The Surdna Foundation, a New York City-based national family foundation that was founded by John E. Andrus in 1917, seeks a Program Associate to support its Strong Local Economies grantmaking program. With assets totaling more than $700 million and an annual grantmaking budget in excess of $30 million, Surdna focuses in three grantmaking areas: Sustainable Environments, Strong Local Economies, and Thriving Cultures. The Foundation aims to foster just and sustainable communities in the United States-communities guided by principles of social justice. The work environment at Surdna is team-oriented and collegial where diversity is valued.

The Surdna Foundation's Strong Local Economies program aims to help create communities of opportunity that offer good jobs within reach for low- and moderate-income residents, and provide sustainable development solutions that enable people to easily travel between their homes and jobs, schools, and local amenities and personal services. In addition, the program aspires to create strong and sustainable local economies that include a diversity of vibrant businesses and sectors, and improves residents' livelihood and access to quality jobs and training within a region and nationally. The program provides grant support for efforts at the national, state, metropolitan, and city levels, investing in the exchange of ideas across networks of people, institutions, and places with the intent of seeding innovative projects, programs, and policies and bringing them to scale across the country. We seek a balance of grantmaking opportunities that include efforts to: demonstrate the effectiveness of specific, targeted projects and models; advocate for and implement federal, state, and local public policies; and empower, mobilize, and develop leadership in communities and agencies to encourage civic participation.

Please review our guidelines for more details about the program's strategies.

Responsibilities:

The Program Associate (PA) for the Strong Local Economies (SLE) program is chiefly responsible for providing all administrative support for the program, including two professional staff members: a Program Director and a Program Officer. The administrative aspects of the position involve formatting, editing, and proof-reading grant dockets; reconciling program grants and strategy with the program budget quarterly; coordinating calendars, scheduling meetings and phone calls, and arranging travel plans for the Director and Officer; creating and submitting program expense reports; organizing meetings and special events that support the program's goals; daily phone and email interaction directly with grantees, grant seekers and Surdna's Board of Directors.

In addition to program administration, the Program Associate will have ample opportunities to engage in substantive programmatic refinement and grantmaking support to the portfolio through the following: review and response to letters of inquiry submitted by grant seekers; some due diligence tasks for potential grants; managing and writing grant recommendations for the program's small grants program; monitor the progress of existing grantees; and regular contribution of program-relevant news and policy developments. The PA is also responsible for planning and coordinating the Strong Local Economies program's annual, three-day grantee learning retreat with some 100 nonprofits and foundation partners in attendance.

Beyond working with program staff and grantees, the Program Associate works collaboratively with the Director of Systems and Communications to track incoming letters of inquiry, grant proposals, existing grants, and grantee reports for the SLE program and joint-grants made with other Surdna programs. The PA works closely with the Office Administrator in maintaining office systems such as filing, kitchen maintenance, reception coverage, and Board Meeting support. Additionally, the PA works as a part of a small team of Program Associates that support the other grantmaking areas at the Foundation, providing each other with mutual support on coordinating cross-programmatic grants, events, and other initiatives and peak periods for the Foundation.

The successful candidate is a confident, analytical, and agile problem-solver with the ability to handle several programmatic and administrative tasks simultaneously, while maintaining poise and patience. The successful candidate also has a demonstrated educational background and/or professional interest in at least one or more areas of the Strong Local Economies program. This position offers exceptional access to the national land use, transit-oriented development (TOD), workforce development and economic development fields as well as the national and place-based philanthropic community.

Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree required. An academic degree in a related field and an interest in regional land use, transit-oriented development (TOD), entrepreneurship, workforce, and economic development issues are highly preferred.
• A minimum of two years work experience is required, preferably within an administrative and programmatic capacity.
• Previous work experience within a nonprofit or grantmaking foundation is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Excellent analytical and communications skills, namely writing and oral presentation skills.
• A strong team player with a diplomatic, professional manner, and a sense of humor.
• Commitment to applying professional and personal skills broadly within Surdna Foundation in support of its mission and interest to engage in more cross-programmatic initiatives.

Competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Surdna Foundation is an equal opportunity employer

Please send resume, cover letter, and writing sample to:

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Submissions accepted on rolling basis.

Deadline for Submissions is Monday, December 6, 2010