Program Officer

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Title: Program Officer – Grants & Grantee Technical Assistance 

Location: Baltimore, MD (Hybrid Work Environment) 

Starting Salary: $90,000 with full benefits package

Reports to: Director of Grantmaking

BALTIMORE FOCUS : BCYF, Inc. is a Baltimore-centric and focused organization. BCYF, Inc. has hiring requirements from the City of Baltimore to make best efforts to hire Baltimore citizens first. Although the City allows consideration of qualified applicants residing outside of Baltimore, BCYF, Inc. is committed to hiring the best people for the roles who know Baltimore, and the community and grassroots organizations and ecosystem it is committed to serving.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

Because BCYF, Inc. is a Baltimore City Agency, all exempt hires (except administrative and clerical) are subject to annual financial disclosure requirements to the City of Baltimore Board of Ethics. Cut and paste the financial disclosure requirements link to view - -disclosure

ABOUT BALTIMORE CHILDREN & YOUTH FUND, INCORPORATED

BCYF, Inc. is committed to ensuring that our children and youth are healthy, ready to succeed in school and live in stable, safe, and supportive families and communities. We do more than grantmaking, we collaborate with grassroots organizations and community leaders to create new opportunities for the city’s young people to learn, thrive, and succeed. BCYF, Inc. awards grants to organizations that provide programs to thousands of Baltimore's young people -- from academic support and science exploration to dance and photography. Unlike traditional philanthropic efforts in Baltimore, BCYF, Inc. is committed to authentic community engagement, and our strategy and grant decisions are shaped and led by Baltimore community members and youth leaders. Our core values of Racial Equity, Intergenerational Leadership, Community Ownership, and Collective Decision-Making direct our partnerships with organizations that share our Black liberation worldview. Through our strategic investments, we strive to resource a future where children and youth throughout the city enjoy access to high-caliber enrichment and learning opportunities, and children and youth programs have the resources they need to equitably serve all our young people.

About the Role 

BCYF, Inc. is searching for a strategic, community-centered, and results-oriented Program Officer - Grants & Grantee TA (PO) to continue to build and implement BCYF’s participatory grantmaking; lead site visits, meetings with grantees and organizations, grant provide technical assistance (TA), and serve as grantee partners’ primary point of contact within the organization. The PO will review, track, and evaluate BCYF, Inc.’s grantmaking portfolio, assess and report on the overall effectiveness of grants as they relate to the portfolio as a whole, and ensure grantee outcomes and data related to portfolios are captured in BCYF, Inc.’s grantmaking system and communicated when appropriate to staff and trustees. Reporting to the Director of Grantmaking-Portfolio, the PO 

will manage a portfolio of grants, conduct research, and prepare analytic reports to inform current and future grantmaking, and collaborate as a thought partner on a broad range of issues across all of BCYF, Inc.’s funding areas. 

Core Competencies

BCYF has identified eight core competencies for all BCYF employees. These competencies are the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that will align the staff in operationalizing the BCYF values.

• Collaborating and building relationships : Seeks information and input from other groups or teams when working on projects that will affect others. Willingly shares information with other groups or teams to help others reach their goals. Develops and maintains positive relationships with people in other departments and groups
• Data-informed action: Speaking with real data, Performance and improvements should be tangible and visible. Take personal responsibility for the group's success. Accountability*. Seek solutions and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrating strategic agility: Ensures organizational and personal objectives are met. Maintains a positive outlook to support change adoption and advance progress. Willingly transitions when new methods or systems are implemented. Takes the lead in team improvement and/or setting new business directions.
• Developing the potential of self and others: Looks for opportunities to learn and develop new skills. Searches for stretch assignments for self and/or direct reports. Find ways to leverage others’ talents and strengths. Takes time to self-reflect and identify areas for self-improvement. When appropriate, provide timely, direct, and actionable positive and corrective feedback to others.
• Exercising integrity and credibility: Shares information in an honest and direct manner. Is seen as a truthful individual who can and will present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful way. Always lets people know where they stand. Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said. Provides timely, direct, and actionable positive and corrective feedback to others.
• Focus on our service to our stakeholders: Humbly work to support our stakeholders, get proximate with people, use asset-based approaches to co-create solutions, and prioritize their experience.
• Fostering a radically inclusive community: Builds work products and interactions with intention. Examines personal bias and champions and models strategies for inclusion. Approaches conflict as opportunities for improvement. Listens to understand different perspectives and interests. Builds agreement based on common ground. Able to resolve tough issues and settle disputes equitably.
• Stewarding resources responsibly: BCYF aims to create value and eliminate waste by managing all resources carefully and responsibly. Determining choice points with resources in alignment with BCYF values. Ethical and efficient use of resources, including financial, human, physical, environmental, safety, information, and technology resources.

