MeHAF Seeks Program Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Program Officer I / Program Officer II

Reporting to: Vice President for Programs

Position Summary: The Program Officer (PO) serves as a member of the Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) program staff. The PO oversees development, management and evaluation of a portion of the Foundation’s strategic and responsive grantmaking programs. The Program Officer works closely with partner organizations, applicants and grantees to enhance program design, implementation, monitoring and improvement. Such relationship building requires exceptional interpersonal skills, supported by refined organizational and analytic talents. The successful candidate must possess broad knowledge of health care. Knowledge of philanthropy, and of Maine, is desirable. In addition to working successfully with individuals, the Program Officer must be able to effectively manage group processes. A desire to work collaboratively as part of a work team, attention to detail, a willingness to focus on multiple projects simultaneously, and above all, flexibility, are paramount. The workload can be significant and travel, primarily within the state, is sometimes required. Working under the supervision of the Vice President for Programs, the PO assigns some tasks to the Grants Administrator and the Program Associate.

It is expected that a Program Officer I will have fewer than five years experience in philanthropy and will require a greater supervisory support. A Program Officer II will have five or more years experience in philanthropy, which will be recognized by a greater degree of autonomy with oversight of more complicated programming than a Program Officer I.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Development, Implementation and Monitoring:

• Develops, manages and evaluates selected MeHAF program activities including grants programs, policy research, program support and technical assistance, and oversees other initiatives identified by the President, Vice President for Programs, Trustees, and Grants Committee.
• Maintains a knowledge base that supports the advancement of organizational development, system change, and other areas directly related to advancing MeHAF’s focus on transformative system change in health and health care;
• Cultivates relationships with potential grant applicants and grantees that will foster optimum growth of each organization throughout the successful grant process.
• Manages selected grants and grants programs, including oversight of grant contracts, review of grant budgets, analysis of interim and final budget reports, and preparation of fiscal and program data for annual reports;

Grantmaking Processes:

• Develops requests for proposals, manages grant application processes, reviews proposals, conducts site visits, as well as reviews and analyzes overall impact of grant programs.
• Develops and implements meaningful compliance and evaluation components for grants and contracts.
• Manages direct contracts, such as Foundation-initiated research, environmental scans and other studies.
• Works with other funders to design and execute collaborative grant initiatives.
• Provides support to the MeHAF Grants Committee.

Learning and Dissemination:

• Maintains a knowledge base for MeHAF’s program areas and distributing the information to the Foundation’s stakeholders.
• Communicates to a board array of stakeholders.
• Pursues opportunities to promote MeHAF’s mission and strategic initiatives through such methods as policy development, convening, and collaborating with other key organizations.

Foundation Functioning:

• Serves as a public representative of MeHAF to selected applicant and grantee organizations, Maine-based partners, and within the philanthropic community.
• Participates in identifying, implementing and monitoring MeHAF’s strategic priorities.
• Scans the health environment, including the scientific and policy literature, to ensure the Foundation is current with health and policy issues that affect foundation strategy and programs.
• Works with the President, Vice President for Programs, Program staff, Grants Committee, and other stakeholders to sustain a productive grantmaking team approach within MeHAF.
• Oversees and assists other staff who perform grantmaking administration and data tracking activities.

Minimum Requirements:

· Master’s degree in a related filed with three years experience or Bachelor’s degree with five years experience in health philanthropy or health program development. Experience with nonprofit organizations and philanthropy are desirable.

· Broad knowledge of health care and/or health policy and/or health data issues and methodologies. Knowledge of health care delivery and public health is desirable.

· Demonstrated commitment to the Foundation’s mission of promoting affordable and timely access to comprehensive, quality health care and improving the health of every Maine resident, with an emphasis meeting the needs of the medically underserved and uninsured. An awareness of the significant responsibilities inherent in the Foundation’s work is also essential.

· Exceptional interpersonal and group process skills, including the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Foundation’s stakeholders. These include a broad array of policy makers, community and business leaders, healthcare providers, development professionals, advocates, and citizens.

· Ability to work closely and collaboratively with the President, Vice President for Programs, and other Foundation staff, but also to work independently.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills including public communication skills.

· Excellent general management skills that support a team-oriented environment and an ability to manage multiple tasks.

· Excellent analytic skills and strong capacity for creative problem solving.

· Good judgment and maturity, with an ability to identify and address organizational needs, make decisions, develop and justify recommendations, resolve conflicts and be responsive and clear with internal and external customers.

· Basic skills in Microsoft Office suite and database management

· Discretion and commitment to organizational confidentiality.

· Willingness to travel, at the Foundation’s expense, around the state and occasionally to national or regional meetings and conferences. Required overnight travel is estimated at two days per quarter.

· Schedule flexibility in order to meet the variable demands of MeHAF’s activities.

· Polished and professional personal presentation and appearance.

Salary and Benefits:

• Starting salary range for Program Officer I is $50,000 - $60,000 and for Program Officer II is $55,000 - $65,000, commensurate with experience.
• Generous comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance as well as employer-sponsored retirement account with employer contribution.