Program and Policy Officer

at  The Robin Hood Foundation

POSITION OVERVIEW

Increasingly, Robin Hood’s philanthropic work integrates multiple disciplines, including grants for direct services and policy advocacy, lobbying, research, community engagement, capacity building and other activities. The Program and Policy Officer is intentionally cross-functional, supporting direct service grants and policy grants as well as advocacy and research, responsible for managing a varied portfolio of grants to address issues affecting New Yorkers living in poverty.
The primary area of focus for the Program and Policy Officer will be to address workforce and income related challenges, with the aim of helping New Yorkers build the skills, careers and assets that enable economic progress and strengthening policies that prevent and cushion financial shocks that thrust New Yorkers into poverty.
The Program and Policy Officer will oversee a portfolio of grants, serve as a resource and thought partner for our community and government partners, and identify potential new investment opportunities. Like other Program Officers and Policy Advisors, the Program and Policy Officer is expected to articulate clear and persuasive rationales for funding new and renewing ongoing programs. This is accomplished by thoroughly understanding the nature of a problem, the landscape of existing and potential solutions, and the evidence about what works, while also conducting comprehensive reviews of performance data and nonprofits’ organizational health.
The Program and Policy Officer will work collaboratively with other Robin Hood staff within the Program & Impact Department and across the organization . As this is a new multi-disciplinary role, the Program and Policy Officer should expect and welcome a degree of ambiguity and experimentation during the early phase of the position and be prepared for the role to evolve with experience.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Critical Analysis and Communication
• Applies sounds reasoning and questions basic assumptions; notices discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information
• Strong writer; able to distill key information and develop compelling written grant recommendations that articulate clear arguments for funding or defunding work
• Clarity of presentation; provides direct and clear communication; delivers counsel and feedback to stakeholders; and presents well and persuasively based on sound, well-considered argument rooted in data and evidence
• Issue Area Expertise: Commands knowledge of one or more content areas, including best practices and core strategies for success
• Relationship Building: Establishes trust with internal and external stakeholders including leadership at nonprofit organizations and government agencies
• Initiative: Identifies what needs to be done and takes action before being asked or the situation requires it; takes independent action to improve the ultimate outcome
• Performance Assessment of Grants: Identifies themes, strengths, and opportunities across quantitative and qualitative data sets and monitors and evaluates organizational performance against established goals

QUALIFICATIONS

• B.A. and at least four years of experience required. Master’s degree preferred, but equivalent experience considered
• Brings experience in government, advocacy or direct service. Background in workforce development required; experience/interest in adult education or other social services preferred
• Personal or professional experience with low-income communities and New York City preferred
• Skilled at analyzing data, drawing nuanced findings, and asking questions to refine conclusions
• Comfortable with reviewing and assessing social science research
• Able to identify assumptions, make forecasts and make decisions, if required, with limited information
• Able to speak and write clearly, especially under time pressure
• Excellent organizational, planning and time-management skills; capacity to multi-task, take initiative, and assume new or additional work quickly and graciously
• Welcomes feedback and is committed to learning and growingAble to work collaboratively across the organization and acknowledge achievements of others

Manage Grants

• Monitor grantee performance through analysis of outcomes data, site visits, and independent assessment of progress or setbacks in management and financial reports
• Develop a clear articulation of the strengths and weaknesses of potential new and renewal grant s and capture them in write-ups and presentations delivered to program staff and board committees
• Develop contracts and negotiate annual objectives and goals
• Identify and refine methods for quantifying the impact of an organization’s services using the latest research studies, or by helping to fill research gaps where they exist
• Collaborate with Robin Hood management acceleration staff to assess community partners’ organizational health with respect to finance, governance, fundraising, strategy, and other areas
• Build relationships of trust and mutual respect with nonprofit leaders to support them in delivering on their mission
• Ensure timely preparation of grant write-ups and recommendations to ensure efficient management of grants and preparation of documentation for Board committee meetings
• Evaluate and revise grant strategies, as necessary, to achieve program and policy priorities under portfolio responsibility

Source New Funding Opportunities

• Explore, identify, and fund effective approaches to lift New Yorkers out of poverty
• Understand pressing needs, including through direct input from community members, organizations, advocates and research
• Identify the most promising or effective interventions, policies, and organizations in the field, keeping open opportunities for direct service, policy, and research grants

• Rigorously assess potential investments based on strategic fit, potential performance, likelihood for meaningful impact, and organizational strengthDevelop a clear articulation of the strengths and weaknesses of a potential grant in write-ups and presentations delivered to program staff and board committees

Analyze Public Policy and Governmental Practice

• In consultation with the Policy team leadership and relevant Program teams, lead efforts to identify, propose, develop, and pursue policy priorities to advance Robin Hood’s poverty-fighting agenda
• Produce written materials to promote and advance Robin Hood’s policy positions and priorities to various audiences (e.g., policy statements, memos of support or opposition, op eds, etc.)

• Prepare presentation decks and other materials for meetings with relevant government and non-governmental stakeholdersMonitor and conduct timely analysis of relevant proposed and enacted policies and legislation on the city, state, and federal levels impacting Robin Hood’s poverty-fighting agenda

Internal and External Engagement

• Support Robin Hood’s development and communications staff by providing program knowledge in support of Robin Hood organizational efforts to donors, at events, and through other development programming
• Help foster and participate [SR1] in cross-department collaboration and coordination between Program and Policy teams and other relevant departments

• Represent Robin Hood, as assigned, in external forums to convey programmatic, policy and advocacy positions and share learnings related to achieving upward mobility from povertyEngage with nonprofit, government, and philanthropic partners in portfolio-related areas