Senior Program Officer, Restorative Economies Fund

Posted on March 17, 2025

The Opportunity

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) of the Restorative Economies Fund (REF) is a key programmatic leader and thoughtful and engaged contributor to the Kataly team, focused on the Foundation’s mission to promote social justice and racial equity in communities most impacted by injustice. In summary, alongside the REF team members the SPO is responsible for leading the team in the refined design and implementation of REF’s integrated capital approach with specific expertise in grantmaking. The SPO is the lead contact for the REF grant program, and will manage the Program Officer, REF (PO) as well as any consultants, and advisors. The SPO will oversee all aspects of the REF grantmaking program in consultation with the REF team, specifically the Program Officer. The SPO is responsible for procedures, methods, and workflow, assessing potential partners, engaging in issues exploration, participating in community events, and fostering community and grantee relations. The SPO supports Kataly’s capacity‑building efforts in partnership with the Capacity Building team and contributes to communication strategies under the direction of the CEO, Managing Director of Programs (MDP), and Director of Communications.

The SPO deeply understands and is committed to Kataly's values and mission. The SPO has strong knowledge of the Foundation’s internal processes and is the grantee’s point of contact for communicating Kataly’s grantmaking cycles, processes, and how Kataly’s position as a spend‑out foundation impacts our grantmaking. Reporting to the Managing Director (MDP) of Programs, the SPO has lived and movement‑building experience within the just transition and solidarity economy movements in the United States and an understanding of philanthropic practices. The SPO supervises the PO, and the work of outside consultants supporting REF’s strategy and grantmaking.

The Foundation is constantly searching for innovative, progressive, and improved operating methods to adapt to the evolving needs of our staff, grantees, and community partners. Every employee must adapt quickly to pivots and be open and flexible about taking on and learning new and different duties, some of which may not traditionally be part of the job you otherwise perform.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

In partnership with and with the support of the CEO, Managing Director of Programs, REF staff, advisors, and consultants, co‑lead/create:

Program development and strategic planning for REF

With the support of the PO, research, assess, and recommend grantees for approval for funding three times a year in accordance with grant periods established by Grants Management

Manage the development of the agenda and clarify processes for REF team meetings alongside the REF Integrated Capital Officer and Program Officer

Strategies for sharing knowledge, both internally and externally

Grantmaking planning, budgeting, and strategy, in collaboration with the Program Officer, REF

Manage REF consulting contracts and relationships

Create, manage, and facilitate procedures, methods, and workflow processes within the REF team

Make recommendations to the REF team on how to respond to materially changing conditions at the grassroots level in response to urgent needs from our grantee partners

REF Grants Management:

Maintain strong, mutually respectful relationships with grantee partners through every point of contact, including responding to inquiries, conducting site visits, evaluating and recommending grants, processing awards and payments, managing payment schedules, and closing out grants

Conduct research and analysis related to the Restorative Economics Framework, provide regular updates on grantees' work and developments in the field, and lead organizational learning around key questions grantees are addressing

Manage grantmaking planning, budgeting, and strategy for the REF team

Alongside the REF team, approve individual grants in alignment with the REF framework and budget allocations

Conduct research, analysis, writing, and other forms for documentation and material preparation to support REF and Kataly's program needs

Alongside the PO, serve as a connector for grantee partners—with and among each other—where it is supportive of their work. Connect grantee partners with opportunities to amplify their work with potential funders and donors and increase their access to philanthropic spaces

Support the PO in gathering, analyzing, and monitoring data points that will inform impacts, gaps, and challenges in the program’s strategy

Supervision

Provide supervision, mentorship, guidance, and direction to the PO, and leadership to the REF team for ongoing growth and development

Serve as the lead point of contact for the REF Grants Program to promote the maximum impact of projects and ensure grants are meeting strategy goals

Provide support and direction in the use of the Foundation’s voice, actions or policies which align with the foundation’s approach to philanthropy

Engage in ongoing communications with the MDP, keeping them informed about program needs, challenges and successes, strategic development, shared learning opportunities, grants, grantee accomplishments, etc.

Collaborate with Kataly’s Director of Communications:

Produce qualitative and quantitative narrative reports on REF grantmaking and strategy

Contribute to Kataly’s communications efforts as requested, including but not limited to writing blog posts, articles, public speaking at conferences and events, and providing REF information as needed for Kataly communications and other foundation objectives.

