About Us: Yakima Valley Community Foundation is a growing 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization managing $90MM in charitable assets. We are all about connecting people, resources, and ideas so the community we know and love thrives. The region served by our community foundation is the Yakima Valley and surrounding rural Central Washington which is rich in natural resources and diverse cultures all with a strong reliance on the land and water for economic prosperity and survival. We believe when equity is addressed our community will be stronger economically, healthier physically and mentally, and prepared educationally to thrive and meet the challenges ahead. We cultivate a diverse team and continually strive for an inclusive workplace culture where talented and compassionate people share a sense of belonging.
We are hiring a Senior Program Officer to join our team.
Position Summary:
The position reports to the Chief Programs Officer as a member of the Grants and Programs team. This is a grant-funded position which will work closely with the CEO for a three-year period on a special assignment. The position will manage a large publicly funded environmental justice project recruiting and supporting diverse Local Advisory Teams to seek community input needed to engage the public with culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials and resources to reduce fire risks, and to improve air quality and respiratory health.
This is a full-time, exempt position. Occasional early morning, evening, and weekend hours may be required.
The Senior Program Officer is an integral part of the Foundation helping to bring people, resources, and ideas together within the community to improve equity in education, health and civic engagement and vitality. The Senior Program Officer works as an essential team member leading assigned programs and interacting with a portfolio of nonprofit organizations (grantees) within the community. The position works as a team member and lead to convene community partners, funders, and individuals to seek input on the creation of programs and materials that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to engage residents, to educate and promote services and programs to improve the lives of families within the community and to allocate grant and technical resources most effectively.
Position Description: This position supports the Foundation, its partners, and funders 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 and project management skills, policy development and advocacy are necessary to conceive, inspire and execute the Foundation's strategic objectives and to support the complex community-based programs to which the position is assigned. The applicant must bring a culturally competent awareness and sensitivity to the work with disciplined attention to race and ethnicity when working within communities, analyzing problems, looking for solutions and defining the success of programs.
Strategic and Annual Granting
The Senior Program Officer will work as a team member on annual granting activities with staff, the Board of Directors as well as other community advisory groups. Social Determinants of Health (such as education, economic stability, neighborhood and built environments, access to health care) are all key elements of a healthy and thriving community. The Senior Program Officer will develop a rich knowledge of both strengths and inequities in our communities around the Foundation's key focus areas to support solutions for people of Central Washington to lead healthy, productive lives regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or where we live.
This includes working within the community to design and implement data-driven processes and strategies. The position will monitor state and federal policies which may impact key focus areas and look for opportunities to secure additional funding, including from the public sector to support programs and priorities. The position will be the subject matter expert helping to develop and support strategic programs and related funding proposals.
Grant Support and Management
Senior Program Officer will develop relationships within the communities we serve including a portfolio of grantees to provide technical assistance and maximize the Foundation's investment and involvement in the community. Grants administration is generally handled by YVCF's Finance Office, but the Senior Program Officer must be knowledgeable of granting policies and processes and when not on special assignment, asked to lead or support the grants team and Board of Directors in their granting efforts.
Position will be responsible for the relationship and evaluation of a portfolio of grantees' work, including at least an annual interview to develop a report using qualitative and quantitative methods to inform improvement and direction for granting processes and reporting to the Board of Directors. The Officer will work with other staff to develop data dashboards and assist in managing data for the Board, Committees, and staff.
Program/Project Management: Position will be responsible for managing programs within the contractual guidelines and spending requirements to fulfill deliverables, including reporting in a timely and successful manner. Senior Officer will work with the CFO and the Grants and Contracts Manager to develop program budgets, to provide supporting documentation for invoicing, and to ensure contractual relationships are well maintained with the funder and community partners.
Communications and Community Outreach
Make presentations to teams, Board of Directors, community members and others to educate and promote community needs and solutions and to convene and collaborate with others. Develop presentations and materials for use during events, meetings, and training.
Plan and coordinate logistics for community outreach events as needed. Act as a resource for industry knowledge, technical expertise, and contacts. Build and maintain national, state, tribal, and local relationships, and partnerships. Organize and assist in building relationships between donors and organizations in the Yakima community. Develop and disseminate briefs to help elevate both needs and strengths in the Yakima Valley. Assist in advocacy with Philanthropy Northwest and others to contribute local knowledge and context to state and federal policy makers. Elevate the Yakima Valley Community Foundation by presenting at professional national and state conferences. Facilitate and manage monthly meetings with coalitions or groups of people organized by the Foundation to address issues.
Other duties as assigned to promote, educate, and foster a vibrant and resilient organization and community.
QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor's Degree or higher • 7 years of experience working within communities in planning, development, or program management • Critical thinking skills • Highly organized with ability to manage a large variety of tasks • High level of emotional intelligence with proven ability to relate well to others and quickly build rapport and relationships, • Some travel (mostly in state) is required to meet with community members throughout Central Washington, funders, grantees, or for training and meeting with cohorts. • Excellent in-person and virtual presentation skills • Ability to effectively communicate in writing. • Knowledge and ability to use Microsoft Offices suite products and grasp other software programs quickly. • Ability to lift 25 lbs.
Preferred Candidate will be bilingual in Spanish and English, have a strong understanding of the communities we serve, and the ability to build and maintain trust and rapport. Existing knowledge of the Yakima Valley and its network of non-profits and other entities engaged in the Foundation's key focus areas of health and wellness, education, and civic engagement.
Salary and Benefits: The salary range for Senior Program Officer is $76,000 to $112,000/year or more depending on exceptional experience and capabilities.
YVCF offers competitive benefits including health insurance of which we pay the premiums, and dental and vision insurance. We offer participation in a 401k retirement plan to which we contribute, as well as provide preloaded paid time off including vacation, sick, and personal leave. Flexible schedules are a key piece of our work culture and employee job satisfaction.