Kresge Foundation

Troy, MI

About The Kresge Foundation

The Kresge Foundation is metro Detroit's largest private, national foundation, with more than $3.5 billion in its endowment, a growing staff of nearly 100 employees and a mission to expand opportunities in America's cities for low-income people. We do this through grant making and social investing nationally in arts & culture, education, environment, health, human services, as well as community development in Detroit.

The foundation’s state-of-the-art headquarters is located in Metro Detroit.  The modern LEED Platinum facility is anchored by a 19^th century farmhouse and a new expansion that houses both a cafeteria and a convening center. Kresge also operates an office in Detroit’s Midtown district.

The Kresge Foundation offers a competitive total compensation package including health, employer-paid dental and vision, basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability, generous paid time off, and an attractive 401k plan with employer match and a 10% employer contribution.  We also provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily for a nominal charge, robust professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement.  Kresge promotes and supports a healthy and green work environment and encourages intellectual curiosity as we embrace and live out our values of creativity, respect, opportunity, partnership, and stewardship.

Available Position: Program Coordinator

The Program Coordinator, reporting to the Vice President, Chief Program and Strategy Officer (‘VP of Programs’) and the Director of Strategic Learning, Research, and Evaluation (‘L&E Director’), is responsible for coordinating, planning, executing and implementing projects that cut across the Foundation’s programs and learning activities. They may range from learning and evaluation analysis and special projects to departmental coordination and administrative support.

The role helps to shape and implement grantmaking around the Foundation’s thought leadership work and investments in cross-cutting issues (e.g., civil rights, racial justice, inclusive recovery) impacting opportunities in cities. Along with the VP of Programs and L&E Director, the Program Coordinator is responsible for the effective administrative functioning of Cross-Program and Learning & Evaluation areas.

This position is a two-year appointment with the possibility of an additional one-year extension (based on performance and Foundation need).

Primary Responsibilities Include:

Team Coordination (30% of time)

1. Serves as overall project manager and coordinator for the team, keeping current with tasks for each activity, including dates and deliverables, meeting agendas, and notes. Activities include lunch and learns, program forums, retreats, Foundation-wide learning events, projects related to cross-cutting issues, cross-team evaluations, and visits from external guests.
2. Monitors and advises the team regarding program timelines, board deadlines, key dates, upcoming events, and meeting planning.
3. Reviews department objectives and work plans regularly and suggests operational innovations to maximize efficiency and efficacy.
4. Assists VP of Programs and L&E Director with budget management and tracking, including:
   1. Analyzing, researching, assembling and tracking all relevant financial information for the purpose of providing support and direction, ensuring overall operations are within budget.
   2. Monitoring budget allocations, expenditures and related financial activities for the purpose of ensuring all allocations and expenses are accurate.
   3. Collaborating with internal personnel (i.e. Managing Directors and the Finance Department) to implement and maintain budgets over the course of a fiscal year.

Program and Strategic Learning & Evaluation Support (30% of time)

1. Helps shape and implement grantmaking around the Foundation’s thought leadership work and investments in cross-cutting issues (e.g., civil rights, racial justice, inclusive recovery) impacting opportunities in cities.
   1. Drafting grant write-ups
   2. Conducting due diligence
   3. Communicating with grantees
   4. Reading interim reports
2. Serves as primary interface and logistics point person to internal and external stakeholders including contractors for the VP of Programs and the L&E function.
   1. Coordinating and participating in calls with stakeholders
3. Undertakes research and prepares written reports and presentations as directed by the VP of Programs and L&E Director for speeches, Board-related content, and other cross-cutting issues.
4. Supports cross-team evaluations by gathering background documents such as write-ups and final reports.
5. Supports content of foundation learning events through material preparation, participant surveys, analysis of results, develop recommendations for future learning events.

General Administration (40% of time)

1. Facilitates active communication between Program, L&E and Executive Office departments to ensure the work flow is effective and efficient.
2. Schedule Management:
   • Schedules a high volume of internal and external meetings and large-scale convenings.
   • Coordinates calendars, assembles meeting material, makes meal arrangements, and confirms appointments for the VP of Programs and L&E Director.
   • Interacts regularly with high-level local and national business, government, and non-profit leaders.
3. Coordinates business travel, airfare bookings, accommodation arrangements, car services, and Outlook itineraries for the VP of Programs and L&E Director.
4. Manages contacts distribution lists, creates charts, excel spreadsheets, power point presentations, proofreads memos, completes decline letter templates and prepares correspondence for the VP of Programs and L&E Director as requested.
5. Assembles Board materials: finalizes documents with VP of Programs and L&E Director and posts appropriate locations adhering to the process and deadlines set by the Executive Office.
6. Processes expenses reports for the VP of Programs and L&E Director, as well as resolves discrepancies with Finance.
7. Manages consulting contracts on an ongoing basis, including routing approvals, distributing executed documents to external consultants and Finance, and overseeing invoices to ensure negotiated amounts stay within budget.
8. Maintains and updates Program and L&E intranet pages.
9. Responsible for maintaining the document management systems of both departments.
10. Prepares mailings and shipments of materials as needed.
11. Requires regular off-site work and travel.
12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education        
  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Minimum 2 years of professional work experience, with increasing responsibility over time.
  • Demonstrated interest in community development, public administration, and/or urban planning.
  • Working knowledge of one or more of the Foundation’s Program areas desirable.

• Skills
  • Strong project management skills and the ability to chart one’s own direction collaboratively.
  • Effective time management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage a diverse and demanding workload in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong customer service orientation for engaging with a variety of internal and external stakeholders and partners.
  • Strong ability to solve problems creatively; takes initiative. 
  • Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
  • Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.

• Values
  • Commitment to expanding opportunity for low-income people.
  • Commitment to the Foundation's vision and its five values (stewardship, respect, creativity, partnership and opportunity) with the ability to demonstrate that commitment in daily interactions. 
  • Takes a learning stance.

Please submit a cover letter and resume by December 23, 2016 to [email protected]  

The Kresge Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women and LGBT applicants.