Program Associate, Center for Economic Well-Being (CEW)

National Council on Aging•Arlington, VA, Arlington, VA, US, VA

8d•$55,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is seeking a passionate, collaborative, and innovative Program Associate to join its mission-driven team. NCOA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of older adults and building a just and caring society where everyone can age with dignity, purpose, and security. This role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by empowering older adults, strengthening communities, and advocating for lasting change. The Program Associate will play a central role in the development and coordination of programmatic activities within the Center for Economic Well-Being (CEW) team. This position involves planning and implementing training and technical assistance for network members, including grantees, service delivery partners, and community-based organizations. The Associate will serve as a primary point of contact for community-based partners nationwide, monitoring and supporting their progress towards social impact goals, highlighting exemplary practices, and providing resources to enhance an integrated, sustainable service system. The role requires collaboration with NCOA staff, external partners, and diverse audiences, with activities focused on technical assistance and support for the CEW network of community-based organizations. Positions at this level typically report to an associate director or director and require experience supporting projects and managing tasks or deliverables, exercising judgment within defined guidelines. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent and one or more years of relevant experience are generally required, though graduate degrees may substitute for experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of one year of experience providing technical assistance or in a related role.
Demonstrated ability to manage projects and tasks effectively, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong verbal, written, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to adapt communication style to stakeholder needs and effectively engage audiences.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders and communicate effectively in both internal and external settings.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word).

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting or facilitating meetings, trainings, presentations, work groups, webinars, communities of practice, or other group discussions preferred.
Understanding and knowledge of public benefits, aging issues, and/or impact of economic insecurity of older adults preferred.
Basic understanding of grant-funded initiatives and associated reporting requirements is a plus.
Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms, databases, and online tools strongly preferred.
Familiarity with webinar technology is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide technical assistance and support to network members to build capacity toward an expansive, sustainable infrastructure for programs. Technical assistance includes monitoring partner activities; researching and providing prompt and thoughtful responses to requests for information or assistance; resource development (tip sheets, issue briefs, fact sheets, toolkits, etc.); ongoing communication with partners via various channels to support their activities and goals; and documenting and sharing learnings and exemplary practices from the field.
Track, identify, and foster use of promising practices related to comprehensive, person-centered approaches that facilitate access to or attainment of health coverage and benefits, economic and financial security, social benefits, and safety net system resources.
Assist with the development of request for proposals (RFPs) to select and award grant funding to qualified community-based organizations (CBOs).
Participate in national and regional meetings and other events to increase knowledge about health care access, economic security, and access to safety net systems and social benefits for older adults, and the work of NCOA.
Communicate learnings about the Center’s work through technical assistance calls, conference presentations, webinars, facilitated discussions, reports, publications, and other venues.
Foster a spirit of collaboration, coordination, and communication in carrying out responsibilities, and work closely with NCOA staff to accomplish goals. Participate in team meetings, contribute to the agenda, and support creative solutions to issues that are discussed. Participate in work plan discussions, performance monitoring reviews, and continuous quality improvement activities to contribute to the success of the team.
Monitor program activities to ensure quality and accuracy of work outcomes of contractual and grant commitments. Manage relationships with and provide oversight of partners and grantees. Oversee and track contracts with partners, including assisting with reporting and invoicing requirements.
Conduct site visits, attend conferences, participate in partner meetings, and engage in other business travel as required to support grantee relationships, program oversight, and organizational objectives.
Serve as an ambassador for NCOA's mission, social impact goals, and programs by establishing and maintaining positive relationships with grantees, partners, and other external stakeholders.
Convey interest and enthusiasm in support of grantees and programs during site visits and meetings.
Research and identify opportunities to promote the Center and network members’ work at national and state conferences and via regular webinars. Assist with submission of abstracts, coordination of webinar schedules, and presentation preparation, as necessary.
Assist with the development of grant proposals to expand the work of CEW.
Perform other responsibilities as assigned.