Senior Program Officer - Movement Infrastructure & Explorations

The JPB Foundation (JPB) seeks nominations and applications for the position of Senior Program Officer, Movement Infrastructure & Explorations (MIE). Joining the team at an exciting time of strategic development and team growth, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) will work collaboratively to develop, implement, and communicate program strategies that accelerate JPB’s impact on movement infrastructure and innovations in integrated ways to support all of JPB’s program areas.

The SPO will build relationships and elevate JPB’s leadership among other funders and partner organizations to move funds aligned with JPB’s mission and to identify opportunities for funder collaboratives.

They will build relationships with grantees and seek out new grantees, manage grants and serve as a partner for grantee needs and requests that enhance and build upon financial support, such as convening spaces, joint strategizing, or organizational and leadership development opportunities.

They will stay abreast of emerging trends and synthesize information 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 in community organizing, campaigns, power building or community engagement, with at least two (2) of those years managing and leading others in that work.

They will bring a deep understanding of movement strategy, infrastructure, and capacity, and have trusting relationships with movement leaders and a deep commitment to social justice and power building.

They will be a strategist, excellent manager of work and progress towards goals, curious and learning oriented, and an organizer and convener of others (by nature or experience). They will be an excellent communicator, solutions and detail-oriented, and enjoy both independent work and close collaboration.

The ideal candidate will build trusting and caring relationships, have sound judgement and integrity, and be adaptable and flexible and able to support a growing team 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.

MOVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE & EXPLORATIONS The JPB Foundation recognizes that social change depends on a strong movement infrastructure.

The Foundation invests in groups that nurture diverse leadership who combine effective strategy with open heartedness and in visionaries developing new ideas and frameworks to address the daunting challenges of our time.

The Foundation also explores how best to harness tools and technology of the future so movement groups stay at the cutting edge of developments that can help advance social justice.

RESPONSIBILITIES The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will report to the new Senior Vice President for Movement Infrastructure & Explorations, oversee the Program Officer and Fellows on the team, and will hold the following responsibilities and areas of work: Strategy Development & Insights Collaboratively develop, implement, and communicate program strategies that support durable connective tissue between people, institutions, and communities that allow movements to be healthy, effective, and powerful.

Stay up to date on trends and opportunities related to MIE’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 MIE’s strategies with other program areas.

Grantee Support, Grants Managements & Program Implementation Oversee the Program Officer and Fellows to collaboratively implement program strategy.

Build and tend to relationships with current and potential grantees relevant to the MIE program, continuously learning and understanding needs and trends, and building spaces of opportunity and coalition to advance the program strategies and impact.

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.

Administrative: Manage MIE Program Officer and Fellows and work closely with the Program Associate and Executive Coordinator to ensure effective support of the MIE SVP and team.

Contribute to the growth of the MIE 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.

QUALIFICATIONS Field Experience, Understanding & Commitment Minimum of five (5) years’ relevant experience in community organizing, campaigns, power building or community engagement, with at least two (2) of those years managing and leading others in that work.

Deep understanding of movement strategy, infrastructure, and capacity, and relationships with leaders within movement organizations.

Commitment to social and racial justice and power building with experience applying race and power analyses in different situations.

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 and opportunities.

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 respond or offer recommendations in an appropriate manner.

Experience managing and developing internal and external leaders.

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.

Team & Administrative Leadership: Experience successfully supervising and having performance and feedback conversations.

The proven ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to a changing environment.

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.

Previous grantmaking experience is useful but not required.

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 - $185,000 annually.

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 3 days weekly, with the flexibility to work remotely two days weekly.

TO APPLY The priority deadline to apply for this position is June 10, 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 you see as two critical infrastructure investments or innovations needed in current social movements and why.

Please reach out to Callie Carroll at with any questions.

Click this link to apply The targeted starting salary range for this position listed below is based on experience: Position pay range $170,000—$185,000 USD