A Family Foundation is seeking a Program Associate to support the Migration and Immigrant Communities program. The program invests in organizations, projects, and in-house initiatives that support the Chicago metropolitan region’s efforts to welcome immigrants and refugees, and to be a global leader on migration. Current program priorities include strengthening the quality of legal services, cultivating the leadership of migrant diaspora, improving public narratives, and being at the forefront of global dialogue and action.

The Program Associate will be an important member of the Migration and Immigrant Communities team. Reporting directly to the Senior Program Director, the Program Associate will support all aspects of grantmaking processes, database management, data analysis, the preparation of presentation materials, and development of in-house initiatives. This position requires excellent project management and analytical skills, significant research and writing, strong interpersonal skills, a high level of discretion and humility, and openness to being a part of a learning environment.

Job Duties

The specific duties and responsibilities of this position include the following:

Grantmaking

· Support the Senior Program Director in managing application processes, grantmaking, and relationships with past, current, and prospective grantees

· Conduct due diligence on all applicants and potential initiatives, including research, analyzing program impact, planning and participating in site visits, and reviewing financial materials

· Help ensure all application and reporting requirements are received and organized

· Prepare summaries and analyses of grant proposals and grantee progress reports

· Manage day-to-day communications and inquiries from grantees and document all pertinent interactions in the content management database

 

Program Support

· Assist the Senior Program Director in producing analyses, presentations, and dashboards regarding program objectives, grantee data and outcomes, and overall evaluation to inform strategy and understand program impact

· Support the planning, development, and administration of in-house projects, publications, activities, and signature initiatives

· Conduct research and build internal knowledge of the Foundation's Migration and Immigrant Communities program's areas of interest

· Maintain a broad understanding of current events and solutions related to migration in Chicago, US immigration policy, and global migration trends

 

Administrative

· Regularly update and track grantee interactions, contact information, and other grantee updates in the database

· Provide planning support, including scheduling, for internal and external meetings, events, site visits, focus groups, and other convenings

· Help prepare agendas for Migration and Immigrant Communities program meetings

· Document and organize meeting notes and track necessary follow-up tasks

· Support the development of website and social media content, for review by supervisor and use by the Communications team

· Represent the Foundation, as appropriate, at grantee events, peer meetings, and briefings

· Contribute to a range of internal Foundation activities, meetings, and processes

 

Qualifications, Skills & Characteristics

· Undergraduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent degree/experience

· 3-5 years experience, preferably in a nonprofit organization, philanthropy, immigrant legal services, or relevant government agency

· Broad understanding of the Chicago metropolitan region's policies, programs, and infrastructure to support immigrants and refugees; and how the Chicago region is affected by complex US immigration policies and diverse push-pull factors of global migration

· Deep commitment to address the range of challenges in this field with a sense of optimism for the opportunities, particularly those aligned with the Foundation's mission

· Excellent project management and organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to prioritize effectively and produce high-quality work

· Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills to support program monitoring and evaluation

· Entrepreneurial and creative, willingness to develop new initiatives, and the ability and desire to contribute to building a thought-leading, impactful grantmaking organization

· Strong oral and written communication skills

· Excellent interpersonal, listening, and relationship management skills, the ability to hold diverse perspectives and viewpoints

· Naturally curious, open-minded, and a lifelong learner

· High level of discretion in dealing with sensitive and confidential information

· Strong ethical grounding, humility, and professional judgement

· Adaptable and flexible, enjoys working in a collaborative team environment but is also able to work independently and take initiative

· Familiarity with Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint, and data management software

· Proficiency in Spanish preferred, but not required

Additional Information

· Some travel to meetings or conferences may be required

· Based on current circumstances, this position requires in-office work at least two days per week, with the option to work remotely or in-person on most other days as work schedule permits. Some evening and weekend work may be required. Work schedule and remote work capability is subject to change at the Foundation's discretion.

 

Physical Requirements

· Remaining in a stationary position, often sitting for prolonged periods in an indoor office environment.

· Must be able to navigate throughout various offices of the building.

· Communicating with others to exchange information and perform duties.

· Ability to read materials on a computer screen.

· Repetitive motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

· Moderate noise level consistent with an office environment.

Disclaimer
The job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined in the job description and that other duties may be assigned. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. SmartHire is not legally responsible for any change of job-holder's responsibilities or activities, by our clients, that differ from this job description.  

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