PROGRAM OFFICER, JEWISH LIFE
The William Davidson Foundation, a private family foundation, dedicated to advancing the economic, cultural, and civic vitality of Southeast Michigan, the State of Israel, and the Jewish community, is now seeking nominations and applications for the position of Program Officer, Jewish Life.
The William Davidson Foundation is helping to secure a bright future for the communities that have inspired our founder’s family for generations. We imbue our work with a sense of possibility and believe deeply in the importance of building meaningful relationships across difference. Together with community leaders who share our sense of optimism and obligation related to Detroit, Israel, and the Jewish people, we make transformative investments and support catalytic initiatives that will deliver lasting value for future generations. The Foundation has assets of approximately $1.5 billion and grants approximately $60 million annually.
Our Jewish Life team is working with our grantees and other partners to educate and empower Jews in ways that will help them build meaningful lives infused with Jewish values and a deep sense of belonging and commitment to Jewish peoplehood and Israel. Our grantmaking specifically focuses on strengthening Detroit’s Jewish community, supporting leading Jewish educators in North America, and growing entrepreneurial Jewish education ventures that engage Jews around the world.
The Program Officer, Jewish Life, will be responsible for contributing to the development, refinement, and stewardship of grants across the Jewish Life portfolio, but with a particular focus on the Jewish community in Southeast Michigan. In our home community, the Foundation is partnering with our local Federation and other partners and agencies to help build a deeply engaged community that equips the next generation with the knowledge and experiences necessary to embrace Judaism for themselves. We invest in opportunities and partner with organizations to ensure a thriving Detroit Jewish community that also serves as an example across North America.
Reporting to the Senior Program Officer, Jewish Life, this role is expected to perform strongly across a variety of tasks, including: independently creating and managing a portfolio of active grants related to Jewish life in Detroit, disciplined stewardship of funds, cultivating and sustaining strong relationships with grantees and partners, and developing progress reports and materials for review and discussion by the grants committee and board, and assessing and acting on ethical duties and Foundation obligations to maintain the integrity of organization and oneself.
This role serves as a member of the Jewish Life program team and works collaboratively with other members of the program staff, board, and executive leadership to execute on the strategic objectives of the Foundation. The Program Officer thrives in a team environment and positively contributes to the organizational culture and is also adept at working independently.
This is a full-time position located in Troy, MI, with the expectation that the incumbent will reside in Southeast Michigan.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Grantmaking
- Identifies and acts on opportunities to establish relationships with new partners, develop common goals, and materialize those relationships into rigorous projects that expand the impact of our mission.
- Analyzes potential investment and reinvestment opportunities from a variety of sources both inside and outside Southeast Michigan. Evaluates those opportunities within the framework of entire portfolio.
- Conducts regularly scheduled on-site visits with grantees, preliminary screening, and in-depth due diligence of organizations and projects with assistance.
- Writes clear, concise, and insightful summaries of inquiries, proposals, and progress reports, and provides further analyses and funding recommendations for program team review and discussion.
- Works closely with grantees to affect positive change as defined by mutual agreement, potentially offering technical experience as appropriate, and/or identifying outside assistance as necessary, while monitoring progress, and building a personal model of relational and strategy aligned philanthropy.
Strategy Development & Learning
- Actively participates in developing program strategy; shares learnings; continuously improves effectiveness through assessment of strategies, tactics, program design and implementation; develops local and/or focused strategies that reflect and accelerate strategy for the overall program portfolio.
- Contributes to the development and refinement of programmatic strategies and plans by preparing or commissioning briefs, presentations, and other syntheses on key topics related to the portfolios as needed.
- Obtains, maintains, and shares knowledge of the current thinking in the field - what works, the most effective and /or innovative ways to support the work.
- Actively engages in continuous learning opportunities to further develop knowledge and expertise; maintains an awareness of needs and opportunities for investment; applies and improves a body of knowledge; keeps abreast of major developments in the field; acts as knowledgeable spokesperson for the Foundation’s strategy.
Foundation & Field Contributions
- Represents the Foundation’s interests with grantees and external partners, provides guidance and assistance, and manages partners’ expectations.
- Assists in developing, implementing, managing, and collaborating on emerging and existing projects, events, partnerships, convenings, and/or initiatives.
- Provides leadership in the professional field as appropriate through activities that contribute and further the Foundation’s mission.
- Actively contributes to other internal Foundation projects and duties, as needed, and assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will possess the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
- Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred.
- Minimum of three to five years professional experience in a relevant field and familiarity with the nonprofit sector, with a preference for individuals who hold a deep passion for the Jewish communal space.
- Background in Jewish community, Jewish education, and Jewish learning is required.
- Familiarity with the Detroit Jewish community is preferred.
- Experience as a grantmaker or grantseeker desired, but not required.
- Ability to make complex, multidimensional decisions in a mission-driven, strategic organizational environment.
- Excellent project management skills to include goal setting, planning, development, and execution; and the ability to balance multiple priorities effectively while meeting deadlines.
- Ability to prioritize work effectively and independently, “managing up” proactively to align on expectations and deliver consistently.
- Expresses ideas and information clearly and concisely verbally and in writing and in various contexts.
- Prioritizes and practices regular, ongoing communication and dialogue that is candid, professional, and constructive.
- Strong critical thinking and analytical skills and experience in synthesizing large amounts of information.
- Strong interpersonal skills and effective in building relationships with and between colleagues, grantee, and stakeholders through inclusive behaviors.
- Maintains and demonstrates good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality and can remain objective – operating in service to the mission.
- Comfortable with ambiguity, adaptable, versatile, and open to change.
- Thrives in a team environment, effective at building and maintaining collaborative relationships, acting in alignment with organizational values, and positively contributes to organizational culture.
- Technologically savvy; ability to understand technology solutions, proficient with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, project management software, and Microsoft Outlook.
- Ability to travel - including grantee site visits and representation of the Foundation at outside meetings.
RELATIONSHIPS
- Reports to and is accountable to the Senior Program Officer, Jewish Life, and is a member of the Jewish Life program team.
- Partners effectively with the Foundation’s board, grantees, funding applicants, co-funding partners, and relevant experts and advisors.
- Works collaboratively with all members of the Foundation’s staff.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications and your resume should be sent to: [email protected]. No phone calls please.
For further information about the William Davidson organization, please visit: https://williamdavidson.org/
The William Davidson Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.