Posted on September 23, 2009

print  e-mail

Program Officer/Senior Program Officer, Changemaking

In collaboration with the president, vice president, program and program group — execute and manage the changemaking efforts of the Foundation with the ultimate goal of improving the well being of children in Detroit so that they are safe, healthy, well educated, and prepared for successful adulthood.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the Foundation's changemaking strategies to influence others to work on behalf of children.
• Manage the champion strategy, and follow up with interested investors.
• Help develop and manage strategies to influence decision makers and leaders to support the Foundation's agenda to realign their efforts with Foundation interests.
• Identify and secure foundations, civic leaders, and government entities to champion to the key strategies of the Foundation.
• Coordinate leverage of Foundation resources 5 to 1 so that we increase the impact of our investments; impact 30% of Detroit's children that live in the six targeted neighborhoods; seek opportunities to leverage resources and partnerships to change the conditions for children and track leveraged resources.
• Develop written materials, organize events, and manage other related activities that secure investments or the promotion of the Foundation's changemaking strategies.
• Manage the work flow and development of the Foundation's Public Policy Fellow(s) and the external organizational relationships associated with fellowship.
• Manage the Foundation's grants portfolio regarding policy and advocacy.
• Meet with and respond to telephone and written inquiries of potential champions, foundations, civic leaders, and government entities regarding the work of the Foundation.
• Assist in the development of the Foundation's annual grantmaking budget and annual plan of work in conjunction with vice president, program.
• Develop in collaboration with the vice president, program, and program officers the grantmaking strategies to support the change making strategies, goals, and objectives.
• Assist in the preparation of the reports and materials for the Trustee meeting books, for program policy committee, Trustee meetings, and Trustee retreat.
• Attend and participate in program policy committee meetings, Trustee meetings, and retreats as requested.
• Identify critical issues that affect children and youth in Metropolitan Detroit and relate to the Foundation's mission; convene key leaders and stakeholders on issues that influence the direction of grantmaking. Study the needs of the community and the ways to meet those needs through changemaking strategies and make recommendations with respect to program areas and general grant policies. Perform research projects as directed by vice president, program.
• Represent the Foundation at public and private meetings and appearance involving Foundation matters and broad issues that affect children and youth.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the vice president, program.

Relationships:

• Reports to the vice president, program.
• Participates as a member of the Senior Program Officer Team (SPOT) and works with colleagues to coordinate work across program areas.
• Supervises public policy fellow(s).
• Participates as member of the program group and works with individual Board members with respect to assigned proposals, grants, and grant initiatives. Works closely with the other members of the team including the program assistants.

Qualifications:

• Graduate-level degree required;
• 7-10 years' professional experience required;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required;
• Must be able to work well with others, as a team, and independently;
• Must be able to work in a fast paced, demanding environment;
• Prior foundation experience preferred;
• Prior development/donor relations experience preferred; and
• Prior political and/or policy experience preferred.

To Apply: No phone inquiries, please. Qualified applicants should forward their resume, references, and writing sample to:

Tonya Allen
Vice President, Program
Skillman Foundation
100 Talon Centre, Suite 100
Detroit, MI 48207
Fax: (313) 393-1187
E-mail: tallen@skillman.org

Find out more by visiting the organization's web site»

Job Type: Program
Organization Type: Foundations