Overview

The Walton Family Foundation (WFF) is seeking a skilled, highly motivated, and entrepreneurial individual to join the foundation as a Program Officer – Home Region. The position calls for a solid understanding of the Home Region geographies and WFF grantees. The foundation seeks to recruit individuals with a demonstrated commitment to an inclusive quality of life, superior interpersonal and communication skills, a respectful but analytical approach to the work of grantees and partners, and a proven ability to work effectively as part of a team. This position is in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging  

We believe every associate should have access to success. Creating an environment centered on trust, respect, and bringing people together is critical to this belief. Our aspirations are as follows: 

• Create an environment where we hire, retain, and bring to the table people with diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and lived experiences to create a more successful organization.
• Ensure fairness, equity, and access to success for all our associates. 
• Create an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, safe, able to engage honestly. 

About the Position

The Program Officer will help manage a diverse portfolio of municipal and non-profit grantees. Program Officers work on a small, entrepreneurial team. Specific duties include the following:

Responsibilities:

• Refine and implement the Home Region’s [JR1] strategic plan, with a primary though not exclusive focus on High-Quality Education and Purposeful Career Pathways in Northwest Arkansas. High-Quality Education and Purposeful Pathways are distinct but related strategies housed within the Home Region’s Inclusive Growth and Sense of Belonging initiative with the goal of ensuring that residents of all backgrounds, across all neighborhoods have access to opportunity. High-Quality Education works to increase access to top-notch education for students throughout the region. Purposeful Career Pathways seeks to promote effective linkages between education and work, post-secondary pathways, and upskilling opportunities for workers in the region. A key role for the program officer will be engaging with a robust portfolio of current grantees, as well as seeking new community partners to execute against the overall strategic goals.
• Help manage relationships with grantees, potential grantees, and other partners. This will include performing due diligence on proposals, shepherding proposals through the foundation’s approval process, conducting site visits, providing guidance, and working with grantees in any way that will achieve significant impact. In addition, this position will continue to build new relationships with a broad network of other partners who can leverage the foundation’s goals.
• Be an effective team member. The success of the foundation’s Home Region strategy is built on a strong team culture that values partnership. Team members provide support as well as honest and respectful feedback to one another. All team members are held to high performance expectations that include a mindset of personal and professional development.
• Other projects and assignments. These may berequested by the foundation’s board, Executive Director or Director of the Home Region Program.

Who we are looking for

Qualifications required for success

• Bachelor’s degree required, relevant master’s degree or higher preferred.
• At least five years of work in K-12 education, workforce development or related field
• Understanding of the K-12 education and development sector, as well as awareness of assistance programs at federal, state and local levels that could be used to leverage impact.
• This will include performing due diligence on proposals, shepherding proposals through the foundation’s approval process, conducting site visits, providing guidance, and working with grantees in any way that will achieve significant impact. In addition, this position will continue to build new relationships with a broad network of other partners who can leverage the foundation’s goals.
• Be an effective team member. The success of the foundation’s Home Region strategy is built on a strong team culture that values partnership. Team members provide support as well as honest and respectful feedback to one another. All team members are held to high performance expectations that include a mindset of personal and professional development.
• Other projects and assignments. These may be requested by the foundation’s board, Executive Director or Director of the Home Region Program.

Personal attributes that support your success

• Ability to act as a trusted advisor to principals and colleagues while demonstrating expertise and integrity.
• You are helpful, a team player, and show respect while collaborating with others.
• You are results oriented and exercise sound judgment in your work.
• A lifelong learner, who is inquisitive and solves problems with bold thinking and innovation.
• A visionary who plans for the future with imagination and wisdom
• You are dedicated to achieving excellence and work with others to tackle the tasks at hand.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work. 

Benefits Information*

Compensation Range: $120,000-$145,000

Benefits Information: We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401 (k) retirement plan and paid time off.

*This information is provided to comply with Colorado Law 

How to apply:

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

About the Home Region Program

In Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta, the Walton Family Foundation's work is guided by an abiding belief that communities can thrive when they have access to opportunity. Our five-year strategy is underway, working to build a more vibrant, inclusive economy in Northwest Arkansas and promoting equity through education and financial security in the Delta. Through collaboration with diverse partners and guided by the voices of the communities where we work, the Foundation is elevating solutions that deliver lasting progress and drive meaningful change.

The Home Region accomplishes this goal through two initiatives:

Northwest Arkansas

The Foundation envisions Northwest Arkansas as one of the nation's most vibrant and inclusive communities. We will put our resources behind community-led efforts that Advance Economic & Cultural Vibrancy, Foster Inclusive Growth & A Sense of Belonging, and Support Community Leadership & Capacity-Building

Arkansas-Mississippi Delta

In the Delta, the Foundation is committed to supporting the people and organizations building lasting impact for all people in the Delta. That includes local leaders strengthening schools and educational programs; supporting small businesses and economic opportunity; and investing in the innovators working to build a better, brighter future.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Walton Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

 [JR1]I think we should omit the term “future” throughout, as we don’t know what that will be or what role this position will play in determining the future