In collaboration with the Director of Communications, develop a process and method for capturing and documenting grantee stories as narrative data to be shared through various communication channels

Respond to communications and internal/external requests, and assist others as needed

Collaborate with Kataly’s Capacity Building Team:

In collaboration with Kataly's Director of Capacity Building, work with grantee partners and the REF team to identify, prioritize, and address key capacity‑building needs of grantee partners and across the ecosystem.

Work with the Director of Capacity Building and the Grants Management team to create strategies to facilitate shared learning between grantees

Provide guidance, education, and resources for capacity‑building for community‑based organizations with limited organizational infrastructure

Philanthropic Advocacy

Work closely with the REF team to identify strategies to engage other funders across a range of issue areas to introduce them to the work and strategies of our grantee partners, the REF program, and Kataly's vision and goals and supporting peer funder efforts to increase resourcing power building, collective healing, and the solidarity economy ecosystem.

Learning and Evaluation

Co‑design the annual evaluation of REF’s grantmaking and spend‑out planning, in collaboration with the PO and MDP

Lead organizational learning around key questions grantees are addressing.

Help to refine the REF grantmaking strategy, priorities and decision‑making, using the REF Logic Model, grantmaking analysis and data, and data from the field, in collaboration with the REF team

Additional Responsibilities

Research, prioritize, and follow up on issues and concerns, demonstrating leadership and initiative to establish and maintain credibility, trust, and support for building sustainable relationships and effective problem‑solving

Represent the foundation to key program‑related external constituencies and forums

Operational Support

Participate in meetings with staff on grantmaking, planning, and strategy across the Foundation.

Attend relevant trainings and conferences.

Exercise sound judgment and use proper discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information on behalf of Kataly, including but not limited to confidential information about employee relations issues.

Engage in effective, ongoing, timely communications with management, team members, grantees, community partners, vendors, and consultants.

Create an effective, safe home workspace for successful job performance.

Work collaboratively with the rest of the team, consistent with the Foundation’s values

Maintain a regular and dependable schedule consistent with Kataly’s expectations.

Develop and grow in your role and recommend and participate in ongoing professional development for yourself and the Foundation team.

Constantly assess for areas of improvement. Recommend, develop, and implement effective processes/procedures to enhance/increase operational efficiencies.

Maintain strong work relationships that encourage mutually beneficial partnerships and collaboration.

As a senior leader, escalates any employment or human resources‑related issues regarding other team members to the CEO or CFOO.

Participate fully in performance management with your manager: engage in ongoing communications about your performance, seek and respond to feedback, develop comprehensive annual Work Plans, and demonstrate commitment to growth in your role.

Prepare expense reports, ensuring all expenses are accurate and within policy guidelines, and submit to accounting within required deadlines.

Perform other functions and duties as requested.

Travel and work extended hours as requested.

Candidate Profile

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, a successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

Solidarity Economy and Program Expertise in a Philanthropic Context

Experienced in Solidarity Economy. Comprehensive understanding of restorative economics, just transition and the solidarity economy movement. You hold awareness of the history and current state of the field of solidarity economy work. You understand both the opportunities and necessity of this work, while remaining clear of the gaps and needs to bolster this ecosystem of work, and the role that philanthropy should play in how this work is resourced and supported. You intimately understand how the solidarity economy is an intersectional approach to systems transformation towards justice and collective liberation that builds upon the power building work of social movements, both current and past.

Program Awareness. You have comprehensive knowledge of the relevant issues in your program area, including historical context, current landscape, key challenges, and strategies for change. This includes a deep understanding and knowledge of the relevant partners, modes of funding, technical challenges, and politics. You have a long‑term view towards social and civic change work.

Movement‑Centered Justice Expert. You have a strong racial, economic, and social justice assessment through race, class, gender and power analysis. This includes an understanding of movement and power building strategy, and a solid conception of the organizing landscape in your field of expertise. You have personal experience with and/or genuine empathy with the issues confronting the communities Kataly works with.

A Grantee‑Centered Approach to Philanthropy

Experienced Grantmaker. You have significant grant‑making experience at a leadership level and demonstrable success at creating and maintaining relationships with multiple stakeholders, grantees, and other institutions and community partners. You are experienced at building coalitions with a background in creating effective partnerships and establishing cross‑sectoral linkages. You deeply understand the wide range of political, cultural, geographic, and operational issues grantees face and demonstrate culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.

