Senior Program Officer - Democracy, Gender & Racial Justice

This position has been revised from a previous Program Officer posting. Both levels will be considered, though the Foundation has a preference for candidates at the Senior Program Officer level.

The JPB Foundation (JPB) seeks nominations and applications for the position of Senior Program Officer for the Democracy, Gender & Racial Justice Program (DGRJ).

Joining the team at an exciting time of strategic development and team growth, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) will work collaboratively to set, implement, and communicate program strategies that accelerate JPB’s impact on democracy, gender, racial and immigrant justice in integrated ways with all our programs. The SPO will build relationships with grantees and seek out new grantees, manage grants and serve as a partner for grantee needs and requests, stay abreast of emerging trends, and synthesize information and learnings internally and with partners to inform strategy. The SPO will work across the JPB team to ensure integration and coordination with internal and external partners to share learnings and insights. In all of this work, the SPO will promote the mission, vision and values of the Foundation through relationships with funders, partners, and current and potential grantees.

The ideal candidate will bring at least five years of experience working in the social justice sector on issues related to democracy gender and racial justice and bring a deep commitment to social justice and power building with at least two (2) of those years managing and leading others in that work. The ideal candidate will have experience in organizing and advocacy as well as insight into or understanding of the grantmaking process, though previous grantmaking experience is not required. They will be a strategist, excellent manager of work and progress towards goals, curious and driven to explore and learn, and an organizer and convener of others (by nature or experience). The ideal candidate will build trusting and caring relationships, have sound judgement and integrity, and be adaptable and flexible and able to thrive in this exciting time of expansion for the Foundation.

ABOUT JPB

JPB’s mission is to help people who have been denied power to build it, so they can change unjust systems and create a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable society. We are dedicated to long-lasting, systemic change. That means we commit to our partners for the long haul, trusting in the strength and vision of the organizations we support to address some of our country’s most entrenched problems.  Over the last 10 years, JPB has grown to be one of the largest US foundations, awarding over $300 million in grants each year. Learn more about JPB’s recently expanded vision and leadership team here.

DEMOCRACY, GENDER & RACIAL JUSTICE

The JPB Foundation supports the fight to expand multi-racial feminist democracy by protecting and strengthening basic democratic institutions – like the rights to vote and to protest – and finding innovative ways to combat authoritarianism and its assaults on the rights of people of color, immigrants, women, and LGBTQ+ people.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Currently, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) reports to the Senior Vice President for Democracy, Gender & Racial Justice and works closely with another Senior Program Officer, Program Associate, and Executive Coordinator on this team. The SPO will hold the following responsibilities and areas of work:

Strategy Development & Insights

• Collaboratively set, implement, and communicate program strategies that expand our multi-racial feminist democracy by protecting and strengthening basic democratic institutions and combat authoritarianism and its assaults on the rights of people of color, immigrants, women, and LGBTQ+ people.
• Stay up to date on trends and opportunities related to DGRJ’s efforts and work internally and externally to inform continued improvement and refinement of strategies.
• Map field and funding landscapes to inform strategies that move money.
• Coordinate to ensure integration of DGRJ’s strategies with other program areas.

Grantee Support, Grants Managements & Program Implementation

• Collaboratively implement program strategies and support grantees in areas of democracy and intersectional gender and racial justice, such as in voting rights, civic engagement, the census, redistricting, immigration, rights restoration for returning citizens, and a government that works for all Americans.
• Invite grant proposals from selected organizations, work with applicants to develop and finalize grant proposals, summarize proposals, analyze financial and organizational capacity, and prepare write-ups for board meetings.
• Assist grantees in leveraging JPB grant funds by building relationships with other funders and hosting briefings and convenings and creating opportunities for shared learning.
• Stay connected to the progress of grantees and be proactive in supporting the success of organizations and ecosystems.
• Coordinate and participate in meetings with grantees, including site visits, partnership meetings, and check-ins.
• Inform the Senior Vice President about grantees’ progress.
• Ensure completion and accuracy of necessary grantee information for compliance and documentation purposes and as an important practice in reflection, learning, and knowledge transfer.
• Ensure complete and accurate grantee information for compliance and documentation purposes and as an important practice in reflection, learning, and knowledge transfer.

Team Collaboration

• Contribute to the growth of the DGRJ team and connections across the Foundation, including fostering a healthy and effective team culture.
• Prepare materials for meetings and convenings.
• Work closely with the Grants Administration team to ensure maintenance of accurate records, track status of support and grant funding flows, including proposal, progress reports, correspondence, and financial statements.
• Special projects as assigned by the Senior Vice President of the DGRJ program.

QUALIFICATIONS

Field Experience, Understanding & Commitment

• Minimum of five (5) years’ relevant experience working in the social justice sector on issues related to democracy, gender, racial justice or immigration with an understanding and familiarity of the intersectional nature of these areas. At least two (2) of those years should include managing and leading others in that work.
• Experience in organizing, power building, or other systems change strategies related to democracy and other intersectional issues.
• Insights into and understanding of the grantmaking process. Previous grantmaking experience is helpful but not required.
• Commitment to social, gender, and racial justice and to upholding those commitments in an approach to grantmaking relationships.

Strategic Leadership & Assessment

• Proven ability to set and lead strategy, define program objectives, evaluate progress, and independently manage projects through a complete lifecycle with strong attention to detail.  Exceptional skills to identify and evaluate opportunities and design initiatives.
• Experience building strategic convening or coalition spaces.
• Experience assessing nonprofits’ health through analyzing financial statements, evaluating the feasibility and strategic value of proposed programs, theories of change, and assessing organizational capacity.
• Ability to analyze situations objectively based on available information, formulate and evaluate possible courses of action, and offer recommendations.
• Experience managing and developing internal and external leaders.
• Proven experience independently managing a high volume of details.

Relationship Building & Communication

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to summarize and present information to various audiences, including Foundation leadership.
• Sound judgment and integrity.
• Curious and learning-oriented.
• Enjoy working in both a collaborative environment and independently.

Collaboration & Teamwork:

• The proven ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a changing environment.
• Comfortable with administrative tasks and working with small teams.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and able to learn other programs to support the work.

Other

• Passion for and commitment to JPB’s mission and values.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel (anticipated 30%), including overnight stays.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The starting salary range for this position is $170,000 - $215,000 annually, commensurate with experience. JPB offers an extensive and generous benefits package including health insurance (with 100% of the premiums paid for employees, spouses, domestic partners, and qualified family members), paid time off (including last week of the year), 401(k) retirement plan with 12% employer contribution, and access to an inclusive family building reimbursement plan. JPB provides up to $5,000 annually for professional development and the ability to recommend an annual grant to the nonprofit of your choice.

WORKING WITH JPB

We believe that diversity is critical to our mission, and we value an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences related to our programs and applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The JPB Foundation is an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate in employment based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or gender identity, age or sexual orientation.

The JPB Foundation is based in Manhattan, NY. JPB staff operates on a hybrid schedule and currently works from the NYC office three days weekly, with the flexibility to work remotely two days weekly.

TO APPLY

The priority deadline to apply for this position is June 30, 2024, though applications will be considered until the position is filled. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter expressing your interest in the Foundation’s work, this program, and this position. Additionally, please share a brief response (3-5 sentences) to the question below about what enables people to feel they have agency in our society and our government. Please reach out to Saba Khan at skhan@jpbfoundation.org with any questions.