Program Officer, American Cities

What You'll Do

The American Cities Program Officer is responsible for the implementation of a strategy to develop a future where currently under-resourced cities and neighborhoods across the country offer a high quality of life; provide easy-to-access pathways to wealth and economic mobility; celebrate unique cultures; and reflect the power, priorities, and preferences of their residents. The team leads the Foundation's long-standing efforts in cities such as Fresno, Memphis, and New Orleans, and its work is informed by the Foundation's place-based work in Detroit, the approaches of Kresge's discipline-based programs, and the insights of community partners.

The Program Officer will manage a portion of the team's portfolio of grants and social change efforts; represent the American Cities team and the Kresge Foundation; collaborate with partners at national and local levels; design and implement grantmaking initiatives; and lead select bodies of work associated with the program's strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Making

• Develop and manage place-based grantmaking strategies including work at the neighborhood, city, regional/county, and associated state levels.
• Develop grantmaking initiatives (i.e., external requests for proposals including RFP development, publication, proposal review and evaluation criteria).
• Structure, recommend, and manage a portfolio of grants related to multi-city initiatives, national community development, and thought leadership and convenings on cities.

External Relations

• Build and manage relationships with local nonprofits, government and community partners and assess opportunities for impact and collaboration with local funding partners through research, site visits and stakeholder meetings.
• Provide grantee and city partners with connections to other cities, communities of practice, and other non-financial resources.
• Represent the foundation publicly, sharing program approaches and grant making outcomes.

Organizational Development

• Act as a thought partner and identify opportunities for collaborative strategy development and grantmaking with other Kresge grantmaking program teams.
• Support the team's use of program-related investment (PRI) and innovative capital tools to achieve program objectives.
• Foster internal collaboration through working groups dedicated to cities, promoting co-learning, exchanging information, and implementing shared accountability structures.
• Contribute to and apply working knowledge of subject matter and field expertise to the development of the team's grantmaking strategy.
• Stay current with effective and equitable strategies in the urban development field.
• Maintain and develop a breadth of knowledge around emerging trends and innovations.

Who You'll Work With

You will report to the Managing Director of the American Cities Program. You will frequently collaborate with two other American Cities Program Officer(s). Other team members include the Associate Program Officer and Program Officers and Fellows with various subject matter expertise.

Education & Professional Experience

• A minimum of five years of work experience in government, management consulting, cross-sector collaboration, nonprofit management, or philanthropy related to community/economic development, urban development, public policy, or urban planning
• Working knowledge of or education in urban planning and development, or community and economic development.
• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Project Management

• Experience managing projects from conception to completion.
• Experience gathering and/or analyzing data, conducting qualitative or quantitative research, creating takeaways and executive summaries, and developing associated recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to master a diverse workload and implement strategies.

Relationship Management

• Demonstrated potential to lead and influence diverse groups of collaborators.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively develop and manage strong and productive working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to successfully interact and work across teams, functions, and sectors.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to present to various groups or stakeholders.

Commitment to Diversity

• Demonstrated commitment to championing issues of inclusion and equity.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse communities, including those across race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.

This position is located in Detroit, Michigan. Candidates must be willing to relocate to the metro-Detroit area within a commutable distance to the Detroit, Michigan office. This position has a hybrid schedule. Tuesday and Wednesday are the standard in-office days, however, there may be times when you will have to adjust the days based on work needs.

Some air travel and business trips are required in support of foundation events, grantee site visits, team activities, and professional development opportunities. The frequency of air travel varies; however, current Program Officers often take 1-3 business trips per month, with each trip lasting 1-3 days.

Equity means to us that all people – regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ZIP code, health and ability status, or any other consideration – have equal, inviolable dignity, value and opportunity to participate justly, fairly and fully in all dimensions of civic and economic life … to prosper … and reach their full potential. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces our shared humanity while critically examining the racial, cultural and social context of systemic inequities in our society. We believe that equity is both a process and an outcome, and therefore are compelled to relentlessly use our power to dismantle barriers that impede equitable opportunity within our own organization, and for the communities that we serve.

Kresge is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

The Kresge Foundation participates in E-Verify to confirm authorization to work in the United States. For more information on E-Verify and to know your rights please click here.

On-Ramps is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process, including but not limited to those with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact info@on-ramps.com.