans activists, is in charge of assessing proposals and awarding grants. Currently the ITF is fiscally hosted by Astraea Foundation and plans to become incorporated as an independent entity in the coming years.

The mission of the ITF is to mobilize and facilitate sustainable resources for strong, trans-led movements, and collective action, and to address and eliminate funding gaps impacting trans groups across the globe. We strive to be a dynamic, responsive and intersectional organization. Collectively, we come from multiple places, histories, experiences, politics, and identities. We value the diversity of trans movements (including gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, geography, language, age, disability, religion, class/socioeconomic status), and respect each other, acknowledging we have different levels of power and privilege. We work together with integrity and hold ourselves accountable to trans movements. We strive to be transparent in our work. We are aware of the unique role we play as a trans-led funder both in terms of global resource dynamics and in terms of enabling trans movements across the world. 

Background to this Work

In spite of having already disbursed $2.677 million to trans-led groups across the globe since our first grantmaking cycle in 2017, the ITF is still a young organization, deep in the process of learning, forming and institutionalizing. We have a long way to go to become a sustainable funder, including increasing our available resources, staff capacities, internal policies and controls. Our first Strategic Plan (2021-2025) will direct our further development. In our growth we are committed to thoughtful progress and putting our values into practice with each step taken. As our grantmaking and philanthropic advocacy work expands, so will our staff structure. Currently we have four staff members and will soon be opening another position. At this point in time we wish to focus efforts on ensuring that our hiring processes are fit for purpose, sustainable and robust, and that they do not reproduce colonial, racist, sexist, homophobic and transphobic power structures present in our societies. With the support of a Consultant, we aim to design a hiring process that operationalizes these principles and allows the ITF to build a solid foundation for future development of staff structures and employment policies.

Role of the Consultant

The consultant(s) will be tasked with:

• Working with the Executive Director and Co-Chairs to design and develop the recruitment process  for an upcoming Deputy Director job opening, utilizing an intersectional approach and anti-oppressive framework (e.g. support with the development of the job description and application package, support with dissemination and outreach, etc.).
• Participating in the application review and interview process (including support with designing the interview process and questions).  
• Developing an organizational policy and actionable recommendations for the ITF on hiring and recruitment processes based on this process and good practice.

The Consultant is expected to act in an advisory capacity, and to utilize their expertise to guide the work. The Executive Director and Co-Chairs will lead on these processes and hold decision-making powers in terms of the recruitment itself. The Steering Committee will be charged with final review and approvals of any policy.

Expected Deliverables

A written organizational policy that includes findings and recommendations to the ITF (March 2021). 

Role Requirements 

The consultant should have working experience in areas described in this Terms of Reference, and in particular should: 

• Have a proven track record in cooperation with civil society on organizational development, especially in the scope of development of practical policies which support the implementation of organizational objectives and adhere to values.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply an intersectional lens and anti-oppression framework to employment and human resources, in particular understand the effects that a history of colonialism and imperialism, structural inequalities, power and privilege have on trans and other marginalized communities, and in a global setting.
• Demonstrate an ability to question and systemically counter (unconscious) bias in the context of human resources. 
• Be able to carry out the work and communicate in written and spoken English.
• Track record of working with and knowledge of trans movements would be an advantage.
• Given that the other stake-holders of this process may be located across up to 20 different time zones, have flexibility of conducting online meetings outside of standard working hours. The times of meetings will be set up with accessibility and justice in mind. 

Timeline and Length of Engagement

The engagement should start towards the end of March 2021 and finish by end of June 2021. The estimated time investment is 7-10 working days.

The consultant will work under ITF’s supervision. The ITF’s management will provide support and guidance as needed throughout the different phases of the consultancy.  

Application Process

Interested parties should submit a 2-3 page proposal to [email protected] by March 21st, 2021. This proposal should include:

• Details of the Consultant’s skills and experience relevant to the outlined role and requirements.
• Detailed description of the envisaged approach and deliverables.
• Outline of principles and considerations that would guide the Consultant’s work.
• Financial offer including a daily rate and number of days of work planned.
• One relevant, recent reference.  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The ITF intends to make a decision by March 26th, 2021. All candidates will receive a response.

Come Work with the ITF!

