Program Officer - SW

Job Description

Job Description

This is a hybrid position with a minimum of two days in the office.

The Claims Conference is looking for a dynamic Social Welfare Program Officer to join our Institutional Allocations Department and liaise with social service agencies throughout our grantmaking process. We work with over 300 social services agencies in 42 countries across 5 continents. We need a team player who can develop strong relationships and partnerships with diverse individuals by maintaining positive communication and providing proactive support to Grantees. Ideally, you have prior experience in foundation work, grants administration and/or social welfare programs for the elderly. This position requires approximately 15-20% domestic or international travel. The position is New York based.

Are you an analytical thinker with impeccable organizational skills and attention to detail? Are you looking to work within a team environment while also having the opportunity to oversee and initiate a variety of simultaneous projects independently? Are you interested in an opportunity to ensure Holocaust survivors can live the remainder of their lives in dignity with access to social services?

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), a nonprofit organization with offices in New York, Israel, Germany and Austria, secures material compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world. Founded in 1951 by representatives of 23 major international Jewish organizations, the Claims Conference negotiates for and disburses funds to individual survivors and organizations and seeks the return of Jewish property stolen during the Holocaust. As a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference since 1952, the German government has paid more than $95 billion in indemnification to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis. For 2025, the Claims Conference distributed approximately $530 million in compensation for survivors globally and $960 million for survivors’ welfare needs such as home care, medicine and food.

You can read more about the Claims Conference here.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of Grantees through the grantmaking process, especially tasks associated with managing grant life-cycles;
• Assist prospective and renewal applicants in the development of grant proposals;
• Prepare applications for presentation to an Allocations Committee and the Board of Directors;
• Respond to inquiries from a wide range of constituencies and handle timely correspondence;
• Monitor program budgets and ensure accurate payment and accounting of grants;
• Support a timely and effective grants management processes;
• Develop in-depth knowledge of Grantees’ programs and service delivery models in order to advise on best practices;
• Maintain familiarity with regional laws and regulations and community resources that pertain to portfolios;
• Collaborate with colleagues in cooperative approaches to grantmaking;
• Assist with special projects as needed to advance the goals of the department, including the development of systems for collecting data and measuring the impact of the grant portfolio;
• Follow up on audits and remediation plans;
• Perform administrative responsibilities related to the above and to other areas as needed.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree or equivalent work experience in a related field;
• At least 2 years of experience in one of the following: foundation work, grants administration, developing/supervising social welfare programs, preferably for the elderly;
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word;
• Experience with Fluxx or comparable grants management platform preferred;
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills;
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy;
• Effective written and oral communication skills;
• Language skills a plus;
• Experience with ChatGPT or other AI tools a plus;
• Approximately 15% -20% domestic and/or international travel.

Claims Conference offers generous benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and competitive salaries based on geographic location. Our target salary range for the Social Welfare Program Officer in the New York City market is $80,000-$85,000. This salary range represents Claims Conference’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. The final salary for this role will be determined based on careful consideration of a variety of factors, such as the candidate’s exact location, experience in similar roles, and expertise related to the qualifications. This information is offered in support of our commitment to transparency.

I acknowledge by proceeding with my application that if employed I will abide by the Claims Conference Statement of Values which can be found at this link.