Program Officer, Environment and Community Health

Position Status: Full-Time/ Exempt
Location: Hybrid – Onsite 3 days per week
Starting Salary: $73,200

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POSITION SUMMARY 

The program officer for Environment and Community Health is an integral part of a close-knit team working to shape and execute the Foundation’s strategies to protect and improve the physical health of our communities and the preservation of our environment by advancing environmental justice and prioritizing health equity in Allegheny County. The program officer is a fierce and committed advocate for programmatic and policy-level interventions that are necessary to promote equitable access to land, air, and water, safeguard the health of communities disproportionately impacted by environmental and health inequities by preserving their environments, build agency within communities to advance environmental justice and ensure access to high quality, affordable, accessible and culturally responsive health care and health-related services. 

The program officer is responsible for managing a responsive and proactive grantmaking portfolio that enhances the ability of nonprofit and community leaders to identify and address the root causes of environmental and health disparities, expand access to quality health care and health-promoting environments, and advance cross-sector solutions that recognize the interconnected nature of environmental conditions, systemic inequities, and community well-being. This individual participates in programs, capacity building efforts, and special initiatives to strengthen the systems and infrastructure dedicated to environmental justice and protecting and improving the health of individuals and families across the Allegheny County. 

The program officer will work collaboratively with internal and external colleagues to strengthen the Foundation’s capacity to create impact and to foster a community where all individuals can thrive.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grantmaking

• Independently manage a caseload of active grants, including reviewing proposals, writing grant summaries, reviewing reports, maintaining accurate records and thoughtfully engaging with grantees in the environmental action and basic needs portfolios from solicitation and application through interim and final reporting.
• Evaluate grant applications, conduct due diligence, prepare grant recommendations for internal staff review and Program Committee consideration and communicate with grant-seekers regularly through virtual and in-person meetings and conducting site visits as part of the review process.
• Represent grant-seekers by preparing and presenting written grant summaries and grantee progress reports to the Program Committee and other board committees. 
• Assess grantee progress and maintain ongoing communication with grantees to both understand their evolving needs and continuously improve the grantee experience.
• Monitor grant performance and implementation of grant strategies.
• Oversee and execute participatory grantmaking processes, including selecting and training grant reviewers, facilitating grant review panels, documenting panel decisions, sharing panel recommendations and evaluating the participatory grantmaking process. 
• When appropriate, create and manage advisory committees to inform and evaluate grantmaking and program initiatives.
• Identify challenges facing grantee organizations and networks, and ensure that the grant portfolio helps to meet those needs through individualized support, referrals to external resources and connection to the Foundation’s formal More Than Money programs and supports.
• Work with the director of grantmaking to assure full utilization of the Foundation’s field of interest and special purpose funds to execute grantmaking that fully aligned with donor intent and the Foundation’s funding priorities. 
• Work closely with administrative staff to ensure that data regarding grantmaking is accurate and timely.
• Communicate with nonprofit agencies, public and private funders, and the general public about the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities, guidelines, and proposal review process.  

Community Engagement

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with diverse thought leaders, funders, nonprofits and other key stakeholders to shape the Foundation’s environmental action and physical health priorities and support effective collaboration. 
• Serve as a resource and thought partner to external stakeholders who are interested in learning more about or advancing work that is aligned with the Environmental Action and Physical Health focus areas. 
• Develop and implement convenings on issues relevant to the grant portfolio and for the benefit of grantee partners and the communities they serve; track decisions and next steps, disseminate notes and coordinate follow-up actions; when appropriate, collaborate with the Foundation’s Partnerships team. 
• Develop and/or participate in foundation-initiated and community-led convenings that center truth-telling about social justice issues and create space for dialogue and healing that builds momentum toward community-driven solutions.
• Regularly attend meetings, events, and celebrations hosted by grantees that showcase the organization’s work.
• Meet with potential applicants, individually or via information sessions, to help them understand the Foundation’s grant process and strategic priorities.
• Represent The Foundation, when assigned, in local and regional partnerships that address critical community needs.

Public Policy and Community Impact 

• Share content knowledge and expertise with policy and community impact staff, acting as a resource and thought partner to inform the design, implementation and/or evaluation of public policy efforts that relate to the Environmental Action portfolio.  

Research and Learning

• Write extensively for internal purposes, including generating issue briefs on topics related to the portfolio, strategy memos and learning summaries.
• Apply ecosystem development frameworks and analysis to inform portfolio decisions as needed and as required.
• Keep informed of current events, developments, and issues in the field.
• Contribute to the development of criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the environmental action portfolio and participate in the evaluation of the results.
• Identify timely and reliable sources of research to understand and respond to key issues related to environmental justice, health equity, ecosystem conservation, and climate change.
• Participate in efforts to fully engage the individuals served by the Foundation to assure that their voices and lived experiences inform grantmaking priorities and strategies.

Donor Engagement

• Collaborate proactively and responsively with Development and Donor Services staff to serve donors in meeting their philanthropic goals.
• Support Foundation programs that contribute to a culture of excellence in donor education, donor engagement, “co-creation” of giving opportunities, and increased alignment between Foundation and donor giving on significant community issues.

Collaboration and Representation

• Maintain active relationships with peer funders, partners, field and community leaders
• Identify prospective grant recipients that strengthen local environmental and health ecosystems, with particular attention to organizations serving historically underserved communities
• Build and sustain relationships with the Program team, colleagues across the Foundation, and with leaders and organizations in relevant fields
• Represent the Foundation at conferences and other public events, including as a speaker or panel participant 
• Anticipate potential issues and propose solutions

Customer Service

• Adopt a customer service mindset that calls for prompt response to inquiries from grantees, board members, internal and external colleagues, and others in the community in a manner than is informative, patient, respectful, and culturally competent.

Other

• Serve on internal Foundation committees, as appropriate.
• Other tasks as assigned.
   

KEY SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Proven ability to work successfully with diverse populations and demonstrated commitment to promote and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Commitment to the foundation’s values of collaboration, trust, racial justice, community and accountability.
• Curiosity, strong research skills, and the ability to examine, analyze and interpret data from multiple secondary sources.
• Creative and analytical writing and skills, including the ability to design new strategies, ask relevant questions as well as to synthesize information into a coherent report or proposal.
• A commitment to integrity, transparency, honesty and cultural humility.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Mature understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the environment and health sectors
• Post-secondary education in a related field of study with at least five years of relevant experience, preferably within the nonprofit or public sectors; an advanced degree in public health, sustainability, environmental science or similar fields of study preferred.
• Knowledge and track record to serve as a critical advisor and subject matter expert on strategies to advance environmental justice, climate change interventions, health equity and public health; knowledge of related federal, state and local policy is a plus. 
• Familiarity with, but not necessarily a professional background in, philanthropy and philanthropic processes.
• Creative and analytical writing skills, with a focus on being able to synthesize complex concepts, information and recommendations succinctly and effectively for decision.
• Ability to meet deadlines, work independently, and consistently produce high-quality work.
• Strong written and verbal skills; demonstrated persuasive and respectful presentation skills for communications with internal and external stakeholders, and people from the communities we are working to reach on a range of complex issues.
• Experience working with racially, culturally, and economically diverse communities.
• Other essential skills include effectiveness in interpersonal relations with a proven ability to work as part of a team; the ability to organize and convey problems and issues clearly and succinctly; ease with and openness to people who hold diverse views; a talent for managing multiple tasks with significant initiative
• Computer literate, with a high level of comfort with new applications  
• Strong technical proficiency and the ability to quickly learn to function with the Blackbaud Suite of Products and Foundant.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other business-related applications.

THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

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