Director of Grantmaking Programs

Primary Function

The Director of Grantmaking Programs (DGP) works closely with the Executive Director of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage (ED) to develop, envision, evaluate and evolve all aspects of the Center’s grant making to Philadelphia area arts and culture organizations and creative practitioners.   The DGP manages the staff and oversees operations of the Center’s grantmaking initiatives, including Project Grants and the Pew Fellowships in the Arts.

As a prominent representative of the Center in local, national and international arts and culture communities, the DGP must maintain and enhance the strong public image of the Center; its funder, Pew Charitable Trusts; and operating partner, The Barnes Foundation.  The DGP should maintain and develop strong relationships with national and international arts and cultural practitioners and resources, as well as strong knowledge of best practices in grantmaking in the arts, across all disciplines.

The director drives continuous improvement in grantmaking practices: ensuring funded organizations and artists meet the Center’s eligibility guidelines, supporting funded organizations and artists complete ambitious projects that enhance their area of creative practice and deliver high quality capacity building support for the Philadelphia-region arts and culture sector.

Job Qualifications

The Director of Grantmaking Programs is a senior leader at the Center and a staff supervisor to Program Officers (4) and Program Assistants (2). The DGP should demonstrate a broad and complete understanding of the Center’s values and agenda, organizational intelligence, and sophisticated judgment. The DGP must also exemplify a sound understanding of the Center’s unique relationship with its funder (Pew), demonstrating responsible stewardship of grant funds and acting to conserve the Center’s strategic position within Pew’s broader Philadelphia Program mission and interests. Qualifications include:

• A graduate-level degree in artistic/cultural practice, business administration or a related discipline with 7 years work history in the arts and culture sector OR a bachelors-level degree and related work experience of 10 years. Experience in arts philanthropy is highly desirable.
• Strong artistic literacy and deep understanding of contemporary artists and artistic practice across and among disciplines. An expansive and inclusive network in the cultural community, locally, nationally, and beyond. Commitment to ongoing learning in the fields the Center serves.
• Strong leadership and staff management skills. Significant experience in managing staff and budgets as a supervisor with an aptitude for program development and administration. 
• Strong professional writing skills, critical analysis skills, excellent communications skills.
• Ability to develop and adapt to new ways of approaching grant making while staying true to the mission at the core of the Center.
• Effective interpersonal skills to successfully interact with a variety of people, including the cultural community, consultants, grant recipients, applicants, colleagues at The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the public from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.
• A collegial mindset and enthusiasm for working closely, collaboratively and supportively across the Center team and with partners.
• Abiding commitment to discretion, as Center staff are privy to highly confidential information. The director must develop and nurture the trust placed in the Center by the community and its funder.
• Willingness and ability to frequently attend events which are after standard business hours or on weekends. Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally for professional development, or as required to participate in capacity-building programs, conferences, or experience cultural events occurring outside of Philadelphia.

Clearances: Criminal Background-National

Physical Activities to Perform Essential Functions: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Moving:

• Approximately 80%+ of time is spent seated while working at a desk.  
• Ability to occasionally transport up to 25 lbs. of files, equipment or supplies.  
• Ability to move to access files, equipment or supplies.

Vision Requirements:

• This position requires extended time on the computer.

Communication Requirements:  

• Clearly communicate in person, by phone, and by video conference.   
• Communicate with others in conversational and written English. 

Working Conditions:

• Position operates in hybrid work setting comprised of the PCAH Philadelphia campus and remote work setting indicated by the employee at their documented home address in the state of PA, NJ or DE.
• Position requires extended time on the computer. 

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with ED and other senior staff as appropriate, to administer, operationalize and optimize the Center’s grantmaking processes and goals. Embed Center priorities within the Barnes’s strategic plan.  Support Barnes and Center programmatic collaborations, strategy and evaluation for grantmaking priorities.  Position the Center as a thought-leader through various channels. 
• Facilitate meetings with grant applicants, vet application materials, and successfully implement the grant program adjudication panel process, which includes identifying and cultivating relationships with local and national experts to serve on annual panels that determine grant awards.
• Oversee status tracking for all funded grants/grantees, review grant reports, approve the release of grant payments, troubleshoot issues where they arise, approve grant modifications, and elevate issues to the attention of the Chief Administrative Officer or ED, as appropriate.
• Regularly supervise, lead, and manage the activities of program officers and assistants to ensure effective performance of their job responsibilities. Meet with direct reports regularly and conduct performance reviews annually.
• Manage program budget(s) in accordance with guidelines from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Barnes. Prepare reports and/or assign staff to prepare internal and external reports, as needed.
• Work with Center administrative, communications and programmatic staff to ensure clear and consistent messaging, effective use of technology, and comprehensive support are in place for applicants and grantees.
• In collaboration with the ED, annually revise the content, questions, evaluation, and eligibility criteria of the Center’s Application Guidelines.
• In collaboration with the ED and program officers, design and execute capacity building/development activities and programs in response to identified needs, opportunities, and potential positive impact on the Center’s constituents.
• Seek opportunities to connect local constituents with opportunities and resources outside of Philadelphia.
• Model exemplary behavior, manage, motivate, and guide direct reports (program staff) in relation to understanding and complying with the Center’s policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with senior staff on other Center programs and events, as appropriate.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Organization-Wide Competencies

1. Accountability:
   1. Prepares for work assignments and meetings,
   2. Conducts thorough fact-finding, decision-making and/or follow through,
   3. Admits mistakes and errors and informs others when one is not able to meet a commitment.
2. Job Quality:
   1. Dependably demonstrates job knowledge necessary for the position,
   2. Produces timely, accurate, high quality work output,
   3. Prioritizes work responsibilities effectively and produces work quantity expected for the role.
3. Service:
   1. Identifies problems and collaborate with others to devise and create effective solutions.
   2. Interacts and communicates with fellow employees in a manner that promotes a harmonious and cooperative working environment in accordance with our Core Values.
   3. Facilitates open communication and keeps an open mind about new ideas.
4. Leadership:
   1. Sets a good example for others,
   2. Demonstrates ethical decision-making and communication,
   3. Makes decisions. Uses a solution-oriented, collaborative approach.
5. Collaboration:
   1. Seeks win-win outcomes in decision-making,
   2. Shows a proactive, inclusive, helpful, and respectful attitude to colleagues, guests and others,
   3. Takes initiative to contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives.
6. Empowerment (Supervisors):
   1. Directs others’ work effectively with adequate goalsetting, accountability, delegation, supervision, conflict resolution, accessibility to support and resources,
   2. Motivates team to meet short- and long-term goals: individual, department and strategic plan,
   3. Creates environment for staff development.
7. Administration (Supervisors):
   1. Meets goals related to revenue targets, expense control, program fees, etc.,
   2. Develops/manages budget in keeping with organizational priorities,
   3. Follows protocols and reporting requirements set by other departments (HR, IT, Facilities, etc.),
   4. Collects and analyzes data effectively,
   5. Documents work accurately and consistently, shares information appropriately.