Position

The Local Project Coordinator oversees the day-to-day implementation of the Seattle International Foundation’s (SIF) Democratic Culture Fund (DCF) portfolio in Guatemala. DCF will provide small to medium-sized grants to roughly 10-15 grassroots organizations developing arts and cultural programming about the importance of people’s active participation in democracy.

In close coordination with the Program Director and other SIF staff, the Local Project Coordinator will contribute to program strategy, the selection of grantee partners, and grantmaking—including due diligence, frequent check-ins with grantee partners, requested organizational support, and project monitoring and evaluation.

The Local Project Coordinator will ensure there is an ongoing exchange of information between grantee partners across the portfolio, including through in-person and/or virtual meetings of grantee partners, and engage in coordination with other civil society actors in Guatemala. Because of this, having prior experience working with grassroots organizations and with the coordination of civil society actors in Guatemala is essential for this consultancy.

Characteristics

This is a fixed-term contract position with a projected start date in December 2026, ending in November 2027. This is a consultancy position and requires the contractor to be based in Guatemala, although the specific location within Guatemala is flexible.

We anticipate the average time commitment for this position to be approximately 32 hours per week, with some weeks having a heavier workload than others. The compensation is US$ 2,000 per month, and as a contractor, the role is not eligible for benefits.

Key responsibilities

Portfolio and Grant Management

• Contribute to the development of the portfolio workplan and strategy.
• Manage a portfolio of 10-15 grants and strategic partnerships of approximately $5,000 – $25,000 each, aligned with the project workplan and strategies.
• Assist the Program Director with the full grant lifecycle: reviewing proposals and conducting pre-award due diligence, drafting grant recommendations for SIF’s Board of Directors, preparing grant agreements, and monitoring approved grants for progress and compliance.
• Assist with tracking portfolio-level indicators and contribute to program monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts.

Partner Engagement and Organizational Collaboration

• Cultivate constructive relationships with grantee partner organizations, including visits to grantee partners, providing accompaniment and identifying opportunities for institutional support where needed.
• Assist with organizing in-person and virtual gatherings of the grantee partners, within the budget provided, to strengthen partner organizations and facilitate the exchange of information and learning.
• Monitor national developments, sharing insights to inform program strategy and grantmaking priorities.
• Participate in meetings of other civil society collectives on democracy as delegated by Program Director and share relevant findings with grantee partners and Program Director.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Five or more years of experience working on projects related to democracy, civic engagement, human rights, and/or community arts and culture in Guatemala, particularly in or with community-based or grassroots organizations.
• Knowledge and understanding of the different peoples of Guatemala, including a keen awareness of their specific histories, forms of organization, systems of authority, cultural expressions, and sociocultural contexts, as well as existing differences between communities and territories.
• Experience in the coordination of different civil society organizations in Guatemala.
• Experience with grantmaking preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to navigate power dynamics between funder and grantee partners.
• Skilled at designing inclusive, participatory convenings and learning spaces, in person and virtually, with attention to participant safety and wellbeing.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with grantee partners, donors, and within a team. Full professional fluency in Spanish and working proficiency in English required.
• Strict adherence to non-partisanship. Being engaged with a political party or campaign is not allowed during the contract period.
• Comfortable working remotely as part of a multicultural team.
• Availability and willingness to travel within Guatemala up to 20% of time, following applicable safety protocols.

How to apply

Include in your application:

• CV
• A short letter explaining how your experience matches this consultancy’s requirements,
• Two professional references that can provide information about your experience working with grassroots organizations and with the coordination of civil society efforts.

If you think you would be a good fit for this consultancy, please email [email protected] by November 8, 2026.

Interviews for this consultancy will take place in the week of November 16, 2026.