Neighborhood Funder's Group

Oakland, CA

Senior Program Manager for NFG's Funders for a Just Economy

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Funders for a Just Economy (FJE), a working group of Neighborhood Funders Group, seeks an experienced manager with strong organizing and program development skills to shepherd its programming, leadership development, and membership expansion. This manager will support funders in moving toward strategic alignment between the labor movement and philanthropy in advancing economic justice and equity. The ideal candidate has 7+ years of experience in economic justice work and philanthropy, including philanthropic affinity groups, intermediaries, or collaborative funds as well as strong experience in organizing large meetings and group facilitation skills, an easy rapport with a wide variety of people, and an excellent sense of humor.

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood Funders Group is a national network of local, regional and national philanthropic institutions with a focus on strengthening communities. NFG builds the capacity of philanthropy to advance social justice and community change by organizing the field, developing leaders, cultivating thought leadership among its base of members and encouraging the support of policies and practices that advance racial, economic, and social justice.

Funders for a Just Economy (formerly Working Group on Labor and Community Partnerships), one of NFG's four working groups, is the gathering place for funders committed to economic justice and workplace issues. It advances the philanthropic conversation about economic and social justice, and the centrality of unions and other worker formations in those efforts. Funders for a Just Economy is led by two co-chairs (in 2016, they are Aditi Vaidya, Solidago Foundation and Bob Shull, Public Welfare Foundation) and a Coordinating Committee. A larger Program Committee contributes thinking and implementation of the programming.

For more about NFG and examples of FJE programming, visit www.nfg.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Senior Program Manager is supervised by the Director of Programs and works closely with the Funders for a Just Economy co-chairs to manage the program and administration of the group. Currently, FJE produces two flagship programs a year: a policy briefing in the spring and a learning tour in the fall. FJE also conducts additional responsive and collaborative programs throughout the year, including regular leadership calls/webinars; workshops at philanthropic gatherings; and participation in cross-working group programs. The Senior Program Manager will:

• Track major developments in the worker justice field through periodic conversations with leaders of organizing networks, unions, or other social justice organizations, and keep the members apprised of critical events, important issues, innovative practices and policies.
• Support agenda development and organize FJE leadership meetings, including Program Committee and Coordinating Committee meetings.
• Organize funders to encourage strategic, aligned grantmaking.
• Work with other NFG staff and FJE leadership to provide integration and connection between FJE and other NFG programs.
• Represent FJE (alongside Coordinating Committee and NFG members) in funders meetings, with colleagues in other funder networks, and with media, grantees, and others (includes responding to inquiries and strategically positioning FJE with various audiences).
• Provide guidance and facilitation support to FJE co-chairs and committee members and NFG in planning and execution of programs.
• Support the co-chairs and active members in fundraising (working closely with the NFG President and Organizational Development Director).
• Manage all financial information, develop budgets, and work with the co-chairs to track that information, with support from NFG.
• Maintain relationships with current FJE funders, and build relationships with new ones.
• Support the NFG and FJE members to expand the understanding and interest of other NFG members, individual donors/funders and other funder affinity group members in economic and worker justice, and community-labor partnerships, through collaborative programs and other strategies.
• With logistical support from other NFG staff, organize meetings, learning tours, convenings, and webinars to broaden understanding and interest in philanthropy for approaches to creating a just economy.
• Develop written content and updates about the Funders for a Just Economy program for communications (internal and external) in collaboration with NFG staff.
• Participate in planning and execution of NFG's biennial national conference.
• Manage various consultant-led projects.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 7 years of experience in economic justice work (including unions, workers centers, community groups, coalitions, advocacy organizations, around a variety of issues and strategies including civic engagement)
• At least 7 years of experience in philanthropy, including foundations, intermediaries, collaborative funds, or affinity groups
• Strong interpersonal, writing, analytical, and organizational skills
• At least 5 years of project and/or event management experience
• Facility with technology and comfort with a virtual office
• Flexibility and comfort with overlapping projects, competing deadlines, and multiple stakeholders
• Ability to travel regularly
• Prior experience working in philanthropy is a strong preference for this position
• Familiarity with worker justice issues, organizations, foundations, and government agencies
• Demonstrated experience and comfort with facilitating committees or coalitions

COMPENSATION: Salary commensurate with experience; benefits include generous leave and, for full-time employees, health insurance and retirement contributions.

PROCESS: Please send a cover letter, resume, and two references to [email protected] by November 1^st. All required documents must be sent as attachments and only complete applications will be reviewed

NFG is an equal-opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people are strongly encouraged to apply.

LOCATION: It is preferable that the successful candidate work full-time in NFG's Oakland, California office. However, telecommuting from another location will be considered for the right candidate.