The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation

Program Officer, Reproductive Justice, Social Change Portfolio

Remote

The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (STBF) is now seeking nominations and applications for a Program Officer, Reproductive Justice, in its US Programs, Social Change portfolio. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (STBF) is a private grant-making Foundation with a U.S. home office in Omaha, Nebraska, and a global office in Kigali, Rwanda. With annual spending in excess of $800 million, it is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. The Foundation is unusual for donors of such size as it has only two main areas of grant making: 1) supporting efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy and ensure access to safe abortion in the U.S. and around the world and 2) to enable low-income students in Nebraska to attend and succeed in college. The Foundation currently employs over 70 staff across the U.S. and Kigali, Rwanda. The Foundation will not exist in perpetuity. After Mr. Buffett passes away (he is currently 93 years old), the Foundation’s grantmaking will grow substantially, then eventually sunset after 15 years.

The Program Officer, Reproductive Justice, contributes significantly to the development and management of work plans aimed at expanding and sustaining Reproductive Justice (RJ) grantmaking. The ideal candidate will hold a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a deep understanding of intersectionality and a commitment to centering the voices and experiences of marginalized communities.

The Program Officer will bring strong relationship-building skills to their role as a grant maker, developing trust-based and collaborative partnerships with portfolio grantees. The Program Officer will co-develop and then take responsibility for implementation of workplans that serve STBF’s goals, including identifying gaps or liabilities in movement work, securing internal or external stakeholder buy-in, seeking out new grantees, and shepherding new and existing grants through the proposal and reporting processes. They will uphold high standards for stewarding the Foundation’s resources, including budgeting, grant monitoring, and compliance. Managing goal-oriented work plans may additionally entail setting learning agendas, preparing grants for approval by Senior Program Officers, making budget recommendations, and communicating grantee progress or challenges to others. Additionally, in keeping with the values of STBF, they will collaborate across colleagues and join a diverse team of people deeply committed to equitable practices and reducing disparities in the workplace as well as in the field. This position reports to a Senior Program Officer in the Social Change portfolio.

The Program Officer will approach the position of grant maker with a profound sense of humility, integrity, and cooperation. They will be capable of establishing relationships with their grantees that are expert, responsive, conscientious, and collaborative in their thinking. They will participate in site visits to remain informed about the progress of the portfolio grantees and convene meetings, if required, to contribute supplementary knowledge that guides the work of USP. They shall provide input for the STBF Board reports and establish or sustain connections with other funders involved in the movement.

TO APPLY

This search is being led by Cara Pearsall and Tyra Gravesande of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, and addressing the following question: What are the current gaps and opportunities facing the RJ movement in the United States? How can STBF leverage identified opportunities to achieve abortion access and reproductive dignity for all people? Please submit along with resume via NPAG’s candidate portal. It is encouraged that applicants submit their application by April 26, 2024.

Accommodations: If a candidate needs accommodations, please let NPAG know.

We are committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. This includes not only creating a diverse team where everyone feels represented, respected, and included, but also embedding these values across our work and practices. All applicants who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.

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