Officer, Strategic Planning and Incubation

The salary for this position is $69,000 to $88,000

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

As a strategic partner of the United Nations, the United Nations Foundation brings together fresh thinking and diverse voices around innovative ideas to drive progress and tackle problems. Sometimes we work behind-the-scenes, shaping negotiations and connecting experts, advocates, and decision-makers. Other times we drive public awareness and involvement through communications, campaigns, and convenings. Over the years we have developed a diverse and dynamic portfolio of capabilities, tools, and platforms to help the UN build a better world for everyone, everywhere.

JOB SUMMARY

The Officer is a key member of the Strategic Planning and Incubation team and manages new and incubating initiatives and projects to improve operational effectiveness. They are responsible for providing grants management support for a portfolio of initiatives as well as providing project and financial management for a select number of Pan-Foundation partnerships and special projects, and for managing team members who provide this support. The Officer will be responsible for coordinating with team leaders and ensuring timelines, milestones and policies are met by Foundation staff regarding partner-funded activities.

The Officer, Strategic Planning and Incubation reports to the Director, Incubation and works closely with internal clients across the Foundation, including team leaders, while collaborating regularly with cross-functional partners such as Agreements & Accountability, Budgets, Finance, and People & Culture. The role also provides strategic and operational support on select priorities and special projects led by the Chief Operating Officer.

This position is located in Washington, DC (hybrid schedule).

This position is temporary through December 31, 2026.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage select pan-UNF partnerships through the entire partnership lifecycle, including proposal development, award, implementation, and close-out, providing financial and programmatic management support, liaising with partners and internal stakeholders
• Manage a portfolio of incubating initiatives and special projects by providing grants management support and facilitating start-up activities for incubating initiatives
• Manage one or more team members who work on UNF’s incubating initiatives and special projects, providing grants management and administrative support
• Investigate, negotiate, and help resolve any issues that arise with respect to activities funded by key partners, including finalizing contribution agreements, ensuring internal adherence to donor-specific rules and regulations, and request renewals or extensions
• Liaise between project leaders and operational teams to ensure smooth execution of special projects and successful onboarding and launch of incubating initiatives
• Provide budget support directly and oversee staff who provide budget support for incubating initiatives and special projects in conjunction with UNF’s Budget and Finance team
• Ensure high quality, timely work products are submitted for donor funded activities; and resolving any issues that arise with respect to activities funded by key partners
• Lead and support projects to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency
• Provide project management support for special projects assigned and led by the Chief Operating Officer
• Support the organizational decision-making process through conducting and/or supporting quantitative and qualitative analysis and research to provide leadership with the necessary information to make timely and well-informed decisions
• Manage other staff, as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Officer, Strategic Planning and Incubation is a supervisory role.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION and/or EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or comparable professional experience required
• Five or more years of experience with grants, proposals, and reports, preferably in a non-profit setting

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated familiarity with budgets, budget processes, grant, and financial management
• Exceptional operations and project management skills with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated proposal writing and reporting experience
• Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Proven ability to work across departments to accomplish mission
• Ability to work with senior staff to prepare analysis and information to inform decision-making
• Proven ability to facilitate staff at all levels to meet external deadlines
• Ability to develop, maintain, and enjoy effective working relationships with people from a wide variety of organizations and with a wide variety of functional expertise
• Continuous learning skills and the ability to synthesize information
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment in managing sensitive organizational information and strategic planning matters
• Budget skill assessment is part of the interview process

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The essential functions of this role will be performed in a typical professional office environment with routine use of standard office equipment. Employees are expected to work on-site in accordance with UNF’s hybrid work policy, which currently requires regular in-office presence.

LOCATION

While The United Nations Foundation headquarters is located in Washington, DC, you are on a hybrid work schedule. You are expected to commute to the office three (3) days per week, and you may work from home two (2) days per week.

DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

The United Nations Foundation will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

It is required you upload your resume and a cover letter for this position. Your application will be considered incomplete without these items. Please note that we cannot consider your application without a resume and cover letter submission.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

For full-time, U.S. benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:

• a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• flexible spending accounts
• 403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contribution
• group term and supplemental life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• back-up care
• employee assistance program

Additionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.

The United Nations Foundation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.