Understanding of Social Change Nonprofit and Philanthropic Landscape. You have familiarity with the nonprofit sector and philanthropic practices, including grantmaking processes, nonprofit governance, and financial management. You understand policy development, advocacy strategies, and the role of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector in influencing public policy for systems change.

Centering Grantees. Your approach to grantmaking centers the power and wisdom of grantees and the communities they serve. Your grantmaking practice is grounded in trust, transparency, and equity, prioritizing long‑term, flexible funding, and minimizing the time and effort we ask of our grantee partners.

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

Planning. You are a proven strategic thinker with experience developing evidence‑based tactical or operational plans and shaping and managing sustainable and scalable ventures. You have supported organizations in times of instability and emergence, whether internal or external.

Effective Manager. You have proven experience leading a team to achieve a shared goal. You bring a collaborative, “leader‑full” approach to team management, partnering with staff to encourage their growth and development, while bringing everyone’s best skills forward to advance the work of the REF program and Kataly.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with 10+ years of experience at leadership levels in grant‑making or grantmaking program management for a foundation or non‑profit, or equivalent. Proven leadership and track record in working with multiple stakeholders to create a common vision and building and nurturing alliances with community partners.

The Kataly Foundation is deeply committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We seek to have a diverse and inclusive workforce to promote effective work in partnership with all communities and population groups. The Foundation seeks a professional with a commitment to the power of philanthropy, social justice, and the common good; a passion for Kataly’s program areas and organizational values; a collegial work style; a sense of humor; and the dedication to work hard toward fulfilling the Foundation's mission of truly empowering communities and moving the needle on critical issues facing our nation.

Even though this is currently a remote position, the successful candidate must live in the San Francisco Bay Area. The remote nature of the job may be changed at any time, in Kataly’s sole discretion, requiring the employee in the role to attend a Kataly‑sponsored work location one or more days per workweek. Kataly may also increase the number of in‑person meetings and events even if the job remains remote. A candidate’s location, therefore, is a meaningful consideration for Kataly. (Kataly does not provide paid relocation.)

This position is not eligible for employer visa sponsorship. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer without the need for employer visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Salary for the role is anticipated to range from $165,000 to $175,000, commensurate with experience. Kataly offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Group Insurance Benefits: Fully paid premiums for group health, dental, vision insurance, long‑term disability, life insurance, and a supplemental health insurance plan intended to cover a substantial portion of out‑of‑pocket costs from the primary health, dental, and vision plans.

Kataly 401k Contribution: An employer 401k contribution of 15% of salary (up to the legal maximum), regardless of whether an employee makes their own contributions to the plan.

Paid Time Off (PTO): A generous PTO program that can be used for any purpose.

Paid Sick Time (PST): PST accruals for time off separate from and in addition to PTO.

Other Time Off: At least 11 paid holidays, a two‑week operations shut‑down during the last and first week of the year, full days off to vote or work at the polls, and two floating holidays.

Reflection Week: A week where employees are free from their usual meetings and deadlines to engage in deep reflection around a topic related to their work at Kataly.

Paid Leaves of Absence (LOA): Up to four months paid LOA for pregnancy disability (from day one of employment); up to four months paid LOA for family and medical leave (after one year of employment), and up to eight weeks of unpaid personal leave.

Employee Discretionary Grants Program: A discretionary grants program for employees to direct grants to organizations of their choosing.

Professional Development Budget: An annual allocation for employees to attend job‑relevant conferences, meetings, seminars, and other educational events or to engage an executive coach to work on a work‑related topic.

Home Workspace Budget: A generous budget when an employee first joins Kataly to create a comfortable, safe, and efficient home workspace.

Work From Home Monthly Allowance: A monthly allowance for employees to pay a reasonable percentage of business‑related expenses incurred from working from home (e.g., wireless plan, internet plan, utilities, etc.)

Cell phone: Money towards a new cell phone (owned by the employee) every three years.

Kataly Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of any race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, income class, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or marital status, as well as applicants who have been previously incarcerated. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the organization and believe strongly in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce, and strongly encourage those from historically under‑served, underrepresented or marginalized communities