Senior Director, Strategy and Racial Equity (MF)

Senior Director, Strategy and Racial Equity (MF)

Posted on October 18, 2017

The Meyer Foundation invests in solutions that build an equitable Washington region in which economically vulnerable people thrive. The Foundation envisions a just, connected, and inclusive Greater Washington

• community in which systemic racism and its consequences no longer exist. Over the past 75 years, building on the legacy of its founders Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer, the Foundation has been a leader in the Washington region, making philanthropic investments with a deep focus and expertise in non-profit capacity building.

As the Foundation assesses the current socioeconomic climate of the Greater Washington region and inequities that have long persisted in many communities, it recognizes that new strategies and ideas that more directly challenge the status quo are necessary. The Foundation is identifying ways to leverage all its assets—including capacity building, communications, convening power, and collective action—to tackle the root causes of longstanding inequity—namely, structural and systemic racism. The Meyer Foundation acknowledges that there are significant, interrelated challenges facing many residents in the region, and envisions solutions that go beyond the traditional bounds of philanthropy.

The Meyer Foundation focuses its efforts on the core programmatic goals of achieving racial equity in housing, jobs, education, and asset-building in the Greater Washington region. The Foundation’swork to examine and confront racism is evolving and will continue to take place at the programmatic level and throughout the organization as each aspect of the Foundation is explored for opportunities to achieve racial equity.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Nicky Goren, the Foundation seeks to identify leaders who can develop and implement solutions with racial justice and equity expertise and who can help lead the foundation through this time of change.

In 2016, the Meyer Foundation awarded nearly $7.2M across the Greater Washington region. Looking ahead, the Foundation will explore opportunities to more intentionally address the systems, practices, and norms that perpetuate poverty and systemic racism.

With a full staff of 18 people, all based in the Dupont Circle office, the Foundation is working to build a close-knit team culture. Each member of the Meyer Foundation team is committed to the work because of their dedication to addressing the community issues most pertinent to the Greater Washington region. The Foundation upholds its commitment to the professional and personal development of each person on staff and to valuing work / life balance for team members.

The Opportunities :

The Meyer Foundation seeks a new Program Director to oversee the Foundation’s engagement in Northern Virginia, with focus on Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties; the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. This Program Director will be joining the Foundation at the same time as a peer Program Director for Washington DC.

Program Directors embed themselves in the nonprofit, civic, and business sectors to understand the challenges facing individuals and families. Program Directors build on their understanding of community issues and their expertise in the Meyer Foundation’s program areas to develop and implement portfolios and approaches. This work incorporates grantmaking and other Foundation strategies through the lens of racial equity, including systems change, and takes place in collaboration with Foundation colleagues.

Program Directors report to the Vice President, Program and Community and co-manage a Program Assistant who provides support to program activities.

Responsibilities for Program Directors include, but are not limited to, the following :

Creating and managing a portfolio that deploys all of Meyer’s strategies, including grants, toward addressing inequities in housing, employment, education, and asset-building in the targeted geography

Developing and managing a community-specific grant portfolio that addresses the Meyer Foundation’s goals in either Northern Virginia or Washington, DC, building on data / trends, knowledge gained through extensive community interactions, research, and analysis

Representing the Meyer Foundation in the identified area at community events, meetings, and other functions

Identifying and acting on opportunities to expand the Meyer Foundation’s work in advocacy, capacity-building, convening, and collective action in the target areas

Collaborating extensively with Program colleagues to apply holistic and cross-issue expertise to the collective Meyer Foundation portfolio and to co-manage a Program Assistant

Candidate Profile :

Program Directors for the Meyer Foundation will bring first-hand experience as leaders in the communities impacted by the Foundation. They will use their experiences and skills to become active grantmakers focused on racial equity with a keen eye for a full range of strategies that the Meyer Foundation can deploy to meet community needs and the Foundation’s programmatic goals.

Competitive candidates for the Program Director roles will currently hold or previously have held leadership roles in community-based and movement-building organizations or local government in Northern Virginia. Experience in the philanthropy sector is not necessary.

Desired qualifications include the following :

Skills and Experiences

Experience in one or more of the following issue areas : educational equity, workforce development, asset-building / wealth-creation, and grassroots community organizing

Deep network in and understanding of the Greater Washington region, with specific focus on Northern Virginia

Experience addressing issues of systemic racism and its consequences on communities

Expertise and credible track record as a movement-builder with understanding that making change requires a variety of approaches and partners that will shift over time

Ability to create new programs and multi-stakeholder initiatives without a blueprint

Written, presentation, and interpersonal communications skills that are clear, persuasive, and inspiring, with the ability to adapt styles for a variety of audiences

Demonstrated experience building diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations or initiatives

Experience managing one or more staff and leveraging the support of an administrative professional

Strong project and budget management / analysis skills

At least five years of senior management experience

Personal Characteristics and Values

Personal commitment to improving Northern Virginia and the broader community impacted by the Meyer Foundation

Humility and accessibility to develop and maintain supportive relationships with grantees, applicants, community partners, and colleagues; ability to interact with empathy and a sense of humor

Outstanding relationship-building skills with authentic interest in the people and issues in the identified communities

Appreciation for and commitment to honest and candid conversations and self-reflection about race, racial justice, and social class

Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team

Interest in contributing to a workplace that prizes optimistic spirit and fun

Drive and energy for organizational change and the desire to be part of a rapidly evolving, entrepreneurial organizational culture

An analytical thinker who can develop and apply strategy using a thoughtful and inclusive approach

Availability / flexibility for occasional evening / weekend events

Ability to travel nationally two to three times per year

Compensation :

The Meyer Foundation offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Contact :

Molly Brennan and Melissa Madzel of Koya Leadership Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express your interest in this role, please submit your resume and a compelling cover letter through the following link : Program Director, Virginia Community.

All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

The Meyer Foundation deeply values and is committed to the recruitment and retention of individuals of underrepresented backgrounds, including gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. In that spirit, the Meyer Foundation strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ applicants, and others that will contribute to staff diversity.

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.

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