Program Officer, Affordable Housing

The Ruth Nelson Family Foundation is a private grantmaking organization advancing transformative philanthropy in Oklahoma, with a focus on Tulsa County. We’re hiring a Housing Program Officer to help shape the future of affordable housing in Tulsa. RNFF is a spend-down foundation committed to deploying all of our resources by 2038 to catalyze economic mobility. Housing is central to that mission, and we’re looking for a strategic, action-oriented leader who can help activate projects, unlock capital, and drive real progress. Role Description The Program Officer (PO) will be responsible for developing, managing, and evaluating a portfolio of grants and initiatives to fulfill RNFF’s mission, especially its commitment to increasing access to affordable housing in Tulsa. The ideal candidate will have real world understanding of capital stacks, public subsidies, construction realities, and the regulatory environment. We are seeking a relational and motivated individual who is excited to activate philanthropic capital in catalytic ways. This role is ideal for a community development leader, housing developer, housing finance professional or nonprofit leader ready to deploysignificant housing investments in Tulsa. A key member of a small team, this individual will serve as a thought partner to the staff and Trustees. The PO pursues and generates innovative ideas, serves as a primary liaison with the Tulsa nonprofit community, as well as with other civic, private, and philanthropic partners. Key areas of responsibility include grantmaking, community engagement, systems building, philanthropic leadership, advocacy and policy, and learning and evaluation. Prior knowledge of the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, social determinants of health, and affordable housing strongly preferred. Key Responsibilities Contribute to the design, implementation, and iteration of RNFF’s strategy. Develop issue-area specific priorities, frameworks, and funding approaches. Analyze and overcome gaps in the housing ecosystem, such as predevelopment capital, operating subsidies, land, capacity, and policy constraints. Recommend strategic “big bets” that can unlock stalled projects, de-risk innovation, or influence public policy. Oversee the lifecycle of a portfolio of grants, from sourcing and due diligence to reporting and evaluation. Evaluate grant applications and development proposals for mission alignment and impact potential. Assess strengths and opportunities of key nonprofit business areas such as finance, management, program evaluation, fundraising/development, and governance. Conduct site visits, reference checks, and due diligence, including risk analysis. Recommend RNFF investments to fill gaps, leverage public and private funds, and accelerate housing production. Prepare written grant recommendations for review by staff and Board of Directors. Partner with developers, intermediaries, lenders, and public agencies to move projects forward. Monitor grants for compliance and regularly assess portfolio performance, identifying successes and opportunities for greater impact. Support the Program Director with the development of reports to aggregate grant results and communicate the Foundation’s impact in the community. Develop the measurement, learning, and evaluation strategy for the Foundation’s affordable housing work. Contribute to a culture that fosters a supportive, accountable, and high-performing team. Provide opportunities to educate and share expertise with staff and community partners. Support cross-team collaboration with grants administration, communications, and operations. Cultivate relationships with nonprofit leaders, funders, policymakers, and stakeholders. Represent RNFF at conferences, events, and collaborative tables, elevating the Foundation’s mission and impact. Act as a connector and convener within and beyond the Foundation’s priority issue areas. Speak, write, facilitate, present, and plan and/or host events with the goal of uplifting grantee partners and calling other funders in, not out. Provide strategic insight on the issues facing Tulsa County and how the Foundation can leverage solutions via grantmaking and mission aligned investments. Bring deep knowledge and curiosity about the Foundation’s core areas of investment. Stay abreast of research, innovations, and best practices relevant to RNFF’s mission, especially affordable housing. Strategic Use of Resources Identify high-leverage opportunities to use RNFF’s dollars, influence, and partnerships to drive systemic change. Recommend and design new initiatives, collaborations, and special projects that extend the Foundation’s reach. Collaborate with finance and grants management to ensure thoughtful, equitable, and compliant allocation of funds. Qualifications 7+ years’ experience in community development, affordable housing development, housing finance, or philanthropy. Understanding of LIHTC deals, layered financing, public-private partnerships, or preservation transactions. Familiarity with pre-development risk, construction timelines, and operating realities. Strong collaboration, facilitation, and relationship-building skills. Exceptional organizational, analytical, and written communication abilities. A collaborative, humble, and equity-driven approach to leadership. Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of Tulsa-area issues, opportunities, and philanthropy. Experience with trust-based and/or capacity-building grantmaking models. Ability to build trusting relationships with diverse populations and personalities. Familiarity with the theory of systems change. Familiarity with private foundation operations, compliance, and governance. We love working with people who are: Self-directed and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Team players who collaborate with coworkers and community partners. Continuous learners who are curious and engaged. Passionate about issues of social, economic, and racial justice. Active listeners. Positive and have a great sense of humor. Salary: $140,000-$200,000 annually, commensurate with experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ruth Nelson Family Foundation