The ITF is a trans activist and funder-led initiative that aims to increase the capacity of trans movements globally to self-organize and advocate for trans people’s rights, self-determination, and wellbeing. We are the only international participatory fund that is led by and for trans people. Our grantmaking is intersectional and we support trans-led groups whose work contributes to social justice, movement building and the liberation of trans people.

We are a small, collaborative and dynamic staff team that is passionate about trans movement building and ensuring funding flows to trans-led groups working across the globe. We are looking to hire a Program Officer and Program Associate to join us.

1. Program Officer (Full-time, remote position)
We are seeking someone who is dedicated, passionate and collaborative to join our team as a Program Officer. This is a full-time, remote position (candidates can be based in any part of the world). The Program Officer manages relationships with grantee partners, provides support and accompaniment, develops capacity-building initiatives, participates in learning and evaluation of ITF’s programs and engages in philanthropic advocacy.

Learn more about what we are looking for here.

The deadline to apply has been extended to July 3, 2020. Please complete the ITF Program Officer Application Pack and submit to [email protected] (we are not accepting CVs or cover letters for this position).

2. Program Associate (Full-time, based in New York City)
The ITF also seeks a committed, collaborative and organized person to join our team as a Program Associate. This is a full-time position based in the offices of our fiscal host, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, in New York City. US work authorization is required.

The Program Associate supports the overall day-to-day activities of the ITF team. This includes supporting ITF’s annual grantmaking cycle, providing logistical support and ensuring overall smooth operations of the team.

Learn more about what we are looking for here.

The deadline to apply is July 17, 2020. Please send resume/CV and cover letter to [email protected]

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The ITF is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, collaborative and sustainable work environment. For more information visit www.transfund.org

The ITF is Hiring a Program Associate

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Program Associate

Reports to: ITF Director
Location: New York
Closing Date: July 17, 2020

About the Organization
The International Trans Fund (ITF) is a trans activist and funder-led initiative that aims to increase the capacity of trans movements globally to self-organize and advocate for trans people’s rights, self- determination, and wellbeing. The ITF works to mobilize sustainable resources to help build strong, trans-led movements and collective action, and to address and eliminate funding gaps impacting trans groups across the globe. The ITF is hosted at Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.

About the Position
The ITF seeks a committed, collaborative and organized person to join our team as a Program Associate.

The Program Associate is a full-time position that will support the overall day-to-day activities of the ITF team. This includes supporting ITF’s annual grantmaking cycle, providing logistical support and ensuring overall smooth operations of the team. The position is based in Astraea’s office in New York City.

Core Responsibilities

• Conduct intake of applications, including data entry, file management and communication with applicants.
• Maintain all grantee application and grant information in our grants database; generate grants documents from the database.
• Coordinate translation of applications, which will be received in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.
• Provide initial screening of applications to determine eligibility for ITF support.
• Prepare materials for the ITF’s Grant Making Panel, a body of trans activists who review and assess funding applications.
• Communicate with applicants, including responding to inquiries and sending grant notifications.
• Prepare award packages for grantee partners.
• Confirm payment details, manage the dissemination process and work with Astraea’s Fiscal Department to prepare, process, and track grants payments.
• Coordinate Grant Making Panel and Steering Committee Meetings, including handling logistics (travel, venues, lodging, catering, AV), and producing/organizing meeting materials.
• Respond to general organizational queries.
• Provide general administrative support to the Director and Program Officers.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned from time-to-time.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of programmatic experience in trans, LGBTQI, feminist, human rights and/or social justice movements.
• Commitment to and knowledge of issues facing global trans movements.
• Superb organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines while maintaining consistent attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven track record in developing creative solutions.
• High level of proficiency with computers, databases and other technology.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work and communicate with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a supportive team player.
• Applicants must be fluent in English. Candidates able to communicate in English and Spanish will be given preference.

Additional Considerations

• This position is based in Astraea’s office in New York City. US work authorization is required. The ITF is not able to offer visa sponsorship for this position.
• Trans people are encouraged to apply.
• Applicants born or who originate from a Global South country are encouraged to apply.

Compensation
The salary range for this position is $55,000 – $60,000 USD/year commensurate with experience.

How to Apply
Please send resume/CV and cover letter to [email protected] in .pdf, doc, or .docx format by July 17, 2020.

The ITF is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, collaborative and sustainable work environment. For more information visit www.transfund.org.