Program Officer, Capacity Building

The Raymond John Wean Foundation leverages a powerful combination of grantmaking, capacity building and convening and partnerships to advance community building in the under-resourced communities of Warren and Youngstown, Ohio.

Driven by our values, we partner with residents, organizations and civic leaders toward our vision of empowered residents creating an equitable Mahoning Valley. Since 1949, we have refined our efforts to create a future where race has no influence on how one fares in society. We seek to create an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported and valued to participate fully. True belonging.

Aligned with the Foundation’s race equity and inclusion outcomes, a primary function of this position is to support the strong leadership, strategy and impact of Black, Hispanic, and Latinx-led organizations. This position will report into the Senior Director of Programs and Operations.

Key Responsibilities

Capacity Building, Including Incubator Associates

• Lead efforts with community partners and internal colleagues to integrate a learning and capacity building agenda (assessment of organizational leadership, strategy and impact) into grantmaking programs.
• Identify tools appropriate for assessing organization leadership, strategy and impact. Track sustainability and growth of organizations.
• Identify and coordinate learning opportunities, including Race, Equity & Inclusion (REI). Survey beneficiaries on the usefulness of training. Track awareness, learning, and practice.
• Identify, recruit and vet providers who are representative of the communities in which we work.
• Design process for identifying and onboarding Incubator Associates. Develop a customized plan (onboard to exit) for each organization. Facilitate relevant connections. Implement strategies (mentoring, coaching, peer support) to bolster social connections and support.
• Manage the lifecycle, assessment to evaluation, of the Capacity Building Program, including the Capacity Building (CB) Fund.
• Coordinate efforts to provide “value-add” resources.
• Provide technical assistance, as appropriate.

Grantmaking

• Contribute to the grantmaking lifecycle, including application and proposal review, synthesis of background information and follow-on information for analysis and recommendation.
• Guide grantseekers and grantees through electronic platforms.
• Support annual portfolio review and assist in the development of strategies.

Organizational Learning and Dissemination Priority

• Maintain broad and in-depth knowledge and understanding of needs, issues, trends, best practices, innovations, and values of the community, non-profit, government and business sectors.
• Track assigned REI desired racial equity outcomes and indicators.

Community Engagement

• Develop and maintain visibility and accessibility in the community and the sector.
• Conduct inclusive outreach and recruitment.
• Nurture new and maintain existing relationships with community stakeholders and partners.

Requirements

We acknowledge the significance of an individual's life experiences as a valuable skill set, recognizing that skills are cultivated through diverse encounters. During our application review process, we adopt a comprehensive approach to evaluating each applicant's background. Nevertheless, we prioritize candidates who exhibit the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, public administration, public policy or other relevant field or the equivalent trade-related education and/or experience to fulfill the position’s responsibilities.
• Three years demonstrated project management skills, including coordinating internal and external teams, consultant teams, and budgets.
• Three years of professional work in philanthropy or nonprofits is highly valued.
• COVID19 Booster: To ensure the well-being of our employees and community, we mandate that candidates applying for this position have received all CDC-recommended vaccine doses, including COVID boosters. Proof of vaccination will be requested as part of the interviewing process. Exceptions for medical or religious reasons may apply, with appropriate documentation required. Your cooperation in upholding a safe work environment is greatly appreciated.
• One year of supervisory experience

A successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Commitment to race equity and inclusion as a personal and professional value.
• Energetic, dependable (gets it done), and exemplary (gets it down exceptionally well).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with the capacity to learn various systems and platforms.
• Clear, practical communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to interact amid a diverse community and a broad assortment of grantees, community leaders, business leaders, government officials, etc.
• Possess a high self-awareness relative to strengths and weaknesses. Ability to give and take feedback as a part of a learning culture committed to achieving better results.
• Ability to identify challenges and opportunities and implement practical solutions when a clear lack of process or standard is absent.
• Data-driven, you apply current research and fact-checking to enhance your work, educate and inspire your audience, and maintain credibility.
• An enthusiastic and resourceful team player, who enjoys being part of a collaborative, collegial environment, with the ability also to effectively work independently.
• Motivation to continuously pursue training and development opportunities to build knowledge and skills and share expertise with others.
• High level of integrity; high level of discretion, critical thinking, and judgment in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Maintains a good work ethic, can set boundaries, and a good sense of humor and purpose.

Physical Demands

• Frequently requires standing; walking; and kneeling.
• Requires the ability to occasionally lift or carry; push or pull, or otherwise move objects up to 20 pounds.
• Requires the ability to ascend or descend stairs.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $62,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• How many years of experience do you have conducting inclusive outreach, recruitment, nurture new and maintain existing relationships with community stakeholder partners?
• How many years of experience do you have in coordinating learning opportunities?
• How many years of experience do you have in analyzing, recommending, and evaluating grant programs?
• How many years of experience do you have with supervisory experience?

Ability to Relocate:

• Warren, OH: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person