This role directs the design and institutionalization of all aspects of the Strategic Initiatives Fund (Fund), including: it’s overall strategy, desired outcomes and portfolio mix; processes and procedures for surfacing, selecting, piloting and testing programs; selection criteria and due diligence processes for managing and taking programs to scale through grants to YMCAs; and systems for measuring outcomes, ensuring continuous improvement and on-going portfolio management.
This is a leadership role in growing and managing the Fund’s investments in high impact YMCAs.
This position is funded with proceeds from a Trust which will be reviewed annually and has primary responsibility to sustaining a strong partnership between the Trust and Y-USA.
- Serve as the primary liaison to the Trust, orchestrating the work of the CEO, executive leadership, direct reports and supporting teams to achieve and sustain a strong partnership
- Direct the ongoing refinement and execution of the processes and procedures necessary to realize the Fund’s long-term goal and investment principles
- Build relationships/protocols to ensure cross-departmental coordination of resources to support Fund initiatives, including Program, Finance, HR, Research and Evaluation, IT, etc.
- Build relationships with the Movement Services team and local YMCAs that are the recipients of investment by the Trust
- Direct a 1500+ application annual re-granting program from RFA through monitoring and evaluation
- Contribute to the on-going evolution of the Strategic Initiatives Fund, its direction, approach to achieving desired outcomes and the role it plays in advancing the long-term vision of the partnership between the Y and the Trust
- Facilitate knowledge sharing internally and externally, disseminate lessons learned among grantees and technical experts, enhance the credibility of the Y as a thought leader in key initiative areas
- Supervise a team of 2 -3
- Minimum 8 years of professional experience in the nonprofit/public sector in a grant-making or program/portfolio management role; proven ability to successfully navigate complex organizations
- Minimum 5 years of project management experience with a demonstrated ability to develop and execute project plans from concept to implementation is required
- Demonstrated strong verbal and written skills are required as is an ability to engage multiple types of audiences and present strategies and technical information in a manner that establishes rapport and persuades others
- Demonstrated strong conceptual and systems thinker with solid qualitative, quantitative and analytical skills, able to evaluate needs and apply solutions
- Demonstrated ability to motivate and direct the work of cross-departmental, multi-disciplinary teams in support of desired outcomes
- A high degree of competence in managing relationships with C-Suite leaders, peers and direct reports; exceptional judgement in communicating information