Program Officer, Healthy Food, Healthy Lives

Program Officer, Healthy Food, Healthy Lives The New York Health Foundation is seeking applications for a program 0fficer in our Healthy Food, Healthy Lives priority area. The program officer position is an ideal fit for a candidate who is mission-oriented, strategic, creative, and collaborative and who cares deeply about ensuring everyone has access to healthy, affordable food. In this role, the candidate will join our dedicated staff in a collegial atmosphere and work with grantees and partners to connect New Yorkers with the food they need to thrive. NYHealth Background: NYHealth is a private and independent foundation dedicated to improving the health of all New Yorkers, especially people of color and others who have been historically marginalized. NYHealth began operations in 2006, and today the organization has more than $400 million in assets and a $17 million annual grants and operating budget. NYHealth is committed to making a meaningful difference that extends beyond grantmaking by informing health care policy and practice, promoting the adoption of effective programs to improve the health care system, convening health leaders across New York State, and providing technical assistance to grantees and partners. Today, the Foundation concentrates its initiatives in four areas: Primary Care; Healthy Food, Healthy Lives; Veterans’ Health, and responsive grantmaking through a Special Projects Fund. The Healthy Food, Healthy Lives priority area works to advance a more equitable food system and connect New Yorkers with the healthy and affordable food they need to thrive. The Healthy Food, Healthy Lives (HFHL) program employs four main strategies to achieve this goal: (1) food systems planning and capacity-building; (2) nutrition benefits; (3) healthier, culturally responsive food purchasing through public institutions; and (4) Food Is Medicine. Position Overview: Reporting to the vice president of programs, the program officer will work in close partnership with another program officer and a senior program assistant to manage and implement the HFHL priority area. This position is ideal for a creative and strategic thinker who can contribute to shaping and refining the priority area as it builds on its successes and enters its next phase of work. A successful candidate will bring an understanding of and experience in one or more of NYHealth’s HFHL strategy areas. The program officer will be responsible for generating and co-designing program initiatives and strategies; reviewing grant proposals; recommending projects to the vice president of programs and other senior staff; managing grants and relationships with grantees; assessing and communicating the impact of grant-supported projects; and generating ideas for communications and advocacy efforts, public events, technical assistance opportunities, and partnerships. They will work collaboratively across the Foundation’s other priority areas and its communications, policy and research, and grants management teams to advance shared goals. As part of the Foundation’s activist philanthropy model, the program officer will represent the Foundation at meetings and conferences throughout New York State and nationally; organize and facilitate convenings; and contribute to external publications. The Program Officer will also help develop relationships that advance the portfolio’s work with thought leaders, key stakeholders, funding partners, and policymakers. Reports to: Vice President of Programs Responsibilities: Collaborate with the HFHL team and other Foundation teams to design and operationalize program goals, strategies, and grantmaking opportunities. Cultivate, develop, and implement ideas for grant projects and initiatives that are most responsive to emerging trends and the Foundation’s strategies. Prepare and present written grant proposal summaries and provide recommendations to senior staff, review panels, and the Board of Directors. Build and maintain strong relationships with grantees, including facilitating meetings, conducting site visits, tracking grantee performance and evaluation activities, and providing strategic direction. Work with grantees to identify opportunities to enhance projects, respond to challenges, disseminate lessons learned, leverage the Foundation’s resources, and partner with other public and private sector funders. Convene grantees, stakeholders, and policymakers to educate and share about local food needs, grant-supported initiatives, and advocacy messages. Develop and maintain productive working relationships with stakeholders including policymakers, community-based organizations, community advocates, funders, and researchers to advance program strategies and coordinate around shared goals. In partnership with the Foundation’s policy and research team, synthesize learning to contribute to original NYHealth publications and inform the priority area. Contribute to quality improvement and growth within the Foundation, including facilitating shared learning among and across teams to inform future program development and grantmaking. Participate in conferences, seminars, and other professional development activities to deepen and enhance expertise, relationships, and professional growth. Respond to public inquiries about priority areas and contribute to disseminating and communicating the Foundation’s goals, objectives, and grantmaking results through the NYHealth website, in publications, and in other public settings. Complete special projects and other duties as assigned. Required Experience and Qualifications: A graduate degree in public health, public policy, or relevant discipline is preferred. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and equivalent experience will be considered. Successful candidates will have deep knowledge of or direct experience with food systems; federal nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); food access and distribution points; and policymaking processes. They will also have working knowledge of, and/or connections with, New York State and/or national nutrition and hunger policy or advocacy organizations, policymakers, funders, or other food systems stakeholders. Additional qualifications include: Experience in applying for, receiving, and managing grants or prior philanthropy experience is highly desirable. Excellent project development skills, including the ability to assess unmet needs; develop project objectives; facilitate partnerships; assess potential for sustainability and systems change; and develop project budgets. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to synthesize complex concepts into succinct, clear, and compelling narratives for diverse audiences. Excellent analytic abilities, including creative and strategic thinking and capacity for collaborative brainstorming. Excellent interpersonal skills: collegial; energetic; and able to develop productive relationships with colleagues, grantees, consultants, and others who contribute to program development and management. Works well with and welcomes opportunities to work across diverse cultures. A demonstrated commitment and contribution to fostering and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. Superb project management and organizational skills. Fine attention to detail and follow-through, including time management and document flow. Demonstrated maturity and seasoned judgment. Ability to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be responsive and clear with applicants and stakeholders. Experience engaging and collaborating with health care, business, and community leaders and other partners in program work. Ability to travel for site visits and to represent the Foundation at outside meetings. Application Process: Send résumé and cover letter to HR@nyhealthfoundation.org and include “HFHL Program Officer” in the subject line. The