PROGRAM & STRATEGY OFFICER

PROGRAM & STRATEGY OFFICER

ABOUT DOGWOOD HEALTH TRUST

Dogwood Health Trust (Dogwood) exists to dramatically improve all people's and communities' health and well-being in the 18 counties and Qualla Boundary of Western North Carolina. Dogwood funds projects and collaborations that increase access to housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Our policy and advocacy efforts aim to promote equity and opportunity and develop deep community engagement with demonstrated impact.  

At our core, we seek to understand before we act, modeling transparency, integrity, and candor to build trust. We work deeply to disrupt factors that perpetuate challenges, making responsive and catalytic investments. Utilizing multiple forms of philanthropic capital, we aim to advance change while balancing impatience and patience. Emphasizing learning and sharing our insights, we actively seek and act on feedback to improve our performance and refine our strategies. We remain hopeful and diligent throughout our efforts and are committed to driving transformation.

In alignment with our vision to create an impact in employment, preference will be given to applicants who live in or have a deep connection to our foundation's home in Western North Carolina.

SUMMARY

The Program & Strategy Officer is responsible for developing deep and impactful relationships with leaders and organizations in Dogwood’s grantmaking portfolio. The Program & Strategy Officer supports grant recipients with securing greater financial resources and capacity-building through their direction and strategy. The Program & Strategy Officer delivers skilled and rigorous analysis and management of capacity-building resources, including program or project or initiative-directed grantmaking, multi-year general operating support, impact investments, and other tools. The position serves as part of Dogwood’s integrated work across program areas: housing, education, economic opportunity, and health & wellness. 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Serve as a partner and resource to each organization currently in Dogwood’s policy & advocacy grantmaking portfolio to build and maintain relationships to support the organization’s work and success; this includes developing a deep understanding of the organization, its networks, and the communities it serves and working in partnership with Dogwood’s network officers to understand the social, economic, and political contexts in which it works.
• Build and support relationships to learn about organizations, their networks, and the communities served and to understand the social, economic, and political contexts in which they work.
• Embed equity and inclusion in all aspects of your work, considering all stakeholders' diverse needs and perspectives, promoting fair practices, and contributing to a workplace culture that values and respects diversity. Advocate for equitable outcomes and ensure that all actions and decisions reflect our commitment to equity.
• Guide prospective applicants through Dogwood’s grant proposal submission process, working in partnership with Dogwood’s grants management team.
• Lead rigorous due diligence of grantmaking investments, including financial due diligence, through analytical review and assessment.
• Generate grant recommendations through skilled analysis aligned with policy & advocacy’s theory of change, portfolio priorities, and integration of work across program areas.
• Collaborate internally to leverage community strengths, assets, and identity opportunities while disseminating knowledge and building transparency and integration.
• Share knowledge and insights with foundation colleagues through formal exchanges, informal conversations, and written documentation.
• Participate with the Community Investment team to implement and evaluate strategy and outcomes to inform grantmaking, co-developing questions, and decision-making throughout the grant due diligence process.
• Generate documentation of grant recommendations for approval by the Board of Trustees.
• Monitor grants for technical assistance, compliance, impact, and lessons learned.
• Develop relationships with foundation peers and subject matter experts to stay current on socio-political influences and relevant data trends.
• Contribute to a transparent organizational culture by engaging colleagues in partnership and building mutual respect.
• Support grant strategies and convenings targeting issue-related cohorts.
• Work in partnership with the Learning & Evaluation team for a holistic view and understanding,  measurement, and analysis needs to ensure community profiles are accurate and reflect learnings. Contribute to a learning environment.
• Work alongside the Director of Public Policy to improve integrative efforts in realizing multiple change efforts and agents. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Qualifications are a guiding light and not all-encompassing of what Dogwood considers throughout the selection process. We encourage all candidates to include a cover letter to share how their lived experience, education, and work experience combine to support this role.

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree in fields of study connected to social determinants of health.

Experience

• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic, mission-aligned grantmaking or program management.
• Experience with program and relationship management.
• Proven track record of coalition building with diverse community stakeholders.
• Evidence of embracing various tasks, individuals, and resources with flexibility and adaptability.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; proved competencies with grant management platforms.
• Experience with, or ability to quickly learn, a grant management and client relationship system.
• Experience leading work in program development, community engagement, community partnerships, community organizing, and advocacy.
• Worked in various sectors and organizations spanning private, nonprofit, and philanthropy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes

• Demonstrated knowledge and extensive understanding of grantmaking and portfolio management.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills with the ability to develop rapport and engender trust.
• Exceptional people skills, a focused listener, with discerning engagement.
• Strong analytical skills layered with healthy curiosity and inquiry.
• Ability to be diplomatic, resourceful, and persuasive.
• Ability to build coalitions to drive strategic initiatives, impactful programs, and community engagement.
• Strong project management skills, showed through previous projects managing multiple internal and external stakeholders (e.g., working across organizations)
• Anticipates challenges and effectively resolves the conflict by identifying opportunities for problem-sharing and resolution.
• Ability to show a high degree of personal initiative.
• Skilled in time and project management; ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines effectively.
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain highly confidential information.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills paired with knowledge and use of databases, spreadsheets, graphics, and other reporting tools necessary for adequate documentation.
• Ability to develop, maintain, and evolve a body of concepts and learnings to inform and reflect the thinking and knowledge of the team and organization.
• Adept at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient workflow; knows what to measure and how to measure it.
• Responsive to individual differences in personal backgrounds; recognizes own cultural identity and areas for growth in understanding of and relating to other cultures and identities; shows respect and open-mindedness to other people’s views and experiences; actively seeks to engage and involve diverse groups.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work in an office environment requires operating standard office equipment. Workspaces are designed to be accessible and inclusive, accommodating various physical needs and promoting a healthy work environment.
• Dogwood utilizes a hybrid work schedule requiring staff to be in the office twice or more each week. While there is some flexibility for hybrid work, this is not a remote position, and candidates should expect to work regularly from the office in Asheville, NC, or from home located in the region we serve.
• Some travel throughout the region is an essential part of the job.

WHAT WE OFFER

Dogwood’s purpose of dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina is also evident within our doors.  The starting salary is commensurate with experience, which will be vetted through the interview process. All full-time team members can take part in a broad offering of competitive benefits, including:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Life and AD&D insurance.
• Up to 6% match for 403b retirement contributions.
• Annual PTO (4 weeks) & Sick (2 weeks).
• 10 paid holidays, 5 paid Winter Break days.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Dogwood Health Trust is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work and on our teams. We know that the rich diversity of perspectives and wisdom imperative to our purpose can only come from a wide variety of origins and life experiences. We strongly believe that creating a workplace where all team members thrive is critical to fulfilling our purpose in the communities we serve. We intentionally recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Qualified candidates are urged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.