Associate Program Officer
RIZE Massachusetts
Job Description
Background
RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE) is an independent nonprofit foundation committed to achieving zero stigma and zero deaths related to opioid use disorder by investing in the best solutions and brightest minds to save lives, reduce harm, and end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts. RIZE is building a $50 million fund that will focus on efforts to address the opioid epidemic through a full continuum of programs from prevention to long-term sustainable recovery and invest in the specific areas where more resources are immediately necessary.
RIZE’s vision is that our funding will lead to meaningful and positive results in addressing not just the immediate crisis of opioid overdose death but will also improve alignment among the overall health care and insurance systems, and evidence-based addiction treatment practices. Our goals are:
• To save lives by expanding immediately accessible, evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder
• To reduce harm and stop preventable deaths for those at highest risk
• To address stigma through training, education, and partnerships
• To support community-based crisis response efforts
Position Overview
The associate program officer has a unique opportunity to work across all RIZE’s programs to coordinate grant functions, help manage initiatives, facilitate learning events, help engage key constituent groups, assess programmatic impact, and support communication and dissemination activities. The associate program officer will build and maintain strong relationships with grantees, staff, advisory committee members, as well as subject matter experts, including people with lived experience. The incumbent will carry out a variety of program, project management, research, and other logistical and administrative tasks to support RIZE’s mission. The associate program officer reports to the senior program officer who oversees a portfolio of grant and other programs.
Major Responsibilities
Program
• Collaboratively engage with the senior program officer and president and CEO on all programs and projects. Present ideas for future funding initiatives, as well as evidence for their need.
• Support the management of a portfolio of projects, including leading special initiatives and specific grant programs.
• Provide project management support, including managing multiple timelines, supporting implementation, and following up with partners to ensure that goals are achieved.
• Conduct research, literature reviews, and provide summaries and updates on evidence-based models addressing opioid use disorder and addiction treatment. Attend hearings and meeting as necessary.
• Assist with scheduling, preparing agendas, materials, communications, and presentations for the program strategy committee of the board.
• Assist in the development of grant guidelines, help facilitate review process for external reviewers and staff, and prepare recommendation summaries for management and the board.
• Support overall operations of the grantmaking function; maintain CRM used to process grant proposals, grant agreements, reports, site visits, and grantmaking information. Attend site visits as necessary.
Communications and events
• Assist with communications activities, including updating program content for the website, and supporting communications and dissemination about programs and events through Constant Contact, social media, and other communications channels, in collaboration with the senior engagement officer.
• Collaborate with staff and consultants to develop and execute events, learning communities, workshops, and other key stakeholder engagement activities that provide grantees and constituents with an opportunity to share best practices, identify common challenges, and develop new practices.
General
• Assist with strategic planning and long-term objectives.
• Assist with program-related materials for board and board committee meetings.
• Assist with general office staffing and office duties, such as scheduling, receiving visitors, answering phone calls, event management (both onsite and virtual), and other tasks as assigned.
Qualifications
• Experience with philanthropy, grantmaking, and communications. Experience in behavioral or public health preferred
• Track record of meeting multiple deadlines, maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail, moving quickly from one project to another, and managing expectations/timelines to achieve results
• Strong sense of connection and partnership with community-based organizations throughout Massachusetts. Knowledge of organizations treating opioid use disorder and addiction a plus
• Very strong written and oral communication skills; ability to clearly and persuasively articulate complex ideas to diverse audiences
• Sense of priority, flexibility, good judgment, and teamwork
• Ability to take initiative
• Highly collegial; comfortable working as part of a small team
• Adaptable, with the ability to listen to new ideas, encourage open dialogue, share opinions, and change course based on new evidence
• A willingness to do whatever is needed in a small, start-up organization
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, impact driven environment
• Knowledge MS Office. Knowledge of Sales Force, Constant Contact, Zoom and WordPress a plus
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience
RIZE seeks someone for this position who is passionate about ending the overdose crisis and unafraid of new ideas. Success in this position will require a positive, can-do, learning mindset and a collaborative, team-oriented approach. We are looking for candidates who are confident in setting and acting on shared goals and who understand how complex and interconnected issues, such as the social determinants of health, funding and political environments, and economics intersect with addressing the overdose crisis.
