What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Officer - Health Program position at Kresge Foundation?
About the Foundation
The Kresge Foundation is one of the top 20 private philanthropic foundations in the United States and the only one focused exclusively on expanding opportunities for people with low income in American cities. With an endowment of approximately $4 billion and a staff of over 100 employees, the foundation deploys grants and social investments across arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development. The foundation’s state-of-the-art headquarters maintains an array of energy-efficient, water-conserving and health-promoting systems. The foundation also operates an office in Detroit’s Midtown district.
Why You Will Love Working Here
- Purpose-Driven Work: Every day, your skills will help advance equity and human progress.
- Growth & Learning: We champion ongoing development, creativity, and authentic collaboration.
- Inclusive Culture: Equity and respect are at the heart of everything we do.
- Competitive Rewards: Transparent pay, robust benefits, and a commitment to salary equity.
What You Will Do
The Health Program Officer will play a key role in advancing the goals of the Health Program, focused on helping communities build equity-focused systems of health that create opportunities for all people to achieve well-being. The Program Officer will manage a diverse portfolio, including overseeing grants within the program’s Community Safety portfolio as well as field-building efforts aimed at strengthening the public health system. The Program Officer will also manage grants that advance racial justice and health equity by supporting community leadership and advocacy to address the social and structural conditions that impact health. In addition, the Program Officer will work closely with other members of the Health team to contribute to the design and execution of the program’s broader grantmaking and social investment strategies.
Primary Responsibilities
- Manage and collaborate on Community Safety portfolio to support community-led solutions for safety, health, and well-being with program staff from the Arts and Culture, Detroit, and American Cities teams.
- Obtain, maintain, and share knowledge of effective strategies and current thinking in the field – what works, what are the most effective and /or innovative ways to support the work, and how to implement strategies with community-based partners.
- Collaborate with other public health and healthcare grant makers, nonprofit leaders, and public and private sector stakeholders to assess developments in the field and strategic points for philanthropic engagement.
- Act as a thought partner and identify opportunities for collaborative strategy development and grantmaking with other Kresge program teams.
- Contribute to the design and execution of grantmaking and social investment strategies across the Health Program.
- Build and manage relationships with nonprofits, philanthropic institutions, government and/or community partners, and assess opportunities for impact and collaboration through research, site visits, and stakeholder interactions.
- Participate in funder and cross-sector collaboratives as needed to achieve program objectives.
- Stay abreast of emerging trends and new developments in intersection of health, equity, and community-led innovations in public health.
- Prepare materials for internal and external presentations and meetings and represent the foundation publicly to share program approaches and outcomes.
- Travel to conferences, convenings, and site visits with grantees and funding partners.
- Lead special projects as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to public health is required; a master’s degree or commensurate experience is preferred.
- A minimum of five years of progressive, relevant work experience advancing equitable outcomes in fields such as public health, healthcare, public policy, community development, or philanthropy.
- Experience working in governmental public health at a local or state level is preferred.
- Experience in consulting/analysis, project management, or strategy development in the for-profit, non-profit, or public sector is preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion and a successful track record implementing justice-oriented outcomes. Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse workload and implement strategies.
- Demonstrated leadership skills.
- Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong project-management skills.
- Strong team orientation, including the ability to collaborate effectively within and across teams, functions, and sectors to reach common goals.
- Demonstrated adaptability, integrity, and a positive, enthusiastic work style.
Salary
This position is full-time. The starting salary for this position begins at $141,033.00 per year. Individual offers will be based on the candidate's years of experience and our practice of upholding salary equity within the foundation.
Some of the benefits include
- Health, dental, vision and life insurance
- Paid time off
- Half day Fridays
- 401k with employer matching
- Tuition reimbursement
- Life, accident and disability insurance
- Comprehensive relocation package for qualified candidates
Ready to Apply
The application deadline for this position is midnight EST on January 23, 2026. Please send your resume and a cover letter telling us why you are excited about this role and how your skills and experience make a great fit.
This position is located in Troy, Michigan and currently has a hybrid schedule. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the standard in-office days, however, there may be times when you will have to adjust the days based on work needs.
Some air travel and business trips are required in support of foundation events, grantee site visits, team activities, and professional development opportunities. The frequency of air travel varies; however, current Program Officers often take 2-3 business trips per month, with each trip lasting 1-4 days.
Kresge is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
The Kresge Foundation participates in E-Verify to confirm authorization to work in the United States. For more information on E-Verify and to know your rights please click here.
Salary : $141,033