Program Manager

Inatai Foundation • Walla Walla, WA

3h • $98,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Inatai Foundation is a growing 501(c)(4) philanthropic organization committed to working with communities to shift the balance of power to ensure racial justice and equity across Washington and beyond. The foundation strongly encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, including people of color, immigrants, bilingual and multicultural individuals, d/Deaf people and people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming communities, and those with other diverse lived experiences.

The Program Manager advances Inatai’s 50 Year Vision by ensuring the Strategy and Impact division’s grantmaking operations run smoothly, consistently, and with care. This role, under the guidance of the portfolio director, provides day-to-day oversight of operational and administrative implementation across the division, strengthening systems for timely decisions, clear coordination, and strong partner experiences. The Program Manager bridges work across divisions to operationalize Strategy and Impact strategies and align practices with racial justice, equity, and statewide grantmaking. This position is a key connector, translating strategy into reliable execution to enable teams and community partners to focus on building statewide power for racial justice and equity.

The role supports coordination across grantmaking teams for shared processes, clear communication, and consistent follow-through. Responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day logistics for department operations and event engagement, and providing operational support to the Vice President of Strategy and Impact, Portfolio Director, Strategy and Impact operations team, foundation staff, and grantee leaders. This work aims to strengthen internal alignment and deliver streamlined experiences for team members and grantees.

This is a full-time, exempt position. Inatai Foundation prioritizes geographic equity and encourages applications from individuals with strong community roots in specific Washington State counties: Asotin, Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lewis, Okanogan, Skagit, and Walla Walla. The foundation has offices in Seattle and Pasco; team members connected to an office are expected to work onsite, with supervisor approval for up to two days of remote work per week. Periodic early morning, evening, and weekend hours will be required, along with statewide and regional travel.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of program management experience, with some experience in grantmaking or philanthropic settings.
• Strong cross-collaboration skills and an ability to partner with different teams throughout the organization.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines, and work with team members to problem solve.
• Excitement for event engagement processes, with a strong focus on customer service.
• A deep commitment to equity and racial justice and strong alignment with our organizational values and 50-Year Vision.
• Ability to authentically connect the foundation’s mission and aspirations with one’s own personal experiences.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships and work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities.
• Knowledge of, or a strong desire to learn about, the needs of communities across the state who are most impacted by structural inequities.
• An understanding of the foundational role that racism, ableism, sexism, and other forms of bias and oppression play in perpetuating inequity.
• Experience with various equity, justice, and power-building strategies, including a demonstrated ability to connect with these issues on a personal and organizational level.
• Humility and curiosity, and an understanding of how these qualities are connected to success in this role.
• Demonstrated capacity for self-reflection.
• Strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills combined with the ability to listen deeply and authentically.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint) and Adobe (Acrobat DC) and ability to adapt to new technologies.
• Willingness to take part in occasional meetings and events outside of core business hours.
• Enthusiasm for traveling throughout Washington and engaging with communities that may be different from your own (travel is estimated at 25-30% for this position).

Nice To Haves

• Background in project management methodologies and travel support.
• PMP Certification.

Responsibilities

• Document, and support the implementation of clear grantmaking operations across Strategy and Impact so our work is consistent, values aligned, and easy to follow.
• Strengthen shared practices that support transparency, internal accountability, and timely, well documented decisions.
• Coordinate onboarding and training so team members can use grantmaking systems, tools, and protocols with confidence.
• Provide day-to-day operational support to grantmakers and partners with clarity, care, and follow through.
• Recommend improvements to grantmaking workflows by listening for friction, incorporating feedback, and reducing unnecessary burden for staff and grantee partners.
• Serve as a thought partner to leaders on operational choices that support equitable, responsive, and trust based grantmaking.
• Oversee grant files and records management in Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and appropriate access.
• Promote practices that uphold compliance, accessibility, and shared norms for information stewardship.
• Lead cross-divisional logistics for approximately 100 to 150 event engagements annually, supporting internally hosted and externally attended engagements.
• Coordinate travel, registrations, accessibility needs, vendor logistics, and run of show support to ensure smooth execution and equitable experiences for community partners and staff.
• Document and implement event engagement processes that reflect Inatai’s values and internal accountability standards.
• Build simple systems to capture, organize, and route learning from events, including relationship information, emerging opportunities, and implications for strategy.
• Maintain a high quality of customer service that prioritizes Inatai’s accountability to grant-funded organizations and strengthens internal team members’ trust in Inatai’s processes, tools, and strategies.
• Ensure external communications from grant leaders, grant-funded organizations, and other community members are routed appropriately and responded to quickly, with kindness and clarity.
• Maintain shared accountability for the [email protected] and [email protected] email addresses, and any other communications channels that may be required to support the organizations that Inatai is accountable to.
• Document and update responses to frequently asked questions and common topics that Inatai receives from internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner across departments to ensure scheduling, planning, and communication are aligned, transparent, and supportive of Strategy & Impact goals.
• Build and oversee cross-training across teams on grantmaking processes and workflows.
• Stay aware of trends in program and project management, and apply this knowledge to changes in policy and practices.
• Provide logistical support for internal and external stakeholders for convenings of varying sizes of participants.
• Coordinate with internal partners across divisions to ensure adherence to policies and alignment in practices for convening.
• Contribute one’s own ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences to the emerging culture of the Foundation.
• Assume other responsibilities and explore new opportunities that arise with evolving needs and aspirations.

Benefits

• Fully paid medical/dental/vision coverage for employees and dependent children (and partial coverage for partners and spouses).
• A 12% retirement contribution.
• Generous time off (29 days of flexible paid time off, eight paid holidays, and a year-end office closure from December 25 to January 1).
• Paid family and medical leave (12 to 18 weeks).
• A transit pass (where available).
• Support for ongoing professional development.
• A compensation enhancement is provided to employees with indigenous or advanced language proficiency in more than one language that they utilize to advance the Foundation’s work across Washington.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees