Managing Director, Programs (Asia). Colombo. Posting Date: 02/16/2026. Deadline: 03/05/2026

Role Title: Managing Director, Programs (Asia)

Contract Type: Defined Duration – 5 years

Reporting To: Vice President, Programs

Program/Department/Unit Name: Programs

Location: Seoul, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore

Team Name: Programs

What is an Opportunity in the OSF context?

Within our programmatic model, OSF allocates resources flexibly and nimbly to an Opportunity, based on the quality of ideas, the strategy and their potential for impact in promoting open societies around the world. Strategies, staffing, and budgets are organized around these powerful, rigorously planned opportunities. Opportunities are multi-year programs with a specific timeframe, budget and measured impact.

Role Purpose

The Managing Director is a generalist manager who oversees the delivery of a portfolio of several geographic and global Opportunities; timebound programs designed to solve complex problems central to our strategic direction. Each of the Opportunities will be led by Opportunity Directors and their teams, to deliver carefully crafted interventions that are planned and judged by the results they deliver. The Managing Director is also responsible for working with other Managing Directors to promote cross collaboration and integration, to bring down silos, and to ensure a healthy organizational culture.

The Managing Directors will be strong managers, able to effectively oversee teams and work closely with the VP of Programs and their peers across the network in building a collaborative culture of both risk-taking and teamwork. They will be supported by an Associate Director, Program Managers, Advocacy Advisors and an Administration Officer, but they themselves will be expected to oversee a portfolio that touches on a mix of different issues within their region and globally.

As a team, the Managing Directors will advise the VP of Programs, to ensure that OSF’s full portfolio is correctly weighted geographically and thematically. Their collective breadth of diversity will also enable the best possible programmatic outcomes. They will coordinate and provide geographic expertise and advice for the development of programmatic work in a specific geography and define OSF’s high-level approach to the geography and ensures a consistent and informed presence in each region. This role forms part of the programmatic leadership team under the VP of Programs. Whilst they influence, and give input into programmatic direction and strategy, programmatic decision-making accountability will rest with the Executive Leadership Team. Key decision-making accountabilities are contained in the key responsibilities section below.

Key Responsibilities

Responsible for developing and delivering strong strategic plans with relevant Directors; then subsequent oversight of the implementation and resourcing plans to translate potential ideas into Opportunities for consideration by the Executive Leadership Team and/or the Board.
Engagement and employment of OSF strategic capabilities as relevant, (i.e. strategic litigation, advocacy, impact investment) ensuing the most appropriate tactics and tools are used to effect change within and across Opportunities.
Ensuring engagement of relevant operations teams in developing and implementing programmatic work.
Execute on grant-making decision-making, based on the Managing Director approval thresholds, for programmatic workstreams.
Build and foster a team culture that emulates OSF values and actively drives team performance.
Actively manage a team of high performing Directors, ensuring delivery of critical milestones and exploring potential opportunities.
Accountable oversight of a portfolio of multiple Opportunities, ensuring the Director of each Opportunity is accountable for ensuring strategic rigor, for effective management of his/her team, and for delivering on the Opportunity’s goals and working with other Directors to adapt their Opportunities as conditions change.
Partner with the other Managing Directors and, as a member of an integrated and mutually interdependent team, ensure that Opportunities are integrated and aligned with the overall OneOSF strategy and vision.
Ensure that OSF’s full portfolio of Opportunities is correctly weighted within their respective geography, thematically, by risk threshold, and by level of external partner involvement.
Intentionally grow a network of senior leaders and organizations that spans and includes actors beyond the social sector in national and local governments, the multilateral organizations, faith-based groups, grass-roots organizations, philanthropy, local experts, academia, think tanks etc. to advance the opportunity. This includes critically developing strong relationships with other funders and bringing them as partners into the Opportunity. Proactively identify emerging risks for the portfolio and Opportunities and work with enterprise risk team to articulate risk mitigation strategies.
Lead a Geographic Policy Group for the region that helps define Open Society’s overarching strategic approach to the geography and serves as a space for aligning, aggregating, and advancing work in the geography across components of the opportunity model.
Provide geographic expertise and advice for the development of new Opportunities.
Monitor and report regularly on the key developments in the region and the progress of Open Society’s work in the region to senior leadership and Communications.
Will be engaged with Communications on the development and implementation of an internal and external communications strategy and approach for the relevant geography, considering region-specific openings and vulnerabilities. Vet all external communications that touch on the geography. As appropriate and when approved, serve as the Open Society spokesperson for the geography including national and local governments, multilateral organizations, philanthropies, and others.
Steer key advocacy engagement in/on and about the geography and be cognizant of other advocacy engagement efforts underway by various teams.
Coordinate diverse, flexible Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) efforts in partnership with the Strategy and Impact Unit to understand the impact of Open Society’s work across various components of the Opportunity Model in specific geographies.
Lead crisis management responses and submit fund requests related to a crisis in the geography. Hold the authority to decline Open Society engagements in the region (grants, staff visits) that may have negative strategic implications. In close cooperation with respective operational units, assess key financial, legal, operational and reputation issues and risks involving the programmatic work in the geography.
Liaise closely with the Risk Director and the Risk and Preparedness Committee which has oversight at the organizational level to ensure that our approach to risk is integrated and holistic. Also liaise closely with Global Safety and Security on any security implications of such activity, and with regard to designation of high-risk countries.
Organize senior leadership visits to the region in collaboration with relevant program directors and others.

Key internal relationships

VP Programs; Opportunity Directors, Programs; Program Teams; Special Advisor, Programs; Managing Directors, Network Grants; Advocacy Advisors; Office of the President Executive Advisors, Soros Economic Development Fund; Comms; Justice Initiative; Grants Management; OGC; Risk

Key external relationships

External partners, public and private sector leaders

The ideal candidate

Proven senior leadership of social change and system-change work in civil society, government, multilateral institutions, and/or the private sector that has resulted in positive societal impact.
Prior financial ($60m+), legal and risk accountability at organizational or large-scale multi-geography programmatic level.
Network of senior leaders across the social sector in national and local governments, the multilateral organizations, faith-based groups, grass-roots organizations, philanthropy, local experts, academia, and think tanks.
Effective and proven multi-country and multi-nationality people leadership experience; prior experience of leading managers of teams.
Leadership of programmatic and/or organizational level change.
Proven track record of fostering innovation and creativity at programmatic or organizational level, having established the appropriate risk appetite.
Prior experience in multiple sectors and expertise of philanthropic tools such as advocacy and communication, strategic litigation, social impact approaches are advantages.
Capability to map and break down complex problems into workable solutions.
Understanding and application of a theory of change approach.
Strong project management understanding to enable planning for opportunities in terms of time, budget, stakeholder and change management.
Ability to draft, edit, and submit proposals that require substantial budget approval.
Skilled in building and nurturing partnerships with external stakeholders and able to assess their strengths and weaknesses, as well as deep understanding of political constraints.
Ability to build partnerships across sectors and lead a partnership development process.

Languages and Travel

Fluency in English and at least one language from the region e.g. Mandarin.
Proficiency in additional languages is an asset.
Travelisrequired.Travelfrequencydependsontherolerequirements.

What we offer

Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including:
Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
Employer-paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.
Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more.
A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.

Description of the organization

Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems.

Guided by our founder’s values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take.

Additional information

Open Society Foundations is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively seek applications from talented individuals across all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. Each candidate is evaluated solely on their unique qualifications without regard to race, age, sex, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or any other legally protected characteristics.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities.

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.

This position was originally posted by Open Society Foundation and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.

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