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Employment Opportunities at Lumina Foundation

One position is currently open.

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Senior Program Director

About Lumina Foundation for Education

Founded in 2000, Lumina Foundation for Education is an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation. With assets of more than $1.3 billion and an annual grantmaking budget of approximately $50 million, it is one the 40 largest private foundations in the United States. The Foundation strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access to and attainment in education beyond high school. Through grants for research and innovative programs, as well as investments in communications and evaluation, Lumina Foundation addresses issues that affect access and educational attainment among all students, particularly underserved student groups, including low-income and minority students and adult learners.

Lumina Foundation seeks a Senior Program Director to develop grantmaking strategy and initiatives. This position is responsible for overseeing key aspects of the Foundation's grantmaking. The Senior Program Director reports to the Senior Vice President for Program Development.

Responsibilities

• Participate in developing a thoughtful, creative grantmaking strategy for the Foundation that advances its mission.
• Develop initiatives and programs for carrying out the grantmaking strategy. Draft concept papers and develop requests for proposals and grant guidelines to support these initiatives and programs; regularly revisit the strategy and initiatives to assure that they remain responsive to emerging issues and information.
• Take significant, shared responsibility for managing the Foundation's grantmaking work, including managing and participating in proposal review meetings; take lead responsibility for managing, training, and mentoring grantmaking staff; share in drafting grant-related information such as proposal summaries and recommendations, grant documents, and board materials; monitor grant progress; work with staff and grantees to identify and solve problems in funded programs.
• Work with practitioners, researchers, policymakers, funders, and other experts in the field to maximize the impact of the Foundation's grants and advance knowledge and practice in our areas of interest.

Credentials and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; advanced degree in relevant field highly preferred. Evidence of depth of knowledge and successful experience may substitute for an advanced degree.
• Minimum of 10 years' varied and relevant experience including experience in senior-level leadership and management, higher education and as a grant-maker or grant-seeker.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas related to the Foundation's: pre-collegiate academic and financial access (especially for underserved students), persistence, student support, or institutional leadership and transformation. Experience in the community college arena would be a strong plus, as would a basic understanding of K-12 issues.

• Exceptional managerial ability.
• Proven ability to write effectively and speak persuasively.
• Ability to create and manage a grantmaking agenda focused on informing practice and public policy.
• Ability to lead an ambitious grantmaking program, from developing effective strategy to awarding and monitoring grants. Experience leading interdisciplinary teams and partnerships that manage complex projects.
• Ability to think strategically and conceptually, share knowledge, work collaboratively and mentor staff and grantees.
• Demonstrated agility and commitment to act as an organization-wide leader, as well as departmental leader.

Personal Qualities

The successful candidate will be deeply committed to the task of realizing the Foundation's mission. He or she will be intellectually curious and open to new ideas, embrace the sharing of knowledge and information and enjoy working at the intersection of theory and practice. She or he will thrive in a work environment that values transparency and welcome the give and take of rigorous debate. Flexibility, diplomacy, integrity and superlative interpersonal skills are essential.

Compensation

Lumina Foundation offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate's background and experience.

Process

Qualified applicants should e-mail a letter of interest and curriculum vitae as attachments, outlining experience relevant to advancing the mission of Lumina Foundation for Education. The Foundation also invites nominations of qualified applicants. Letters of interest and nominations will be accepted until June 6, 2008, and should be sent to the e-mail address listed below.

A review of candidates will begin immediately, with an appointment expected in July 2008.

Contact

Shelley Lloyd
Director, Human Resources and Facilities
lfecareers@luminafoundation.org