Posted on September 3, 2012

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Senior Associate, Family Centered Community Change

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private charitable organization dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children in the United States. The primary mission of the Foundation is to foster public policies, human service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families. The Foundation distributes approximately $150 million annually in grants to organizations that help states, cities, and neighborhoods improve the life outcomes of these children and families.

Job Summary: The Foundation seeks an experienced Senior Associate to advance the Foundation’s new Family-Centered Community Change (FCCC) place-based strategy. Through FCCC, the Foundation plans to co-invest in established local community change initiatives throughout the country to provide financial resources, technical assistance and other support to incorporate a two-generation approach to help children and their families succeed. This approach involves supporting a local strategy that simultaneously fosters healthy growth, development and academic success for kids while promoting strong parenting, job skills and long-term economic security for adults. In launching this effort, the Foundation hopes to help make measurable and sustainable improvements for children and their parents, while also exploring new ways for national philanthropies to partner with community-led initiatives.

This is a unique position that involves strategic action both within these communities and across the Foundation as a whole. The role requires expertise in ensuring that philanthropic resources are well-allocated and managed; knowledge of methods for improving educational achievement and family economic success; and a commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families. As a national foundation in the role of strategic co-investor, the position will also require a maintaining a thoughtful balance between close engagement with sites while not being directive of their overall direction. Please see below for details regarding responsibilities and qualifications.

Reports To: Vice President, Civic Sites & Community Change Supervisory Responsibilities: Program Assistant, Interns, Consultants & Vendors

Unit Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead the first phase of implementation of the FCCC investment strategy in three high-potential local community change initiatives.
• Manage internal Casey team including Casey staff and external consultants.
• Support partner sites as they develop and integrate a two-generation approach between education and workforce service providers to provide bundled services to families as a whole.
• Support partner sites as they develop an engagement strategy with specific cohorts of neighborhood families to participate in intensive two-generation programming.
• Analyze and use data to monitor progress and inform practices. Oversee the analysis of program performance to develop relevant strategies for modifying or expanding the program based on measurable results.
• Support other Casey staff in developing a “community of practice” amongst FCCC sites, Casey Civic Sites and other relevant participants to share and disseminate innovations and best practices.
• Manage the disbursement of grants to partner sites. Assist with developing annual grant budgets and staff and third-party capacity plans.
• Promote innovations and lessons learned through the FCCC investment strategy to influence the development of policy and practices that support low-income communities.
• Collaborate with other units within the Foundation’s Center for Community and Economic Opportunity in developing aligned strategies focused on a two-generation approach to serving families.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Skills & Abilities:

• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Comfortable with meeting new people, initiating relationships, and building trust.
• Able to work both independently and effectively in collaborative and team environments.
• Able to think quickly and strategically and identify new promising opportunities.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct action-based research and analyze complex data.
• Knowledge of public systems in education and workforce development and the public policies that govern them.
• Comfortable managing conflict and driving to consensus.
• Able to be accountable for time and work products while juggling multiple priorities, timelines and relationships.
• Proficient with computer software such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access.
• Must be intellectually curious, with a preference for complex professional challenges.
• Demonstrated political savvy with good judgment, instincts and excellent social skills.
• Shows a results-oriented mentality.
• Demonstrates creativity, innovation and is high energy.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration/policy, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Expertise in early childhood education and/or public education systems and the policies that govern them. Knowledge of the workforce development field a plus.
• At least five years of successful managerial experience in nonprofit organizations, government or related sector.
• Experience in grant-making or lending to community non-profit organizations.
• Experience in strategic and tactical planning on behalf of an organization.
• Experience in self-managed, task-driven initiatives with the ability to balance the demands related to multiple projects and for multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience and knowledge of evidence-based practice (EBP) applications.
• Experience with community-based work and the ability to relate to and influence a variety of stakeholders, including civic leaders, community organizations, elected and appointed politicians, and parents.
• Familiarity with Results-Based Accountability a plus.

Compensation:

This is an exempt position, meaning pay is on a salaried rather than hourly or daily basis. Starting salary is commensurate with experience and earnings history. A strong benefits package will be provided as well.

Application Instructions

To apply: Please apply online at www.aecf.org/careers.aspx.
Maxine Norris, HR Recruiter
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
701 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21202