Posted on May 13, 2013

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Senior Program Officer

The Kresge Foundation’s Health program has an immediate opening for a Senior Program Officer to assist in the implementation of the program’s nationwide efforts to reduce health disparities by promoting conditions and environments that lead to positive health outcomes for all Americans. The program has two focus areas: healthy environments and community health partnerships. We target these areas through strategic improvements in the built and natural environments of vulnerable populations and by engaging health providers and systems in multi-sector efforts to improve population health. In addition to making grants, convening, commissioning and disseminating research, and participating in national networks, the program will also pursue opportunities to apply our Social Investment Practice to these focus areas.

The Senior Program Officer will join Kresge at an exciting time, becoming a member of a team that is engaged in health during a period of reform. Although the program’s broad themes and funding priorities are directed at improving health, the position will require the ability to work across non-health specific sectors, such as housing, transportation, built environment and healthy food systems. Also, the position involves the ability to work both in the realm of policy and in community-based environments.

The program aspires to position The Kresge Foundation as a recognized leader within health philanthropy by partnering effectively with other foundations and with the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and by deploying our capital in innovative ways for the benefit of nonprofit organizations and the people they serve. We seek to hire an individual who is excited to help our Health team achieve that vision.

The individual filling this position will work in close partnership with the Program Director and a small team of program staff, as well as with the foundation’s grants management and social investment staff.

Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities of the program officer position include:

• With the Health Program Director and team, contribute to strategy development and assist in the management of Foundation initiatives.
• Participate in funder- and cross-sector collaboratives to achieve program objectives.
• Contribute to the team’s development of criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the portfolio and participate in the evaluation of the results.
• With other team members, have collective responsibility for reaching annual investment and grant targets.
• Work with other Kresge program teams on mutually planned and developed collaborative efforts.
• Obtain, maintain, and share a high level of knowledge of the most effective strategies and current thinking in field – what works, what are the most effective and/or innovative ways to support the work, and how to implement strategies with partners.
• Participate in national networks, affinity groups, and other external efforts to advance the Program’s strategies and the team’s standing within the health field.
• Prepare memos, strategy papers and grant write-ups.
• Identify possible grant and social investment possibilities that advance the Program’s strategies.
• Evaluate letters of inquiry and grant proposals.
• With the Social Investment Practice, evaluate the feasibility of alternative forms of capital support for health organizations and contribute to the Program’s embrace of social investment tools.
• Contribute to the team’s program development.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in relevant or related fields is required; Master’s degree and relevant credentialing are desirable.
• Minimum of seven to ten years of experience and leadership in relevant Health or related fields; seven or more years preferred.
• Previous grantmaking or lending experience is preferred, but not required.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies to effect change.
• Demonstrated financial analysis skills, including the ability to analyze audited financials, balance sheets, and business plans of nonprofit organizations; facility with complex financial instruments desirable.
• Effective time-management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage a diverse and demanding workload.
• Strong verbal communications skills and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Experience working collaboratively across the nonprofit, private and public sectors.
• Ability to undertake extensive (~30%) national travel.
• Strong commitment to the Foundation's vision and values.

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

About The Kresge Foundation:
The Kresge Foundation is a $3.1 billion private, national foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations through its support of nonprofit organizations working in its seven program areas: Arts and Culture, Community Development, Detroit, Education, Environment, Health, and Human Services. In 2011, the Board of Trustees approved 410 awards totaling $130 million; $150 million was paid out to grantees over the course of the year.

Our Social Investment Practice supports our grantmaking strategies within those program areas by making capital available to nonprofit organizations through loans, loan guarantees, cash deposits, and other forms of program-related investment support.

For more information on our fields of interest, grantmaking, and social investment practice, please visit our website, www.kresge.org.

About Koya Leadership Partners:
Koya Leadership Partners is a national retained search and consulting firm that works exclusively with non-profits and social enterprises. We deliver measurable results, finding exceptionally talented people who truly fit the unique culture of our client organizations. For more information about Koya Leadership Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.

Application Instructions

The Kresge Foundation has engaged Koya Leadership Partners to help with this hire. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume to Erin Reedy at
https://koya.refineapp.com/jobPosting/apply/647

The Kresge Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBT applicants.