Position Description

Position Title: Senior Program Officer, California Democracy
Location: Los Angeles or San Francisco
Reports to: Program Director, California Democracy
Status: Exempt
Application Deadline: May 21, 2012
Start Date: July 2012

The Foundation

The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful and inclusive society. The Foundation’s grantmaking focuses on three program areas: Arts, California Democracy and Youth. Since 1937 the Foundation has provided over $1 billion in grants to more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations throughout California. With about $1.5 billion in assets, the Foundation made grants of $65 million in 2011 for the people of California.

The Program

The goal of the California Democracy program is to advance effective public policy decision making that is reflective of and responsive to all Californians. To reach our goal, we engage in grantmaking in two principal areas:

Governance Reform — We make grants to improve state and local governance. Currently, we give priority to projects in two areas: budget and fiscal systems and election policies and practices. Budget and fiscal systems encompass the state budget process, state-local realignment and other issues. We also welcome ideas for projects in other areas that can significantly improve state and local governance. Through our grantmaking, we support policy development, strategic communications, outreach, coalition building and other activities.
Civic Engagement — We make grants to strengthen capacity among civic organizations and public officials to foster inclusive public decision making. This includes projects to support public officials in creating and implementing inclusive public decision-making practices. We also fund organizations working at a significant scale to involve residents in shaping public policies that affect their lives. Finally, we support research, analyses and surveys that improve understanding of public involvement in decision making.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Program Director for California Democracy, the Senior Program Officer will work in strategic and creative partnership with the Program Director and the rest of the California Democracy program team to advance the program’s goals. The Senior Program Officer will assist in planning, strategy development and implementation of both Governance Reform and Civic Engagement components of the California Democracy program. The Senior Program Officer will undertake initial screening of potential grantees, arrange and attend meetings with current and prospective grantees, conduct site visits, prepare docket materials, monitor active grants and prepare post-grant assessments. The Senior Program Officer will represent the Foundation at key events and build relationships in the fields related to the California Democracy program and work with all Foundation staff to advance the mission of the Foundation.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic and directional input: Assist the Program Director in examining, developing, implementing, documenting and communicating the goals, priorities and strategies of the California Democracy program.
Specific initial responsibilities: Manage a set of Civic Engagement grants, including grants directed to community organizing, communications, research and dissemination. Manage a set of Governance Reform grants related to media and communications. Specific areas of responsibility may evolve over time.
Grantmaking: As determined by the Program Director, identify additional prospective grantees, solicit and review proposals, engage in grant negotiations to ensure alignment with program goals and strategies, and make recommendations to the California Democracy program team for grant support.
Collaborative team planning: Participate in meetings of the California Democracy program team to review grant recommendations collaboratively; provide updates on grantee progress; determine complementary technical assistance needs of grantees; plan convenings, evaluations and communications activities; and share and reflect on experiences in the field and related program activity.
Grants portfolio oversight: Provide primary program support for the maintenance of active grants or contracts in the California Democracy portfolio, as assigned by the Program Director, including regular communications and problem solving with grantees and consultants; designing and facilitating convenings of grantee partners; and review, analysis and feedback of grantee reports. In this context, provide information, guidance and coaching to consultants and to prospective, current and past grantees in areas of grant reporting and communications with the Foundation.
Researching and writing grant write-ups: Prepare grant write-ups (including grant purpose, recommendation, goals and objectives, organizational background and analysis) and other written products (e.g., program updates, context papers and other documents) as needed.
External engagement: Organize, facilitate and attend meetings with funders, grantees, grantseekers and other constituents of the California Democracy program and the Foundation.
Relationship-building and outreach: Assist the Program Director in developing and maintaining productive working relationships with key actors in fields related to the California Democracy program in California and at the national level.
Issues/trend analysis: Remain abreast of current research, activities and trends in the issues related to the priorities of the California Democracy program area by reviewing professional publications and attending related conferences, meetings and other events.
Internal engagement: Work collaboratively and participate in cross-disciplinary teams with colleagues at the Foundation or on other additional special assignments, as requested by the President or Vice President for Programs.
Program representation: Maintain an in-depth knowledge of the priorities, strategies and selection criteria for the California Democracy program and a working knowledge of the Foundation’s Arts and Youth programs.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree preferred; bachelor’s degree required, with a preference for a degree in public policy, public affairs or political science
A minimum of eight years of work experience in state or local policy-making institutions or nonprofit organizations addressing state or local policy issues
A minimum of four years of experience in a substantial leadership role within an organization
Experience in guiding program design, policy and communications efforts
Substantive knowledge about a range of California policy issues and political processes, both at the state and local levels

Required Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated ability to plan and think strategically, set realistic goals and objectives, and balance multiple priorities
Excellent written and oral communication skills; excellent judgment in communicating within a variety of settings
Ability to assess the leadership, track record, fiscal health and capacity of a nonprofit organization to lead a proposed program or project
Creative, enthusiastic and independent; demonstrates a high degree of initiative; results-oriented
The personal presence to represent the Foundation in diverse forums and maintain organizational relationships
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and in a team-oriented environment

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mail: The James Irvine Foundation
Human Resources Department
575 Market St., Suite 3400
San Francisco, CA 94105

Application deadline: Monday, May 21, 2012

Start date: July 2012

The James Irvine Foundation offers an attractive benefits package. The Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we encourage applicants who reflect the diversity of California.

The Foundation greatly appreciates all expressed interest.