Program Officer, San Joaquin Valley Health Fund

Who we are:

Sierra Health Foundation is a private philanthropy with a mission to invest in and serve as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, and programs that improve health and quality of life for all Californians. The foundation is committed to improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities through convening, educating, and strategic grant-making. https://www.sierrahealth.org

Sierra Health Foundation is an equal opportunity employer; we value employees with diverse backgrounds, expressions, and experiences. The more diverse our team is, the stronger we’ll become. With the common goal of forging a new path to promote health, racial equity, and racial justice in our communities, we want and need a team that can bring their unique perspectives and stories to the table to best support our communities. https://www.youtube.com/@thecentershf

Sierra Health Foundation currently operates on a hybrid work schedule with core in-office days of Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and optional telework days on Mondays and Fridays.

SUMMARY: The San Joaquin Valley Health Fund (SJVHF) Program Officer (PO) is based out of the Fresno office and is responsible for the day-to-day implementation and management of SJVHF. The PO supports community-based funded partners through capacity building, leadership development, networking, advocacy and policy and systems change. The PO coordinates hub activities, oversees and monitors community partners’ grant activities, and leverages and strengthens relationships with community- based organizations, public sector institutions and agencies, and other funders to advance health, well-being, and equity consistent with program goals. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Support

• Act as the primary lead responsible for managing the program.
• Actively engage in the community and region in order to advance grantmaking strategies through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, public sector institutions, and other funders to further the efforts of the program.
• Responsible for developing with community partners the initiative's strategies and engaging organizations within the funding region for strategic opportunities to implement the initiatives. In addition, the Program Officer will work with the program team and other departments to develop, strengthen and implement the program’s internal processes to better serve the community partners and the goals of program.
• Build and strengthen relationships with community partner grantees to better understand the challenges and opportunities they face in their respective focus areas in advancing program goals.
•  Provide and coordinate technical assistance to community partners and grantees that is responsive to demonstrated needs and ensures maximum impact. This includes convening, coordinating, and leading workshops and roundtable discussions informed by community partner input.
• Maintain an understanding of project implementation challenges and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
• Coordinate the planning and management of all grants virtual and in-person statewide, regional and general meetings, informed by community partner input.
• Enable ongoing communication about program partners by organizing and managing regular conference calls and coordinating regular electronic updates.
• Prepare briefings and background papers on selected topics. This includes coordinating external partnerships and consultants, research, preparing the content and overseeing final production.
• Act as a subject matter expert and resource, especially as it relates to system-level changes. This requires attending meetings and conferences and giving presentations as well as reviewing articles and research.

Grants & Contracts

• Lead all grantmaking aspects of the program. This includes working with the Program and Admin/Finance Teams to review and assess proposals, monitor grant work, and conduct due diligence (i.e., site visits of pending and active projects).
• Manage grants/contracts from funders and consultants under the direction of the supervisor. This includes, as assigned, acting as the liaison with the funders, monitoring and ensuring funder contract/award obligations are met, meeting funder reporting requirements and interfacing with other Foundation departments on related issues.
• Work with the Senior Management Team to identify and cultivate grant funding. Assist with securing additional funding opportunities for the grantmaking program of the with potential local and national funders for future growth opportunities. Work with the Foundation and Center staff to prepare grant applications for additional funding.
• Assist community applicants in improving proposal quality and providing constructive critical analysis of strengths and weaknesses of funding proposals, workplans and reports related to supported work.
• Work with the supervisor, Evaluation Director, and other members of senior management to develop and implement an evaluation plan for initiatives. 
• Work with the supervisor, Communication Director, and management to develop and implement a communication strategy.

Foundation & The Center

• Initiate strategic alliances with key public officials, Foundation stakeholders and community partners to advance the Foundation’s goals and initiatives.
• Represent the Foundation and The Center at public forums, committees, and other venues.
• Actively participate in capturing, developing, sharing, and effectively using knowledge.
• Initiate and oversee specific projects for the Foundation or The Center as assigned by the supervisor.
• Work collaboratively with Foundation and The Center colleagues in quality assurance processes.
• Perform other duties as required.
• Work closely with the finance and accounting department to monitor grantees' spending and tracking. 

Supervisory Responsibilities    

This position supervises program support staff.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in health policy, public health, community development, public administration, or a related field, and/or five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in health-related program or policy arena. Demonstrated significant experience coordinating multi-party collaboratives and/or collective impact models with a policy and systems change or community power-building focus with documented impact.
• At least three (3) years experience in philanthropy as a grantmaker, grants administrator, and/or grantee..
• At least five (5) years of experience specifically in state and/or local policy – ideally with community health or equity as a focus.
• Demonstrated experience advancing equity, building organizational and community capacity and working with low-income, immigrant and communities of color for sustainable change that advanced health and equity.
• Experienced and informed of trends, activities, and strategies in the social determinants of health and justice fields.

• Familiarity with the San Joaquin Valley region is a plus.

Language Skills 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking, presentation and group facilitation skills.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common financial reports and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries, regulatory agencies or members of the business community.
• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or Board of Directors.
• Ability to speak, read, and write in another language is desirable.

Computer Skills

• Must be proficient in Windows, Microsoft Office, Outlook, database software, and internet use.
• Ability to learn and/or experience with cloud-based systems; examples include Salesforce, Concur, Zoom, Teams, Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Must have a current valid driver’s license and be insurable under the Foundation’s insurance policy. Must have a reliable vehicle to perform various in-field tasks.

Other Skills and Abilities

• A commitment to prioritizing a DEI lens in their work and/or lived experience.
• Prioritizing passion with a visionary mindset for the Foundation’s mission is essential.

• Demonstrates ability to initiate and promote public policy initiatives and expertise in working with policymakers, policy advocates, and the media.
• Broad knowledge of public health, including federal, state and county policy issues.
• Knowledge of social determinant approaches with diverse cultural populations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies and build consensus among a broad range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of program development, implementation and evaluation methods, health promotion and policy, and general management concepts.
• Demonstrates effective leadership and relationship-building skills.
• Executes effective project management and budgeting.
• Ability to read financial budgets.
• Support the grant life cycle, monitor progress and performance, support grantee partners to address/communicate resolving any issues that may arise
• Demonstrates the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Team orientation and skilled at working collaboratively with co-workers and organizational partners (i.e., effectively applying active listening, diplomacy, and consensus-building skills, negotiating roles and responsibilities with internal and external colleagues). 
• Demonstrates and organized approach to effectively manage multiple projects involving a variety of internal and external collaborators. 
• Demonstrates flexibility and ability to perform in a fast-paced organization.
• Demonstrates entrepreneurial orientation to work.
• Significant travel time might be required.
• Leader in program design and strategic knowledge in collaboration with teams.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

Sierra Health Foundation offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The hiring range for this position is $88,700-$98,000 annually.  As part of the Foundation’s commitment to compensation, equality and transparency, our practice is not to consider salary counters above this hiring range.

Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, as well as an Employee Assistance Program, Student Loan support, and discount program. Employees receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Retirement benefits are provided through our 401(k), which includes employer matching up to 6%. Additionally, we prioritize employee wellness by offering a Wellness Reimbursement program and wellness-paid time off throughout the year. Further details can be shared during the hiring process.