Program Manager, Strategic Investments

WHO WE ARE

To be considered for an interview, please make sure your application is full in line with the job specs as found below.

United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is home to the change makers and justice seekers. We're individuals from various walks of life making collective steps towards a better future for our community.

Our focus is on bringing about real and sustainable change by unleashing the collective power of people to open minds, unite diverse communities, and covert compassion into action for a more just, inclusive, and thriving L.

A. County. Together, we make tangible impact on some of our toughest community issues including poverty, homelessness, education equity, and economic mobility.

For us, being 'united' isn't just in reference to our organization but to our hope for the future of Los Angeles. Regardless of race, gender, orientation, or self-identification - we do our part as one by making room for all .

WHAT WE DO

Our Community Impact department advances UWGLA’s mission by generating advocacy, awareness, and accessibility in support of LA’s most vulnerable populations.

We’re equally as passionate as we are efficient tackling poverty at its root and leveraging our collective creative talents to innovate impactful solutions where others see insurmountable odds.

We’re the people’s people’, building influential coalitions across communities, industries, and political coalitions that allow us to expand the realm of possibilities for those who have historically been marginalized.

UWGLA’s Strategic Investments (SI) team is embedded within our Community Impact department, working closely with issue experts and community and institutional leaders to meaningfully and impactfully deploy resources into community through grantmaking, technical assistance, and other supports.

UWGLA’s SI team is a prime example of how UWGLA lives its mission by combining community power, donations, and new solutions through its investments work UWGLA is supporting neighbors in crisis today and building a more prosperous future.

WHY WE NEED YOU

We are inviting strategic and solutions-oriented leaders with a passion for community-centered investment and implementing high-quality operations that center equity and impact to apply for our Program Manager, Strategic Investments role.

You will design strategic investment opportunities and lead collaborative spaces that spark and scale change to LA’s most pressing challenges and advance equity by managing a portion of United Way’s strategic investment efforts and facilitating project-level investments that collectively reach nearly $20M+ annually.

You will have the unique opportunity to work with a diverse set of stakeholders to collaboratively design opportunities that test bold ideas, scale proven solutions, and fuel organizing and advocacy efforts that ultimately reimagine LA.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE

• Strategic Investments
• Collaborate with Community Impact team and external stakeholders to lead the design of investment in pilots and strategic projects, ensuring alignment with long-term goals and strategies.
• Manage collaborative investment design processes to construct streamlined and impactful funding opportunities for United Way of Greater Los Angeles and key resource tables it manages.
• Partner with Director of Strategic Investments to support strategic discussion and decision making that evolves United Way grantmaking strategy and operations in alignment with organizational goals and values.
• Work with internal teams to identify and research issues and investment opportunities for potential development into strategic funding opportunities.
• Facilitate the production and logistics of special meetings and events (i.e., celebrations, recognition events, strategy meetings) related to investments work.
• As needed, participate in special fund distribution efforts such UWGLA’s Disaster Relief Fund launched based on community need.
• Investment Operations
• Lead cross-functional efforts to apply innovative operational management practices that create efficient and effective grant and other strategic investments.
• Partner with Director of Strategic Investments to support strategic discussion and decision making that evolves United Way strategic investments strategy and operations in alignment with organizational goals and grantmaking values.
• Work in partnership with United Way leadership to further integrate racial equity commitment in investments and grant processes.
• Oversee Contracts Coordinator in production of application and review processes within United Way’s grants management system.
• Manage Contracts Coordinator in successfully partnering across departments in execution of contracts and associated payments.
• Relationship Management & Partner Engagement
• Build relationship with multi-sector partners and engage stakeholders in collaborative design and development of funding opportunities to support relevance and impact.
• Provide responsive and partner-oriented support for partners and prospective applicants seeking assistance or advice. Successfully mediate challenging conversations with applicants and partners.
• Represent United Way in key philanthropic and community spaces.
• Lead management of Home For Good Funders Collaborative and other relevant investment spaces to maintain and deepen funding member engagement and investment.
• Resource Development Support
• Support United Way’s effort to secure greater resources for community impact via meaningful impact statistics and stories from work with key regions and agencies.
• Aide in the development and tracking of key performance indicators and metrics that insightfully analyze the progress and successes of ongoing work.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing & Engagement and Strategic Partnerships departments to articulate the value of our mission work and support the development of meaningful engagement opportunities for donors and the public.
• Team Management & Development
• Mentor and coach direct reports to grow skillsets, support individual professional development goals, and inspire team members to both lead and follow.
• Provide direct but respectful constructive feedback in real-time and during formal review periods to elevate team performance, maintain accountability, and reach goals.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

WHAT 1 YEAR OF SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Lead design and deployment of assigned funding opportunities to support team in investing at least $15M into mission-advancing projects that both meet the expectations and requirements of our donors and are meaningfully driving change in community.
• Lead planning and implementation of at least 2 significant Funders Collaborative investments aligned with evolved strategy.
• Finalize and execute enhanced communications and engagement plans for Funders Collaborative that results in at least 4 meaningful touchpoints beyond standing meetings.
• Manage newly implemented opportunity intake and assignments process to support an effective team workflow and maximize team capacity and capabilities.
• Oversee Contracts Coordinator in operational management and improvement of payments and contracts processes for UWGLA’s 400+ active commitments, increasing accuracy and reducing processing time and errors.

SKILLS YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED (Must-Haves)

• Education & Experience :
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Social Work, Business Administration, related disciplines, or equivalent professional experience required.
• Minimum 5 years of related experience required in philanthropy, program development, or program development / management.
• Experience working with boards, funding collaboratives, or other decision-making bodies.
• Prefer candidates with a minimum of 3 years of experience supervising and developing direct reports.
• Personal Qualities :
• Understands the value of racial equity as an organizational operating principle and commitment to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Team player that can effectively work collaboratively.
• Strong communicator that can build positive working relationships with an array of internal and external stakeholders.
• Results / action-oriented work style; strong strategic, analytical, planning and problem-solving skills; able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE A FIT (Nice-to-Haves)

• You can light a spark in the dimmest of rooms with your energy and enthusiasm for the work you do.
• You are a strategic planner who can successfully transform thoughts to action and goals to success with a well-crafted play-by-play strategy.
• Your written communications are concise and clear when it comes to ensuring messaging is compelling, accurate and tailored to the audience.
• You understand all aspects of data analysis - the graphs, charts, facts and figures - well enough to explain the story they tell to others.
• You keep your priorities straight but also know when it's time to re-prioritize your work assignments based on business needs.
• You are proactive , self-motivated, and action-oriented when it comes to managing your workload.
• You work well with others - stakeholders and colleagues alike would agree that you are the quintessential Team Player .
• Logic and reasoning come naturally to you, making you an efficient problem solver to challenges big and small.
• You stay calm under pressure and can meet tight deadlines when necessary.
• You know your way around the Microsoft Windows operating systems and all its essential programs including Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint Microsoft CRM and grants management software are a plus.
• You know how to manage a team in a way that holds everyone accountable while also creating opportunities to provide guidance, feedback and mentorship.
• You're comfortable with giving and receiving feedback in a manner that's respectful yet constructive whether in performance reviews or one-off conversations.
• You know what you know, and what you DON'T know, you’ll research through credible sources and apply that knowledge to your role.
• You've always lived true to the phrase, 'Where there's a will, there's a way,

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