Senior Program Manager, Community Development

Senior Program Manager, Community Development Position Summary The William Guitar Little (WGL) Foundation seeks a Senior Program Manager, Community Development to advance upward mobility and lasting prosperity across central Missouri. Working closely with the Executive Director, this person will build partnerships, guide collaborative initiatives, and turn community priorities into measurable results. The position’s initial focus will be advancing WGL Foundation’s housing priorities in Columbia and Boone County, with particular attention to the “forgotten middle” of the housing continuum: expanding access to options ranging from subsidized and affordable rentals to attainable homeownership. Working alongside the Executive Director, Housing Fellow, and community partners, the Senior Program Manager will help shape WGL Foundation’s Housing Summit, The Forgotten Middle, and turn the priorities and partnerships emerging from it into sustained action. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on implementation and requires working knowledge of housing policy, planning, and finance, along with strong relationship-building skills and sound judgment. As the role develops, it will also support related community development initiatives aligned with WGL Foundation’s broader Prosperity Framework. Who Will Thrive Here The ideal candidate will have experience aligned with the responsibilities outlined above and a genuine sense of excitement for strengthening communities and expanding pathways to prosperity. This person will be comfortable operating in a role that combines strategy and execution: seeing the larger system, building relationships across organizations and sectors, and then doing the detailed work required to turn ideas into action. They will be intellectually curious, comfortable asking questions, and willing to learn, while also bringing enough housing and community development expertise and professional judgment to serve as a trusted resource to the Executive Director and community partners. Our culture values outcome-driven individuals who take responsibility for their work and communicate clearly, think critically, and collaborate effectively. We place a high value on emotional intelligence, social awareness, self-motivation, and follow-through. We believe in having fun and enjoying our work, while also recognizing the seriousness and responsibility of our mission. Key Responsibilities Housing Strategy & Initiative Leadership Help lead the planning and execution of WGL Foundation’s Housing Summit in partnership with the Executive Director, Housing Fellow, community stakeholders, and other partners. Build relationships with Summit participants and key housing stakeholders before, during, and after the convening to support continuity and sustained action. Work with the Executive Director and community partners to translate Summit priorities and recommendations into clear action plans, roles, and measures of progress. Serve as a key internal lead for WGL Foundation’s broader housing strategy and related initiatives. Help identify opportunities where the Foundation can serve as a convener, funder, connector, or catalyst to advance housing solutions. Provide the Executive Director with strategic analysis and recommendations related to housing policy, community needs, emerging opportunities, and potential investments. Maintain a strong understanding of local and regional housing conditions, including city and county planning, policy, development, and regulatory considerations. Monitor relevant developments in housing policy, funding, finance, and community development that may affect central Missouri. Partnerships, Coalition Building & Convening Build and maintain trusted relationships with nonprofit organizations, public-sector partners, developers, lenders, funders, housing advocates, and other community stakeholders. Serve as a Foundation liaison to local government, coalitions, working groups, and collaborative efforts related to WGL Foundation housing and community priorities. Coordinate with community partners and initiative leaders to support progress toward shared goals. Plan and facilitate meetings, convenings, and stakeholder conversations that move work toward decisions and action. Represent WGL Foundation professionally at community meetings, convenings, and events as appropriate. Housing Finance, Policy & Capacity Building Bring or develop deep working knowledge of affordable and attainable housing strategies, including housing finance, capital stacking, public and private funding sources, and barriers to development. Help WGL Foundation and its partners understand how policy, financing, organizational capacity, and other factors interact across the housing continuum. Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of organizations and collaborative efforts working to address housing needs. Help connect partners with resources, expertise, relationships, and potential funding opportunities that can move promising solutions forward. Support exploration of innovative approaches, partnerships, and investments that align with WGL Foundation’s commitment to transformational philanthropy. Help develop and maintain data, dashboards, or other tools that provide a clear picture of housing needs, activity, and progress. Measurement, Learning & Accountability Work with the Executive Director and other WGL Foundation staff to establish meaningful goals, and targets for advancing upward mobility and pathways to prosperity. Monitor progress on action plans and community-wide priorities and identify where additional attention or course correction may be needed. Translate data and community input into useful insights for the Executive Director and Board of Directors. Ensure that WGL Foundation’s work reflects the Foundation’s commitment to measurable progress, learning, and accountability. Foundation & Program Support Advise and support the Executive Director on potential grants, partnerships, investments, and funding relationships connected to economic and community development. Participate in relevant grant review, due diligence, and grantee relationship management. Collaborate across WGL Foundation’s small team and contribute to broader organizational priorities as needed. As the role develops, support additional initiatives connected to upward mobility and the Foundation’s broader Prosperity Framework where skills and capacity align. Qualifications The strongest candidates will bring a combination of housing expertise, strategic thinking, relationship-building skills, and the ability to manage complex work independently. Five or more years of relevant professional experience in housing, community development, public policy, philanthropy, economic development, finance, nonprofit leadership, or a closely related field. Demonstrated knowledge of the housing ecosystem, including affordable and/or attainable housing, local planning and policy, housing development, and community-based strategies. Working knowledge of housing finance and funding structures, including the ability to understand and communicate how multiple public, private, and philanthropic resources can be combined to support housing development and related initiatives. Experience developing and maintaining relationships across sectors, including government, nonprofit, philanthropic, financial, and community partners. Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and moving projects from strategy through implementation. Strong facilitation, communication, and convening skills. Ability to synthesize complex information, identify implications, and make practical recommendations. Experience using data and performance measures to track progress and inform decisions. Strong organizational skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with limited supervision. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Familiarity with central Missouri and its communities, institutions, and housing landscape is strongly preferred. Work Schedule and Compensation Full-time position. This is an in-person, in-office position based in Columbia, Missouri . Compensation: $90,000 annually, plus benefits that include incentive pay opportunities, health care support (stipend, HSA, QESHRA), generous PTO, paid holidays, and 403B retirement plan. Some travel throughout central Missouri and occasional evening or community meetings should be expected. About the William Guitar Little Foundation The William Guitar Little (WGL) Foundation is a private, independent foundation committed to Transformational Philanthropy by creating lasting, measurable change by addressing systemic challenges and transforming lives. Guided by the values of effectiveness, integrity, and opportunity, the Foundation invests in data-driven, innovative solutions that drive measurable outcomes. It emphasizes transformational over sustaining support in recognizing investments that empower self-reliant communities. Learn more at: #J-18808-Ljbffr The Rome Group