Program Officer

Job Overview

Department: Impact
Reports to: Vice President of Impact
Direct Reports: None
FLSA: Exempt

JOB PURPOSE AND CULTURE

The Program Officer is an integral part of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque helping to bring resources and ideas together within the community based on our continuous learning about changing needs. The position will focus primarily on education, but may explore a range of topics including equity, economic mobility, healthcare, local journalism, the environment, support for youth and more. The person in this position will work with community leaders, school administrators, school staff/teachers, policy makers, and other stakeholders who want to positively impact their community. Internally, this position will assist to drive grantmaking work, conduct research and facilitate internal conversations to inform colleagues about pressing initiatives. The ideal candidate is a curious and enthusiastic team player who is able to independently formulate new programs and opportunities for the Community Foundation.

This position supports the Foundation, its partners, and donors with a strong commitment to equity to ensure those who are frequently left out or left behind have greater access and opportunity. Strong leadership, community organizing, program management skills, and advocacy are necessary to conceive, inspire and execute the Foundation’s strategic objectives.

As a mission-driven organization, Community Foundation staff are primarily motivated by the work we do and the culture we offer. Our work culture inspires positive community-wide change, idea sharing, and a collaborative work environment. Our team is highly inspired, and everyone shares in the success of the organization. Each staff member is an effective ambassador for the organization.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Convening and Systems Change Work

• Regularly convene stakeholders to collectively learn and take action on pressing issues
• Serve as a catalyst to create community-led, systems-level change with a strong emphasis on equity in education
• Elevate voices in the community to ensure inclusive and community driven solutions
• Identify collective grant opportunities for partners
• Develop and maintain strategic external relationships with local nonprofits, governmental agencies, individuals with lived experience, donors, and other key decision-makers to further the Foundation’s work
• Represent CFGD as a community leader by attending community and grantee meetings to drive community improvement
• Build and maintain the Rural Schools Network and Rural Teacher Corps, a network of rural educators, with the goal of retaining teachers in our region

Grantmaking

• Work proactively with local nonprofit organizations to identify educational grantmaking opportunities and support the community as it works to resolve self-identified educational challenges and equal access to education for all
• Administer and oversee all scholarship work for the foundation
• Review and evaluate grant proposals and supporting documentation for completeness and adherence to Foundation requirements
• Consult with prospective grantees and assist nonprofit organizations in their interactions with the Community Foundation
• Conduct visits and reviews of grant projects after completion to aid nonprofits in their own programmatic evaluation and lessons learned
• Assist with convening of meetings and workshops in cooperation with grantees and other funders as necessary

Community and Internal Relationships

• Work closely with development team and meet with donors to shed light on the pressing issues in our region
• Keep the community and staff informed about community investments; make occasional presentations on grants-related topics
• Partner with colleagues on tasks that concern the broad agenda of our work to ensure that decisions are made with diverse input to benefit the common good
• Participate in community events to demonstrate support of community partners, both during the workday and occasionally during evenings and weekends
• Participate in regular staff and other internal meetings

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. This candidate will be flexible and able to work on an expansive and ever-changing portfolio.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience preferred:

• Bachelor's degree preferred

Skills preferred:

• Visionary skills as they apply to community-wide issues and challenges
• Competency in knowledge management and research, as it applies to education
• Leadership skills and a positive attitude toward working with community partners and coworkers
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills
• Team player with flexibility and desire to jump into projects that are new or different
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Commitment to equity and working to help everyone the Community Foundation serves, regardless of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual identity or orientation, immigration status, disability, or other personal identities
• Effective and efficient time management skills and techniques for work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work the hours required for this position; comfortable with occasional travel and working evenings and occasional weekends

Supervisory experience preferred: None

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Employer Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employer will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position. This job description is general and may evolve over time and is subject to periodic updating at management’s discretion to assign the employee different and/or additional duties or responsibilities.

The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque believes all people should be valued, respected, and provided equal opportunity. The Community Foundation does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, familial status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity, sexual orientation, military status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all activities at the Community Foundation, including but not limited to employment, volunteer recruitment, grantmaking, selection of vendors, and use of our facilities. The Community Foundation does not knowingly partner with individuals or organizations whose programs, services, employment, or volunteer opportunities do not comply with our policy.

Get with HR to summarize from the full Job Description to highlight main requirements and CFGD culture to quickly draw Applicant’s interest. Prior to an interview session full Job Descriptions should be offered to Applicants only when requested.

TO APPLY

Apply through Access Dubuque Jobs or send resume to office@dbqfoundation.org

Not able to check off every box in Experience and Education Preferred? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities – people of color, women, LGBTQ+ – are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging. So if you are excited about this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification we encourage you to still consider submitting your application. You may just be the right candidate for this role or for another one of our openings!