The Walton Family Foundation (WFF) is seeking a skilled, highly motivated, and collaborative individual to join the Foundation as an Associate Program Officer.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
We are committed to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization to foster an environment where all associates THRIVE and belong. We do this by creating:
a culture committed to continuous learning that recognizes and values differences
an environment of respect and connection to learn from the richness of identities, experiences, and perspectives
fair access for all to opportunities for growth and advancement
About the Position
The Associate Program Officer works to coordinate, enhance, and create new systems in service of the Education Program’s Strategy 2025 goals. The ideal candidate will have experience in project execution, improving processes and strong interpersonal, communication, data and writing skills.
This role has no direct reports. However, the Associate Program Officer will work closely with a team of Program Support Associates to provide guidance and serve as a resource for the team’s operations and grantmaking.
The following are the Associate Program Officer’s key responsibilities:
Grant Management (50% of time)
Ensure that grant proposals are efficiently and accurately processed and tracked through the Foundation’s grant review and approval processes. Includes quality checks of grant write-ups and regular reports in service of grants management.
Work closely with the Foundation’s legal and centralized grants administration teams to ensure proposals, grant letters, reporting and payments are processed efficiently.
Identify opportunities to establish new processes and optimize existing processes to ensure an optimal grant process. Work with the Education team to implement and encourage the adoption of best-in-class processes, policies, and procedures.
Coordinate with the team’s leadership to compile grant materials for Board-level committee meetings in a time-sensitive way.
Stay abreast of grants management best practices, identify areas of need, implement trainings for the team, and share recommendations for improvement.
Support Team Development and Coordination (20% of time)
Conduct regular check-ins with the support team to address their questions in a timely way and identify improvement and skill-building opportunities to support grant and other operational processes.
Lead and create the agenda for the weekly operational support team meeting to provide a space for culture building and training.
Collaborate Within Education Program & Across WFF (10% of time)
Become expert on the Foundation’s grant management systems, ensuring staff is utilizing the systems effectively. Identify and highlight best practices for the Education team.
Support team budget processes and data reporting.
Provide troubleshooting/training to the support team as necessary. Work with the IT department, as needed, on system issues and updates.
Represent the Education program at Foundation-wide meetings with Associate Program Officers from other Program Areas.
Special Projects (20% of time)
Help support other projects and assignments related to establishing, refining, and operationalizing best practices as requested by the Education team, Foundation leadership, and/or family members.
Who we are looking for
The Foundation seeks a candidate with experience in project management and process improvement, in addition to excellent communication skills, proactive problem-solving abilities a commitment to supporting the work of the Education Program’s Strategy 2025 goals.
The ideal candidate has the following qualifications:
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with experience conveying complex issues to internal audiences and yielding insights from data.
Self-directed and detail oriented with the ability to handle multiple priorities and tasks to meet deadlines yet remain flexible to adjust to changing priorities.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and reporting skills, and adept using Microsoft Office Suite.
Qualifications required for your success
At least five years of work experience in a professional, education or philanthropic environment with demonstrated success navigating and improving systems and processes.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, media relations skills a bonus
Additional Helpful Experience Includes
detail oriented with the ability to handle multiple priorities and tasks to meet deadlines yet remain flexible
Personal attributes that support your success
Ability to act as a trusted advisor to principals and colleagues while demonstrating expertise and integrity
You are helpful, a team player, and show respect while collaborating with others
You are results oriented and exercise sound judgment in your work
A lifelong learner, who is inquisitive and solves problems with bold thinking and innovation
A visionary who plans for the future with imagination and wisdom
You are dedicated to achieving excellence and work with others to tackle the tasks at hand
All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.
Benefits Information
Compensation Range: $92,000 - $115,000
We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401 (k) retirement plan and paid time off.
The Education Program
Learn more about the Education Program strategy here.
Applications must include an updated resume and a cover letter that explains how previous experiences have prepared you for this role and why this role aligns to your career goals.
About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Walton Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.
Additional Information
*Applications must include an updated resume and a cover letter that explains how previous experiences have prepared you for this role and why this role aligns to your career goals.
Basic Qualifications
At least five years of work experience in a professional, education or philanthropic environment with demonstrated success navigating and improving systems and processes.
