US Fellowship Network Architect
Description
Network Architect – Ashoka U.S.
ABOUT US
Ashoka is the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs. We pioneered the field of social entrepreneurship 40 years ago and introduced and mainstreamed such words as “social entrepreneur” and “changemaker.” We have supported to date almost 4,000 Ashoka Fellows across the globe with stipends, catalytic connections, strategic advice, and an unmatched peer community that is for life. Drawing insights from our network, we identify and open source the underlying patterns of transformative change and design strategies and partnerships to make them the norm. Ashoka collaborates with Fellows, young changemakers, and partners in more than 90 countries to advance a world where everyone can participate and contribute to solving problems for the good of all—an Everyone a Changemaker society.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Our network in the U.S. includes a core community of 300 Ashoka Fellows – and growing. This is an extraordinary group! Most are founders of organizations of national reach and thought leaders with powerful, often surprising approaches to social problems. Intrigued? Read on for a compelling opportunity for collaborative doers and changemakers who are passionate about spotting new ideas and building entrepreneurial teams.
The Network Architect will:
- Stay attuned to how Ashoka can deliver this highest value to this dynamic and diverse community in the best, most efficient way
- Develop/maintain a calendar of quality engagements for Ashoka Fellows, drawing on resources across Ashoka, as well as pro bono/other external partners
- Oversee annual in-person and online engagements, working with a small team of (great) colleagues who contribute a portion of their time to this workstream
- Manage the on-boarding and welcome of new Ashoka Fellows into this network, including via an annual New Fellow gathering
- Gather/secure targeted supports over the first years of the lifelong Ashoka fellowship
- Be ready to stand up in-person or virtual programmatic offerings when an opportunity or need arises
- Track Fellows’ engagement with Ashoka and impact in the world, and make this visible to the team
- Track the impact of these efforts, the uptake of key Ashoka principles (like ‘everyone a changemaker,’ idea spread, and framework change), and support funding efforts (for reports, updates for funders and/or the field, etc.)
- Spot and lead opportunities for collaboration among Fellows in key fields (e.g. climate change, financial freedom, criminal justice reform, etc.)
Our ideal candidate:
- An expert organizer, with strong attention to detail and user experience
- An authentic, collaborative, ethical person, inspiring the same in others
- A changemaker by temperament – Ashoka hires people who have been starting and improving things all their lives, whether that’s a school newspaper, a company, or a local movement
- A community and culture builder who cares about authentic people and ideas
- A person who enjoys distilling complex ideas and making surprising links – across topics, geographies, and more
- Able to multi-task efficiently in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment – toggling between nuts-and-bolts maintenance of things that already work and designing new approaches when needed
- Someone Ashoka Fellows (leading social entrepreneurs at all impact stages) will recognize as delivering high value with consistency, camaraderie, and excellence
- A strong and concise communicator; fluency in English; other languages a plus (especially Spanish)
To get a sense for the Ashoka Fellow community, you can browse a few recent conversations, part of our weekly series with Fellows worldwide – start here and here and here. And here – a book we published last year with 22 social entrepreneurs in our community.
This role is based just outside Washington, DC, at our hub office – we’re on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, just opposite Georgetown University.