Program Manager, Human Rights

Heising-Simons Foundation • San Francisco, CA

6h • $110,000 - $132,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Manager assists the Program Director in managing key components of the program’s operations and processes. The Program Manager also manages special projects and leads the integration and leveraging of Foundation-wide initiatives and resources to support the program’s grantmaking.

The primary responsibilities of the Program Manager are to:

Forecast and optimize day-to-day program operations.
Support and amplify the program’s grantmaking activities.

This full-time (37.5 hours per week) exempt (salaried) position is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and reports to the Director of Human Rights, working collaboratively across the Human Rights team, consisting of three program officers and three program associates.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of the philanthropic sector and the structure and stakeholders of family foundations.
• 4+ years plus experience with grantmaking processes.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills, with an ability to manage multiple deadlines and goals simultaneously, as well as synthesize and distill complex conversations into clear action items.
• Proven ability to demonstrate initiative and bring a proactive, “can-do” approach to your work.
• Proven ability to effectively manage and optimize the performance of team members.
• Experience setting up internal systems and processes to ensure efficient communication and management of resources.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, including the ability to be an excellent listener and connect with a wide range of stakeholders. A strong track record of developing trusting, productive relationships and operating with a deep sense of authentic respect for grantees and the individuals they serve, as well as engaging in a partnership-driven approach to grantmaking.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills. In particular, the ability to anticipate information that will be needed, to share information proactively, keep colleagues informed and be highly responsive in communication.
• Ability to thrive in a family foundation environment with engaged Board members who are deeply passionate about, and have deep expertise in, the areas they fund.
• Passion and/or proximity to the issues and the people that the Human Rights program represents, with a strong commitment to immigrant justice, criminal justice, racial justice, and gender justice.
• Ability to evolve thinking and research in Human Rights issue areas. An understanding of how philanthropy, pooled funds, and nonprofits function and interact
• Keen analytical skills, creativity, maturity, and sound judgment, with the ability to act thoughtfully and lead effectively. Able to consider multiple perspectives, think critically, evaluate risk, identify potential answers to complex problems, and explain and justify recommendations to diverse audiences. Politically astute and able to exercise good judgment in a range of situations.
• Humility, empathy, optimism, and sense of humor.
• Ability to constructively participate in the development of a growing organization.
• Must be available for occasional travel between our San Francisco and Los Altos offices or to other meetings, conferences, and convenings with grantees or other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Work in partnership with the Program Director to oversee day-to-day program operations.
• Manage, create, and/or refine processes and procedures to optimize the experience of the Human Rights team and its grantees.
• Develop annual administrative and grants budgets for the Human Rights program area and monitor progress and use of resources in Excel and Salesforce.
• Gather and synthesize team input, feedback, and data insights to inform program decisions, surface operational challenges, and support Program Director and team decision-making.
• Coordinate board narratives and presentations, including supporting team brainstorming and discussion meetings; setting timelines and deadlines; drafting outlines; compiling edits; proofreading narratives; and developing and ensuring consistent formatting of slides. Delegate tasks as needed to Program Associates.
• Serve as project manager for the team’s strategic planning, learning, and performance monitoring processes.
• With guidance from the Human Rights Program Director and Program Officers, develop and implement team processes and frameworks to assess the impact of and foster learning around Human Rights grantmaking strategies, initiatives, and practices.
• In collaboration with the Program Associates, provide executive-level meeting materials, including docket tables and agendas, and assist with the formatting of presentations and other electronic documents.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Human Rights program and other programs and departments (including Grants Management, Legal, Communications, other programs, etc.). Ensure alignment and collaboration with Grants Management and Legal teams to support efficient and compliant grantmaking processes.
• Create and contribute to team building opportunities as well as team and cross-program learning and collaboration.
• Lead the planning and execution of assigned team and external meetings, convenings, and retreats, including agenda development, facilitation, and logistics.
• Support special projects and initiatives that contribute to the Human Rights program’s strategy and engage and delegate to program associates with consideration to capacities and professional development goals.
• Manage the recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members.
• Select, manage, and coordinate with outside consultants.
• Provide administrative and legal/compliance support to the Program Director and Program Officers on C3 grantmaking and act as Program Officer on grants as needed.
• Implementing existing programmatic strategy, maintaining a small C3 grantmaking portfolio. This will involve soliciting proposals, conducting site visits, summarizing proposals for Board review, and reporting on progress to the Program Director, Foundation management, and the Board.
• Work with the Program Director to develop and implement activities designed to amplify the effects of Foundation grantmaking (e.g., convenings, communications, and dissemination of results, connecting with relevant public and private stakeholders).
• Provide coverage and support to Program Officers and Program Associates during vacations, medical leaves, or other impacted periods.
• Attend workshops and conferences to learn more about relevant topics and trends.
• Join and/or network with relevant affinity groups or individuals to increase access to knowledge and thought partnership.
• Informally read and synthesize published literature and web-based resources to increase knowledge of Human Rights areas and/or grantmaking techniques.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and dynamic organizational culture.
• Participate in Foundation-wide activities, such as committees, internal culture-building, training, and strategic planning.
• Provide regular feedback to supervisor and colleagues both informally and as a part of the annual review process.
• Train new colleagues.

Benefits

• employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• flexible spending account (FSA) for medical and childcare expenses
• 401(k) plan with an employer match of up to 16%
• 3 weeks of vacation per year
• paid time off for sick, personal reasons, and holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees