Program Officers at the Greater Washington Community Foundation are community builders, first and foremost. With this value we are signaling the foundation’s fundamental belief: Relationships and networks matter. In fact, building and activating cross-racial, cross-class, and cross-jurisdictional relationships and networks stands as a unique ‘superpower’ and the fertile ground from which we create racially equitable and sustainable change. Program Officers at the Greater Washington Community Foundation play a unique role in this effort, working with their colleagues and community partners to organize and deploy the broad spectrum of the foundation’s social, intellectual, financial, reputational, and moral capital in pursuit of the highest ambitions of our region’s people.

The foundation recently launched a 10-year strategic plan with a bold vision to close the racial wealth gap and to advance economic mobility in the most underinvested neighborhoods in the region. The Program Officer, Economic Mobility will report to the Managing Director of Community Investment and will work closely with them to lead strategic and impactful pilot programs, funds, and other projects that leverage social, financial, and intellectual capital to achieve the objectives of the strategic plan. Specifically, the Program Officer, Economic Mobility will (1) manage two pilot programs focused on economic mobility, (2) manage any additional new programs or strategies associated with economic mobility and community wealth building, (3) manage a portfolio of philanthropic funds, and (4) provide leadership and support to the foundation’s Philanthropic Advisory Services work as needed.

In addition to the duties described in this position description, every role at The Community Foundation is expected to contribute to the organization’s overall success and its goals. This may mean that team members will be asked to take on other tasks that may not be listed here. Examples may include working on a project or specific task outside your standard area of responsibility, participating in an organization-wide task force or special initiative, or being asked to support a colleague when needed. Any additional tasks will be determined by the manager of this role in coordination with the leadership team.

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Primary Responsibilities

This role requires skill and aptitude for engaging people and building high performing and sustainable programs and partnerships. Below are the core areas of responsibility. The principal responsibilities include the following:

• Works closely with the Managing Director of Community Investment to design, implement, and provide leadership on highly impactful pilot programs and funds to foster greater impact.
• Regularly reviews and monitors the effectiveness of the pilot programs and funds and makes recommendations for incremental and breakthrough improvement.
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to capture, analyze, and report on the impact of various pilot programs and funds.
• Supports the development and implementation of a policy agenda related to the ultimate systems change goals of the pilot programs and funds.
• Works with their colleagues across the organization to determine the viability of new opportunities that the foundation is called to consider.
• Serves as a catalyst, advocate, and thought leader – inside and outside the foundation – on the pilot programs and economic mobility broadly in the effort to create change in the region.
• Manages stakeholder relationships and grant review processes across a discrete set of funds including reviewing proposals submitted to the foundation, conducting site visits and interview meetings, drafting and editing detailed reports on grant proposals, and preparing and presenting funding recommendations, including for fee-for-service PAS projects.
• Creates spaces for learning, building relationships and networks that serve as a resource base for our work.
• Manage internal and external stakeholder relationships and be able to speak to key issues and opportunities across issue areas. Develop an understand the foundation’s business model and troubleshoot with partners to navigate internal processes.
• Support fundraising proposal development as needed
• Provides technical assistance to grant applicants as needed.
• Attends events and programs related to pilot programs and grant recipients.
• Prepare written and other necessary materials for internal and external stakeholders that summarize issues and decisions for their consideration.
• Other Community Investment team duties (as needed). The Program Officer, Economic Mobility will be asked to provide support from time to time on other organizational initiatives.
  

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary for the position starts at $78,300.00. Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Community Foundation offers benefits and programs that inspire a culture of engagement and productivity.  Hybrid work schedule, Summer Friday schedule; Staff events, professional development stipend, twelve paid holidays, Wellness holidays, and Paid Time Off (PTO).  The benefits package includes company-paid health, vision, and dental insurance for employees; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan with employer contribution; Universal Life and Long-Term Care Insurance, AFLAC, and more.