Description
Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact on our uniquely diverse Pacific Northwest community, contributing to its equity, vibrancy and recovery? Seattle-based Vulcan LLC is hiring an Arts and Culture Program Officer to work in our Partnerships & Programs department. We seek someone for this position who is excited to contribute their expertise to an organization dedicated to making a difference and tackling some of the world’s hardest problems.
About Vulcan:
Vulcan was founded in 1986 by Paul G. Allen and Jody Allen with a mission to make and leave the world a better place. We work with partners to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges facing oceans, climate, conservation, and communities. Whether global or local, our work for good is financed by our thoughtful investing and innovative development. Vulcan believes in recognizing and including all voices. We are actively investigating and applying best practices in equity and inclusion to our recruiting, hiring, retention and benefits programs. We know that creating a vibrant, diverse culture is essential to achieving our goals of improving the world through strategic investments that help fuel social and environmental impact in Science, Technology, Arts & Communities.
Position Summary:
The Partnerships and Programs team at Vulcan acts in an advisory capacity to the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (PGAFF). This individual will bring vision, imagination and entrepreneurial capability to program development, implementation, and oversight that will result in a regional arts program that spans genres and demographics with a firm grasp of the needs and trends of Pacific Northwest. The candidate should have a solid understanding of the giving strategies and emerging practices of other leading philanthropic entities to best serve Pacific Northwest communities. The Arts & Culture Program Officer reports to the Director, Arts & Communities. The successful candidate will understand, develop, and maintain an active and appropriate profile in the arts and philanthropy community. S/he/they are also responsible for carrying out special projects research, analysis and reporting of critical issues in the field, as well as reviewing and reporting on outcomes based on grantee reports and other evaluative information. This role is an individual contributor.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with leadership to develop and evolve the vision, strategic framework, goals and objectives for the Arts and Culture program.
- Provide thought leadership on the needs and trends of the sector, primarily in the Pacific Northwest.
- Develop and present new areas of focus for the program with an eye towards serving the highest needs of the Pacific Northwest communities.
- Build and sustain momentum by developing successful proposals, providing exceptional partner and grants management, and communicating success.
- Manage a portfolio of diverse arts projects to deliver successful outcomes.
- Provide support to internal and external communication efforts that seek to illustrate the success in the community.
- Establish and maintain relationships with business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders in the field, providing additional insight into opportunities for contribution and investment.
Knowledge, experience, skill, and/or capability:
- Experience in developing an Arts and Culture grantmaking program strongly preferred.
- Experience with intersection of youth development programs and strategies preferred.
- Ability to work independently with initiative to solve unstructured problems and drive results.
- Ability to work across broad topical areas and among diverse teams, and to exercise judgement and work effectively in unclear situations with changing dynamics among stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to work and with grace and flexibility when faced with multiple time-sensitive priorities and a changing environment.
- An ability to listen to others and a desire to learn, demonstrating intellectual curiosity, flexibility, entrepreneurial spirit, and openness to input and feedback.
- Proven track record in building strategy and long-range plans with projects of varying investments and time frames.
- Effective written and oral communicator, with ability to interact and communicate with executive management.
- Ability to identify risks, opportunities, and other pain points and actively seeks to problem solve.
- An ability to inspire trust; ability to lead and facilitate with strong interpersonal skills
- A sense of humor and an appreciation for sharing in success with teammates.
- Commitment to supporting a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion at work and among our partners and grantees.
Education/experience/certifications:
Bachelor’s Degree desired, and 7+ years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
Special remarks regarding work environment:
Travel estimated to be 10% or less.
The Partnerships & Programs team has adopted a hybrid working model that has team members in the Seattle office 1-2 days a week, however employees may work in the office all five days if desired. Tuesdays are Vulcan collaboration days as an investment in our shared sense of community and connection.
