Director of Network and Programs

Shared Strategy Group • Kalamazoo, MI

1d • $189,000 - $256,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Network and Programs is a senior leadership role at the intersection of strategy, relationships, and community impact. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position leads and coordinates SJF’s Grants Team across four strategic pillars - health, affordable housing, economic opportunity, and education while serving as a primary external presence and relationship builder in the Kalamazoo community and broader philanthropic ecosystem.
This role is grounded in SJF’s relationship-centered philanthropy model: building authentic trust with community partners, elevating community voice in foundation strategy, and advancing equitable systems change through people-centered grantmaking. The Director of Network and Programs is both a field leader and an organizational bridge translating the strategic vision into coherent, pillar-level action while fostering a collaborative, high-performing program team culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in Public Administration, Social Work, Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management, community development, or closely related fields.
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing complex grant portfolios or multi-sector initiatives oriented toward systems-level change.
• Strong people management experience, including supervising senior-level staff or diverse program teams.
• Deep understanding of racial, economic, and structural inequities and demonstrated experience applying equity principles in grantmaking and decision-making.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills across nonprofit, philanthropic, governmental, and community sectors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information for diverse audiences including boards and senior leaders.
• Experience working within community-centered, trust-based, or network-based philanthropic approaches.
• Extensive keyboard and computer monitor use and exposure to sensitive and confidential information.

Nice To Haves

• Deep knowledge of and relationships within the Kalamazoo community and/or Southwest Michigan region.
• Experience with trust-based philanthropy, participatory grantmaking, or co-design approaches.
• Familiarity with at least two of SJF’s four strategic pillars: healthcare equity, affordable housing, economic opportunity, or early childhood development and education.
• Track record of building collaborative, multi-funder grantmaking initiatives or cross-sector partnerships.
• Lived experience that informs passion and commitment to equity and community-centered work is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of SJF’s integrated network engagement strategy, ensuring coherence and collaboration across all four strategic pillars.
• Partner with the Executive Director to translate strategic direction into clear program strategies, funding approaches, and outcome frameworks aligned with SJF’s 2030 impact goals.
• Monitor local, state, and national policy and community landscapes for trends affecting SJF’s priority areas; surface insights and recommendations to the Executive Director and Board.
• Identify emerging community needs, systemic gaps, and opportunities for catalytic or collaborative investment, including cross-pillar and cross-sector initiatives.
• Support the ongoing balance of responsive and proactive grantmaking in alignment with Board priorities.
• Oversee the full grantmaking lifecycle across SJF’s portfolio: inquiry intake, due diligence, site visits, proposal review, financial analysis, approval, monitoring, and renewal.
• Review, evaluate, and recommend grant proposals for Executive Director and Board consideration; ensure clear and timely communication with all applicants and partners.
• Assess grant partnerships for programmatic strength, organizational readiness, equity alignment, and long-term community impact potential.
• Facilitate connections and co-investments among nonprofit grantees, government agencies, and private sector partners to maximize leverage and advance shared goals.
• Monitor portfolio performance using qualitative and quantitative indicators; produce clear, actionable reporting for the Executive Director and Board.
• Ensure all grantmaking complies with legal requirements, internal policies, and annual budgets.
• Directly supervise Network Partners and the Program Associate, providing coaching, goal setting, accountability, and structured professional development support.
• Build and maintain a team culture rooted in SJF’s values: equity, trust, transparency, collaboration, and accountability.
• Develop individualized annual professional development plans for each direct report, aligned with SJF’s strategic pillars and organizational needs.
• Facilitate internal peer learning, cross-pillar collaboration, and team reflection sessions to build shared knowledge and adaptive practice.
• Lead or support recruitment, onboarding, and orientation for program staff and relevant consultants.
• Build and maintain authentic, ongoing relationships with nonprofit leaders, faith communities, local government, residents, and private sector partners that inform and strengthen SJF’s strategies.
• Represent SJF in the community and at local, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and peer philanthropic networks with humility and accountability.
• Identify and develop cross-sector partnership opportunities and collaborative grantmaking initiatives, including work with co-funders and backbone organizations.
• Convene grantees, community members, and partners in gatherings designed to promote shared learning, peer exchange, and collective impact.
• Partner with the Executive Director on external messaging and communications, ensuring SJF’s voice remains consistent, credible, and community-rooted.
• Conduct or facilitate grantee capacity assessments and identify shared priorities for organizational capacity-building support.
• Manage relationships with consultants providing technical assistance; ensure scopes are well-defined and grantee feedback is incorporated.
• Design and oversee capacity-building engagements, peer learning cohorts, and sector-specific training opportunities for grant partners.
• Plan and host county-wide grantee convenings focused on collaboration, shared learning, and collective problem-solving.
• Implement evaluation approaches that incorporate equity measures, community perspectives, and both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Partner with evaluation consultants and data partners to assess portfolio impact and generate insights that inform future strategy.
• Lead quarterly internal reflection sessions with program staff to review grant outcomes, partnership lessons, and strategic adjustments.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to produce SJF’s annual impact report and contribute to landscape analyses that inform future-year planning.

Benefits

• Generous paid leave policy
• Collective Rest & Reflection Time: SJF closes their office for at least two weeks each year for collective rest and reflection time (typically one week in the summer and one week in the winter)
• 11 federal holidays
• Generous medical, dental, vision benefits, and wellness program stipend
• Annual 401(k) matching plan
• Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior