Senior Program Officer, Catholic Sisters Initiative

| Senior Program Officer, Catholic Sisters Initiative |

AGOURA HILLS, CA

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world’s disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance use, helping children affected by HIV and AIDS, supporting transition age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton’s support for the work of Catholic Sisters. In addition, following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $2 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. In 2017, the Humanitarian Prize was awarded to icddr,b, an international health research institute dedicated to solving the most serious health issues facing low and middle-income countries. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 billion in grants, distributing $109 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2016. The Foundation’s current assets are approximately $2.6 billion. For more information, please visit

About the Role

The Senior Program Officer will play an important role in helping the Foundation grow and develop its grantmaking in key priority areas of the Catholic Sisters Initiative. Primary expertise and experience will focus on Catholic Sisters in the United States and Latin America’s congregations, organizations and human development issues. The Senior Program Officer will carry out grantmaking activities, contribute to the strategic development of specific funding portfolios, interface and support key grantees, and collaborate with the program team to advance the mission of the Foundation in the Catholic Sisters Initiative. This person is a key member of the Catholic Sisters Initiative program team and reports to the Director of Catholic Sisters Initiative.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy Plan and Implementation

Plan and collaborate with Sisters Team in the development of strategy and implementation of the Foundation’s Catholic Sisters strategic initiative with primary focus on the United States/Latin America.
Collaborate with Sisters Team and evaluator to track progress toward Initiative’s goals.
Investigate, develop and implement strategic grantmaking priorities for Catholic Sisters Initiative, with a primary focus on United States and Latin America.
Produce grant-write-ups, periodic program reports and briefing papers for the Quarterly Board Docket and/or Board of Directors as requested and present grant proposals at Quarterly Board Meetings.
Identify potential grantees and projects and provide counsel to organizations invited to develop proposals.
Review proposals, and determine which ones to develop further and recommended for funding.
Provide program support for the maintenance of active grants including regular communications and problem solving with grantees and consultants.
Maintain an open, ongoing relationship with grantees and Program Director.
Contribute to the overall health and growth of the Foundation strategy in furthering its mission.
Remain informed of current research, policy, activities, and trends in the issues related to Catholic sisters, Church, their organizations.

Program External Relations/Communication and Research

Engage and develop relations to strengthen strategic coalition building within the sector.
Collaborate with team to plan and convene meetings of key church, government, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders to mobilize coordinated efforts and funding in strategic initiatives.
Represent the Foundation to various constituencies through verbal and written communications (annual reports, brochures, correspondence) and through participating in outside conferences and meetings.
Participate in conferences for professional development and remain current in the field Catholic Sisters.
Build collaborative and positive working relationships and maintain effective communication channels with team, staff and stakeholders.
Develop and maintain a productive network of professional relationships with key government, philanthropic and non-profit leaders.
Contribute to the Foundation’s international, regional and national events, and constituency building work.

Team Leadership, Management and Team Relations

Build collaborative and positive working relationships and effective communication channels with team members, Foundation staff, grantees and partners.
Effectively manage direct reports and provide mentorship in developing professionally.
Participate in team meetings to review grant recommendations, provide updates on grantee progress, determine technical assistance needs of grantees, plan convening, evaluation and communications activities, and share and reflect on experiences in the field and related program activity.
Network to strengthen relationships with other foundations, NGOs and conferences of women religious to develop grantmaking, program partnerships and collaborations.
Work with other program staff to refine and build the strategy, design and management of the Foundation’s various Catholic Sisters Initiative priority program areas.
Identify the need for consultants within the program area; plan scope of work for contracts; develop terms of contract and monitor progress.
Supervise Program Associate and provide support to complete tasks and activities on projects in a systematic, coordinated and sequential manner; provide with information on concept and approach of the projects; provide support in various aspects of grantees, research, maintenance of information and project implementation in the United States and Latin America.

Monitoring, Documenting and Reporting

Collaborate with Program Associate to ensure timely preparation and submission of grantee progress report updates.
Document good practices and synthesis of lessons learned and ensure these are incorporated into the grantmaking process.
Manage periodic evaluations of progress toward program objectives and develop recommendations to the Director, Catholic Sisters Programs for any appropriate strategic changes.
Work closely with Monitoring, Evaluation and learning partners as well as Learning Officer, to assess the efficacy of the initiative, build the capacity of grantees to engage in data-informed decision making, and develop and implement sharing strategies.
Conduct site-visits and produce reports on the progress of projects.
Support Foundation Learning Officer(s) and grantees in obtaining and documenting success stories, new articles, inputs to newsletters, websites etc.
Monitor grants budgets and grantee expenditures, as well as organizational budgets, as appropriate.

Special Projects

Designs and carries out special projects and other duties, as required and undertakes other projects as assigned.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree in Theology, Religious Studies, and International Relations or a related field.
Knowledge and/or work experience with Catholic Sisters.
Proven ability to monitor, evaluate, research, analyze, synthesize and communicate progress and findings on a variety of issues related to education, health, youth and children, and religious trends.
Experience in strategic planning and implementation and in coordinating church, public/private efforts for long-term, systemic social impact.
Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in grantmaking and/or program development/management.
Minimum of 10 years of work experience in organizational leadership in the United States or Latin America.
Experience in monitoring and evaluating program performance, preferably in social sector.
A practical understanding of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
A passion for and a commitment to the Foundation's mission.
Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills with high attention to priority and detail.
Excellent written/oral communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
Strong strategic, conceptual and critical thinking abilities; capacity to navigate through ambiguity.
Ability to develop effective and professional relationships with internal and external colleagues and partners.
Personal presence to represent the Foundation in diverse forums and organizational relationships.
Works well independently and within a team and demonstrates a high degree of initiative, flexibility, collaboration and cultural sensitivity.
Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and database experience.

COMPENSATION

A competitive compensation package is available, including a salary and incentive commensurate with qualifications and experience, and a comprehensive benefits package.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume by email to the Talent and Culture department at . Please note “Senior Program Officer, Catholic Sisters Initiative (US & Latin America focus)” in the subject line. No phone inquiries, please.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and we seek candidates from allbackgrounds and experiences