ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS (CFWM)

Everything we do begins with local generosity: People in our region who want to give back to their communities in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. When our donors give to us, they know that their gifts will be invested, stewarded, and shared to support people where they need it most.

As your community foundation, we’re passionate about serving by bringing together resources, expertise, and devoted regional partners to tackle complex and complicated issues. We’re deeply devoted to seeking solutions, building connections, and collaborating to have an effective and positive impact where we live.

CFWM is committed to working together across our community to increasing equity and opportunity so that all who live in our three counties have access to a satisfying quality of life.  

ABOUT OUR HYBRID WORKPLACE MODEL

Our hybrid model is designed to keep community at the heart of what we do. We offer a hybrid workplace as part of our ongoing efforts to respond to employees’ needs and feedback that allows for individual needs to be met while balancing our ability to collaborate and build relationships in our workplace and across our community. We continue to recognize that some of our work can be done remotely, some work must be performed in the office, and much of our work takes place in our travels and activities throughout the region. All employees are required to come into the office, and work across the region for some CFWM events and activities. Some positions may require more of an office or community presence than others.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Senior Program Officer oversees CFWM’s strategic work to support education and economic opportunity initiatives that supports a strong start for children as well as accessible and more affordable post-secondary education and training that provides pathways to completion and employment. This includes utilizing a community leadership approach to develop strong relationships in the early childhood, secondary, and postsecondary education sectors as well as workforce development professionals and organizations in order to create responsive, trust-based philanthropy and other initiatives. This position will listen, research, devise, pilot, and implement new strategies that deepen the impact of CFWM’s work in a sustainable way. All programs and projects are developed and implemented in alignment with our strategic priorities including diversity, equity, and inclusion.

ABOUT YOU:

• You are passionate about advancing racial, economic, and education equity.
• You have experience working in higher education including financial aid and student services.  
• You have the ability to build and maintain strong relationships and partnerships.
• You are dedicated to the Western Massachusetts community
• You are analytical and have strong attention to detail
• You have strong written and verbal communication skills
• You are organized and have the ability to manage multiple projects
• You have the ability to work independently when needed and enjoy working collaboratively with others
• You are strategic and resourceful
• You have the ability to adapt to change and work in an evolving workplace
• You prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workspace

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Program management and administration

• Oversight of all aspects of grants management related to education: including initiating, designing, implementing and monitoring workflow processes and procedures for grantmaking and scholarship programs in collaboration with the Director of Community Impact and Partnerships, including the application, review, meeting and award activities for all educational and economic mobility programs.
• Provide supervision and training to Education Impact and Partnerships Team including any part-time or temporary staff as needed.

Outreach and community engagement

• Represent the Foundation and the Community Impact team into the community by developing and sustaining relationships with scholarship fund donors, colleges/universities, high school representatives, community groups, early education and students.  This will include presentations, meetings, college fairs, working groups, committees, community meetings, and written communication. 
• Work in partnership with the Education Committee on program oversight and policy matters.

Support internal and external communication

• Work closely across departments, with grantees, volunteers, committees and working groups, team members, and a variety of community stakeholders in order to advance key priorities. 
• Collaborate with the Vice President and Senior Director of Community Impact and Partnerships, as well as other Community Impact Team Senior Program Officers on special projects and initiatives.

Volunteer recruitment and engagement 

• Design and implement a volunteer recruitment, training and retention program for the Education and Economic Mobility team that is aligned with organizational volunteer management with support and guidance from the VP for People and Culture and the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO. 

Data collection, evaluation, and reporting

• Responsible for using a collaborative approach to design and implement evaluation procedures that supports communications, reporting, and quality improvement efforts. 
• Work collaboratively with Information Technology and Information Systems to assure software applications meet needs for effective work processes to develop and implement the grant management system.
• Create opportunities for listening to grantees and stakeholders to adjust program offerings, respond to current trends, identify emerging needs, define best practices and share findings with constituents.
• Set programmatic goals, monitor progress toward goals and use data analysis to provide evaluative reports.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or the equivalent related and relevant experience.

Experience

• Five- seven years’ substantive program and operational experience.
• Three years’ experience in philanthropy, grantmaking, educational services, and/or the nonprofit sector;
• Demonstrated experience in formulating and implementing policies and procedures.
• Strong background in data analysis and management of computerized processes necessary. 
• Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, and the tenacity to see tasks through to completion in an accurate and thoughtful manner.
• Experience with volunteer management preferred.
• Background in financial aid including five years of professional experience with demonstrated increases in responsibilities preferred. 

Skills

• Project management:  Ability to juggle multiple projects and work independently, as well as with others, in a collaborative, often fast-paced, team environment.
• Partnership and relationship management:  ability to build and maintain partnerships and relationships with a variety of community stakeholders.
• Effective communication skills:  Excellent oral and written skills with a variety of audiences and stakeholders. Facilitative and adaptive leadership and management style:  demonstrated commitment and ability to learn about and implement management and supervision practices that is collaborative in nature and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities.   

JOB CODE: 1000012