Program Officer, President’s Office

Job Description Summary The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well‑being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Participate in the design, implementation, refinement and adaptation of grant‑making strategies. Support the Director, President’s Office, in managing the grant‑making budget. Identify prospective grant recipients and work with prospective grantees to develop proposals that meet internal standards and align with institutional goals and values. Conduct background research and due diligence, prepare grant recommendations for the President’s consideration, review and evaluate proposals, and respond graciously to unsuccessful proposals. Monitor the performance of grants and the implementation of grant strategies. Build and maintain relationships with grantees in the portfolio while managing the administrative cycle of a grant, including reviewing reports and maintaining records. Organize meetings and convenings of prospective grantees, program advisors, and others in relevant fields. Write extensively for internal purposes. Build and sustain relationships with colleagues across the Foundation, and with leaders, actors and organizations in relevant fields, including the public and private sectors. Assist in the design and implementation of special initiatives. Represent the Foundation at conferences and other public events, including as a speaker or panel participant. Other Duties and Responsibilities Serve on internal Foundation committees as appropriate. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and six to ten years working as a policy professional, researcher, or practitioner in a relevant field. Previous grantmaking or grant seeking experience preferred; graduate training is desirable. Ability to make effective connections among research, policy, and practice and to work productively across sectors. Experience working in and deep knowledge of the non‑profit and/or government sectors. Excellent analytical and communication skills, including writing and public speaking. Experience in project management and strategic communications. Self‑confident, collegial, and diplomatic, with an appreciation of the role of an executive office internally and externally. Computer fluent, with a high level of comfort with new applications. Other Essential Skills Effectiveness in interpersonal relations with a proven ability to work as part of a team. Ability to organize and convey problems and issues clearly and succinctly. Easiness with and openness to people who hold diverse views. Talent for managing multiple tasks with significant initiative. Ability to anticipate and prevent problems, as well as to problem‑solve creatively. Attention to detail and quick turn‑around time. Position Details Location: Chicago, Illinois. Hybrid. Annual salary: $120,700, plus a comprehensive benefits package to support life, health, and well‑being. Physical Requirements: The work environment is an office setting. Intermittent physical activities will include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours. Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job. #J-18808-Ljbffr MacAthur Foundation