Description of Position:
The Director of Programs provides executive leadership, strategic oversight, and execution of the Foundation’s programs. The Director is a full-time, exempt employee of the Foundation and serves as a management team member. The Director supports the following Board Committees: Grants, Arts and Culture, Education, and Scholarship. The Director is responsible for the Community Foundation’s strategic initiatives and ensuring that they are well supported and enhanced through strong community relations, knowledge, expertise, and collaborative partnerships.

The Community Foundation values collaboration, excellence, responsiveness, accountability, focus, transparency, humility, creativity, and integrity in all aspects of its work. Each staff member is expected to exemplify these values in their daily work.

This position reports to the President and supervises the Community Foundation’s Program staff.

Context:
Over the past several years, the Foundation has aggressively increased its role in the community by developing programs to fulfill its strategic plan. This work has entailed significant collaborative work, new staffing and leadership, and a marked increase in community engagement. The Foundation’s role as a funder, convener, and community leader was elevated over the past few years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. The Foundation has also confirmed its commitment to embrace the challenge to address the racial inequities that remain a significant obstacle to the health, safety, happiness, and livelihood of communities of color.

The Foundation manages more than 200 funds ranging in size from $10,000 to nearly $9M with total assets in excess of $50M and awards grants and scholarships, in a typical year, of more than $6M. These funds include donor advised, scholarships, field of interest, fiscal sponsorship, and agency endowments.

Founded in 1995, the Foundation proudly serves 41 cities and towns throughout southeastern Massachusetts with a strong focus on New Bedford and Fall River.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Oversee the programs of the Foundation, including those currently articulated in Re-Commitment: Strategic Plan 2019-2023: Arts and Culture, Education, and Economic Opportunity, as well as grant-making from those funds under the discretion of the Community Foundation.
  • Expand the impact and reach of the Creative Commonwealth Initiative for arts and culture and fulfill the obligations and opportunities afforded by the partnership with the Barr Foundation.
  • Work with the Board to create a vision and agenda for an educational program, focusing on early childhood education, college and career readiness, and other initiatives as identified.
  • Oversee and ensure a successful and innovative scholarship program.
  • Work with the Board to create a comprehensive plan for an economic opportunity program that builds on the strengths and opportunities of the Foundation and is informed by the community’s needs.
  • Build on the success of the Emergency Response Fund, utilizing short-term funding to create meaningful change in the basic needs of our communities.
  • Lead all aspects of the strategy, management, and oversight of the Foundation’s discretionary grants programs, currently including the Leadership Equity Fund, Polaroid, Huidekoper Fund, Martha G. Coggeshall Fund, and the John Vasconcellos Fund; determine the strategy and framework for grantmaking and ensure that grantmaking is in accordance with the Foundation and IRS requirements.
  • Provide learning opportunities for donors and fund advisors regarding current nonprofit programs, trends, discussions, and other forms of engagement.
  • Provide leadership and oversight with grantmaking committees, ensuring grantmaking is active, timely, responsive, and meets fund purposes and impact.
  • Lead and supervise the Grants program team with clear expectations and a supportive environment for professional development.
  • Strategize, plan, and implement nonprofit education and training that build capacity for nonprofits. These opportunities include, but are not limited to, Annual Institute for Trustees and other pieces of training that may arise.
  • Build strong relationships with institutional funders that support impact areas in the South Coast region by networking and convening foundation staff. Act as a leader for the Foundation in knowledge and relationship with these funders.
  • Work with the Director of Philanthropy to provide training and support to Philanthropic Advisors specifically related to grant-making consultation, family philanthropy, and personalized strategic consulting around their philanthropic strategy.
  • Responsible for partnering with the Marketing & Communications staff to strategically position the Foundation as a leader in philanthropy through engaging content on our website, blogs, and social media.
  • Maintain a broad understanding of the community, especially the most marginalized, and use this knowledge to build and maintain relationships with philanthropists and prospective philanthropists.
  • In alignment with our organizational values of equity and opportunity for all, support staff and philanthropists in deepening their understanding of equity, specifically racial equity, and imbuing that ethic throughout our work.
  • Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation.

Other Responsibilities:

  • Represents the Foundation appropriately.
  • Maintain confidentiality of Foundation affairs in communications, both written and oral.
  • Occasional attendance at Foundation events outside work hours.
  • Participate in relevant professional associations.
  • Assists President on special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Preference will be given to candidates with the following qualities:
  • Demonstrable professional maturity.
  • Entrepreneurial approach to organizational growth.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage many deadlines, projects, and relationships.
  • Exceptional abilities in oral communication, presentations, and persuasive writing.
  • Strong analytic and organizational skills
  • Ability to manage projects and workflow, using time and resources effectively.
  • Ability to motivate and manage a team (both volunteer and staff) to achieve high expectations.
  • Understands the importance of and adheres to very high standards of service and integrity.
  • Able to exercise discretion with highly sensitive and confidential information.
  • A good sense of humor and a strong work ethic.

Minimum Requirements:
Education and Experience:

  • 5+ years of progressively responsible experience managing programmatic activities in a non-profit or for-profit setting.
  • Bachelor’s Degree preferred; graduate degree or advanced designation strongly preferred.
  • Minimum of three years as a manager or supervisor of staff.
  • Proven experience managing program development, execution, and evaluation.
  • Proven experience with strategic initiatives.
  • Experience with the Microsoft Office Suite, the ability to comprehend the Foundation’s software package, and experience with data management.
  • Experience in working with volunteer boards and committees in nonprofit organizations.

Compensation and Benefits
Compensation includes a competitive base salary and an excellent package of health, retirement, and other benefits.

Working Conditions: Normal office conditions, including support for remote work access.

Application Process: Please email your cover letter and resume to kheard@southcoastcf.org. We will only consider applications that are submitted through email. Please name your documents as follows: LAST NAME – RESUME and LAST NAME – COVER LETTER.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation strives to attract and develop a staff that possesses diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives and is committed to the principles of equal employment. To this end, the Community Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.