The Walton Family Foundation is seeking a skilled, highly motivated, and entrepreneurial individual to join the foundation’s K-12 Education team as a Program Support Associate. The candidate will have the opportunity to support a talented and fast-paced team in the areas of operations and grants management to ensure smooth and efficient operations. The position will be located in one of the Foundation’s four offices, with a preference for the DC or Denver office.

About the Walton Family Foundation

Sam and Helen Walton had an unshakeable belief in the power of people to transform their own lives. As Sam said, there is no limit to what individuals can accomplish if “given the opportunity, the encouragement and the incentive to do their best.” Today that “no limits” philosophy is carried forward by their descendants through the Walton Family Foundation.

With grantmaking projected to exceed $2 billion over the next five years, the foundation continues to move forward with increasing intensity, focus and commitment to sustaining the Walton’s timeless entrepreneurial values and their deep dedication to making life better for individuals and communities alike. By working with grantees and collaborating with other philanthropic organizations, the foundation is focused on making a positive difference in three primary program areas of collective interest to the Walton Family:

• K-12 education
• Freshwater and marine conservation
• Quality of life initiatives in Arkansas and the Mississippi River Delta Region

In addition to these program areas, the foundation also supports grantmaking interests of individual and groups of Walton family members, as well as independent foundations created by family members. These individualized giving areas represent a high growth area of the foundation.

During 2016, the foundation plans to invest over $400 million in domestic and international projects that address significant social and environmental issues. The foundation continues to implement and expand grantmaking to fund a positive difference in many diverse communities – and in the lives of the people who call these communities their home.

Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, with offices in Washington, D.C., Jersey City, New Jersey and Denver, Colorado, a staff/consultant base of approximately 80 associates conducts the day-to-day operations of the foundation.

Responsibilities

The primary duty of the Program Support Associate will be to support smooth execution of the team’s operations, budgeting, strategy, and grantmaking. Specific duties could include:

Grants Management (60% of time) 

• Assist program officers in the grantmaking process which includes pre-grant research, financial analysis, grant write-up, and post-grant payment and reporting
• Use the foundation’s grant tracking database to analyze information on WFF historical giving and grant making
• Collaborate with budget team to manage the K-12 team’s budget including pipeline, committed, and paid grants
• Participate on internal content specific working groups centered on the K-12 team’s initiatives and strategies
• Act as liaison between K-12 team and home office administration for information and updated processes
• Support Program Coordinator in the management of Charter Startup Grant Program in the form of application review and budget alignment

Operations (30% of time)

• Perform operational, technical, and analytical tasks to inform decisions of K-12 program officers and senior leadership team
• Prepare documents, take minutes, and compile follow-up notes for grantmaking strategy and board meetings
• Provide operational feedback to Program Coordinator for improved team efficiency
• Coordinate events/meetings and professional development opportunities for team members

Additional Duties (10% of time)

• Act as representative of the foundation to grantees and external partners
• Special projects as assigned

Qualifications and Experience

The position calls for an understanding of, or a willingness to learn about, the foundation’s K-12 Education program. The role requires initiative and decisiveness combined with flexibility and a capacity to give and receive feedback graciously.

The Foundation seeks a strong individual with excellent interpersonal, technical, and communication skills. The successful candidate will be both a self-starter who knows how to take the initiative, and a collaborative colleague who can work effectively as part of a dynamic team. 

Key qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of 2-4 years’ work experience, preferably in an administrative or operations role in an office environment requiring interaction with both internal and external “customers”
• A passionate commitment to the goals of the Walton Family Foundation, and the ability/willingness to adapt as those goals evolve
• Intellectual agility and the ability to be proactive, analyze, think critically, and understand emerging issues that are directly relevant to programmatic funding areas
  • Excellent organizational, detail-orientation, and project-management skills
  • Ability to build internal and external relationships and networks in order to achieve results
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Positive, collaborative approach to work
• Unquestionable ethics and personal integrity
• Strong technical skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint
• Demonstrated capacity to work as part of a team, as well as independently

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand, reach with hands and arms, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects and/or controls. The employee is required to sit, walk, talk and hear; and move/carry files. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color, and the ability to adjust focus in order to handle extensive data collection, analysis and summary reporting.  Computer work will be a part of the daily workflow and process.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics for this job are typical for this type of job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is reflective of a mid-sized office.

Compensation and Benefits

The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and updated resume to [email protected] by January 15, 2016.