Essential Functions

• Review, track, and evaluate BCYF, Inc.’s grantmaking portfolio.
• Assess and report on the overall effectiveness of grants as they relate to the portfolio as a whole.
• Ensure knowledge, interactions, and data related to portfolios are captured in the grantmaking system and communicated when appropriate to BCYF, Inc. staff and trustees.
• Review grant applications for completeness and adherence to internal grantmaking guidelines
• Lead cross-organizational work for grants management
• Advise on program design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Comply with all grant reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with the Data Management and Evaluation Director to update and access the grantee data.
• Review and approve Grantee Quarterly Programming Reports.
• Maintain current records in the database including grant tracking and reporting.
• Work with the Grants & Contracts Manager & Grants Compliance Associate to ensure they have all the supporting documentation needed for auditing purposes.
• Work with the Vice President of External Affairs and Development Director  to provide development input for all written institutional materials (including donor solicitations, annual reports, and member newsletters)
• Develop, refine & maintain CMS reporting functionality.
• Collaborate in the review of concept notes, grant requests, final recommendations, and grant reports.
• Advise on program strategy development.

Research & Learning

• Contribute to BCYF, Inc.’s knowledge of current trends, emerging issues, and best practices.
• Conduct research, prepare analytical reports, and write briefing papers on topics of interest.
• Work across teams to problem-solve, including using data and learning to strengthen work across BCYF, Inc.
• Prepare written materials and presentations for staff, grantees, and trustee meetings.
• Contribute to learning and strategy in areas of subject matter expertise as well as program innovation and evolution.
• Participate in organization-wide integrated learning, meetings, and events (cross-program, work groups, retreats, etc.).

Program Operations and Budget Management

• Manage consultant pool - including contracts, negotiations, and payments.
• Coordinate program budget, review monthly financial reports, ensure accuracy for grant payments, and track payout goals.
• Liaise with operations team members across BCYF, Inc. (digital platforms, knowledge management, legal, finance, and grants management) to ensure compliance.

Communication & Partnership

• Steward and identify potential partners, including funding colleagues and field experts in line with BCYF, Inc.’s interests and priorities.
• Represent BCYF, Inc. within the nonprofit and philanthropic community, including at regional and national conferences and meetings

About the Candidate

The Program Officer will have experience assessing organizational performance, including leadership, strategy, and financial sustainability; this could come from experience with nonprofit organizations, management consulting, or philanthropy. The ideal candidate will have highly developed organizational and project management skills, including a proven ability to prioritize, manage time, handle pressure, and meet deadlines. 

*While no candidate will possess every quality, the successful candidate will possess many of the following experience and attributes. (Preference will be given to candidates with a proven track record of scaling a start-up nonprofit or philanthropic organization.) Even if you aren’t sure but are excited about the position, we encourage you to apply!

Qualifications

• Three to five years of significant experience in youth development, philanthropy, and social justice.
• Track record of successfully leading and developing initiatives and comfort within highly collaborative organizations and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated experience with providing technical assistance, facilitating meetings, and strong research and writing skills suitable for varied audiences.
• Attention to detail, the ability to scope out errors, and the willingness to fix mistakes.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at once.
• Flexible, patient, and able to stay gracious under pressure.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Innovative thinking, willingness to voice your opinions, and a strong work ethic are essential.
• Ability to build positive relationships with your colleagues and be willing to help others.
• Excited to work with people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives from your own.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships with nonprofit, philanthropic, and field leaders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including attention to detail and accuracy.
• Humility, flexibility, creativity, and the ability to adapt to shifting priorities are essential in a rapidly changing landscape and a growing organization.
• Interest in and demonstrated commitment to youth development and participatory grantmaking.
• Discretion and sensitivity for working in the context of a philanthropic organization.
• Willingness to travel for site visits and other meetings and nationally for conference participation.