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Our partner, Seattle Foundation, is looking for a new Senior Program Officer (Policy & Government)!

• Location: Downtown Seattle, WA
• Job Type: Hybrid (roughly 20% in-office), Full-Time, Permanent
• Pay: Hiring Range $105k-$115k -- Full Range $76k - $122k
• Candidate must live in WA state

Greater Seattle is changing and growing, and so is Seattle Foundation (SF). The heart and science of philanthropy is the intersection of philanthropic passion and data-driven solutions to create lasting change. As the community's foundation, the mission is to ignite powerful and rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

SF seeks an individual ready to join their team of 60+ who are committed to the vision of a stronger, more vibrant community for all; collaboratively finding solutions; continually improving; and going above and beyond in service of philanthropic partners and the broader community.

The Opportunity

The Civic Leadership group coordinates Seattle Foundations efforts to inform and advance policies at the local, state, and federal levels that advance its mission to foster a thriving region of shared prosperity, justice, and belonging. It works in close collaboration with the Presidents Office, Impact & Learning, Civic Commons, Philanthropic Services, and Communications to develop, execute, and assess the Foundations policy-related grantmaking and partnerships.

Key activities of the Civic Leadership group include: grantmaking focused on policy, advocacy and systems change; guiding the foundations decision making process on timely policy positions impacting our region, monitoring the local, state, and federal policy landscape and sharing insights with Foundation leadership and staff; convening cross-sector policy-makers and policy-influencers to discuss critical community-led policy priorities and challenges; disseminating evidence on the impacts of various policy options; and educating decision-makers about the available evidence to inform policy design, implementation, and enforcement. This work is done through close partnerships with community leaders and movement advocates and cross sector partners.

The Senior Program Officer will manage a portfolio of grantmaking related to advocacy and policy efforts, inclusive of our partnerships with King County through Communities of Opportunity and Voter Education Fund. This role will help to inform the regional policy priorities of the Foundation and implement related grantmaking, partnership development, and special projects with the ultimate goal of advancing equity and joy.

The Senior Program Officer will ensure that relevant and timely grantmaking, research, policy analysis, and advocacy efforts contribute to public discourse around some of the most pressing issues in social, economic, and climate policy. In addition, they will help set a strategic agenda for engagement and policy priorities that are reflective of the Foundations focus areas.

The successful candidate will bring a sophisticated understanding of racial justice and economic equity and will have deep experience working with local and state community advocates, leaders, policymakers, and stakeholder organizations on equity and related policy initiatives. In addition, they will have a demonstrated ability to work flexibly and articulate goals and paths forward in a collaborative manner, while maintaining the ability to pivot their vision and tactics to fit evolving institutional priorities. The Foundation values a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, superior emotional intelligence, a healthy sense of humor and a natural collegiality that fosters a close-knit team.

Key responsibilities for this role include, though are not limited too:

Administer Policy-Related Grantmaking Programs:

• Manage Seattle Foundations policy-related grant programs, collaborative funds, and/or fiscal sponsorships, including managing grant budgets and public partnership contracts. This role will lead the grantmaking implementation as part of our collaborative grantmaking with King County through Communities of Opportunity and Voter Education Fund.
• Review grant proposals, conduct site visits, and prepare written summaries and analysis of grant requests to aid in evaluation and final grant recommendations. Provide training and guidance on grantmaking process and practice to grant reviewers.
• Assist and coordinate work with community advisory committees, working with them on annual planning, ongoing meeting content, agenda development, and serving as lead staff at meetings.
• Provide in-between meeting communications and related activities. Present and facilitate grant dockets to community advisory committees and public and funder partners.
• Oversee a portfolio of policy-related grantees. Facilitate investments in key policy related priorities related to the Civic Leadership groups near-term opportunities and the Blueprint for Impact.
• Maintain strong, authentic relationships with grant seekers and grantees, ensuring mutual understanding of the Foundations program and policy directions, goals, and expectations. Provide technical assistance and other forms of support to grantees, particularly as they navigate the policy and systems change environment. Track and stay current on grantee activities, including reporting, compliance and lobbying efforts.
• In collaboration with Senior Community Learning Officer, document and uplift needs and opportunities facing grantees advancing advocacy and policy approaches.

Establish strong internal and external relationships and partnerships:

• Provide day-to-day leadership in the execution of our partnerships with King County through Communities of Opportunity and Voter Education Fund.
• Build deep, durable relationships at the local and state level, especially in City of Seattle and King County.
• Develop and maintain relationships with nonprofits, issue advocates, institutional funders, public sector partners, Foundation philanthropists, and other key community stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate and current information related to partnerships and points of contact in Seattle Foundation databases.
• Gather knowledge of relevant trends, issues, and opportunities for potential Foundation investments.
• Provide expertise to support Foundations philanthropic advising and assist in development of special projects on behalf of donors. Provide grantmaking advice for donors on annual grantmaking at any scale and complexity, including community needs and systems contributing to those needs.
• Provide content for Seattle Foundations communications (blogs, reports, etc.).
• Participate in team-wide communication, planning, and strategy development and implementation.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in community engagement and policy advocacy at a nonprofit agency, community-based organization, or within government.

• Demonstrated critical, flexible, and multidisciplinary thinking required to understand and work within the broad social and economic forces that affect the well-being of communities and families and shape policy efforts. Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion with knowledge of root causes, systemic change, and use of policy to promote racial justice and economic equity.
• Deep knowledge of and fluency with major issues and trends related to democracy, social and economic equity and climate justice from an intersectional lens, and the evolution of policies to advance systems change and address the social factors that influence community well-being and drive inequities.
• Significant experience with the policy-making process, particularly policy advocacy work that includes research analyses, policy development, coalition and power building, policy adoption, storytelling, public and political will building, and evaluation. Experience working in state, local, or federal government is desired but not required.
• Creativity and adaptability to think imaginatively about opportunities, to create and respond to emerging needs and innovative approaches to addressing an issue, and to inspire others to work towards achieving team goals.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills and a collaborative, energetic approach. The proven ability to develop productive relationships with colleagues, policymakers, elected leaders, grantees, community advocates and activists, consultants, funding partners, and others who contribute to policy and program development and management.
• Commitment to the Foundations mission and vision and alignment with our values. Demonstrated qualities of honesty, integrity, enthusiasm, and perspective.
• High degree of personal and professional integrity with ability to work with sensitive and confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional writing, presentation, and oral communication skills. The ability to synthesize complex, interrelated material and focus quickly on the essence of an issue while maintaining clarity around the big picture. Demonstrated persuasive and respectful presentation skills for communications with internal leadership and external high-level stakeholders.