The associate program officer is a full-time, hybrid role. RIZE is located in downtown Boston and occasional travel, primarily in-state, will be required for meetings and events as needed. The role may require evening and occasional weekend work.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law.
RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE) is an independent nonprofit foundation committed to achieving zero stigma and zero deaths related to opioid use disorder by investing in the best solutions and brightest minds to save lives, reduce harm, and end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts. RIZE is building a $50 million fund that will focus on efforts to address the opioid epidemic through a full continuum of programs from prevention to long-term sustainable recovery and invest in the specific areas where more resources are immediately necessary.
RIZE’s vision is that our funding will lead to meaningful and positive results in addressing not just the immediate crisis of opioid overdose death but will also improve alignment among the overall health care and insurance systems, and evidence-based addiction treatment practices. Our goals are:
• To save lives by expanding immediately accessible, evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder
• To reduce harm and stop preventable deaths for those at highest risk
• To address stigma through training, education, and partnerships
• To support community-based crisis response efforts
Position Overview
The associate program officer has a unique opportunity to work across all RIZE’s programs to coordinate grant functions, help manage initiatives, facilitate learning events, help engage key constituent groups, assess programmatic impact, and support communication and dissemination activities. The associate program officer will build and maintain strong relationships with grantees, staff, advisory committee members, as well as subject matter experts, including people with lived experience. The incumbent will carry out a variety of program, project management, research, and other logistical and administrative tasks to support RIZE’s mission. The associate program officer reports to the senior program officer who oversees a portfolio of grant and other programs.
Major Responsibilities
Program
• Collaboratively engage with the senior program officer and president and CEO on all programs and projects. Present ideas for future funding initiatives, as well as evidence for their need.
• Support the management of a portfolio of projects, including leading special initiatives and specific grant programs.
• Provide project management support, including managing multiple timelines, supporting implementation, and following up with partners to ensure that goals are achieved.
• Conduct research, literature reviews, and provide summaries and updates on evidence-based models addressing opioid use disorder and addiction treatment. Attend hearings and meeting as necessary.
• Assist with scheduling, preparing agendas, materials, communications, and presentations for the program strategy committee of the board.
• Assist in the development of grant guidelines, help facilitate review process for external reviewers and staff, and prepare recommendation summaries for management and the board.
• Support overall operations of the grantmaking function; maintain CRM used to process grant proposals, grant agreements, reports, site visits, and grantmaking information. Attend site visits as necessary.
Communications and events
• Assist with communications activities, including updating program content for the website, and supporting communications and dissemination about programs and events through Constant Contact, social media, and other communications channels, in collaboration with the senior engagement officer.
• Collaborate with staff and consultants to develop and execute events, learning communities, workshops, and other key stakeholder engagement activities that provide grantees and constituents with an opportunity to share best practices, identify common challenges, and develop new practices.
General
• Assist with strategic planning and long-term objectives.
• Assist with program-related materials for board and board committee meetings.
• Assist with general office staffing and office duties, such as scheduling, receiving visitors, answering phone calls, event management (both onsite and virtual), and other tasks as assigned.
Qualifications
• Experience with philanthropy, grantmaking, and communications. Experience in behavioral or public health preferred
• Track record of meeting multiple deadlines, maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail, moving quickly from one project to another, and managing expectations/timelines to achieve results
• Strong sense of connection and partnership with community-based organizations throughout Massachusetts. Knowledge of organizations treating opioid use disorder and addiction a plus
• Very strong written and oral communication skills; ability to clearly and persuasively articulate complex ideas to diverse audiences
• Sense of priority, flexibility, good judgment, and teamwork
• Ability to take initiative
• Highly collegial; comfortable working as part of a small team
• Adaptable, with the ability to listen to new ideas, encourage open dialogue, share opinions, and change course based on new evidence
• A willingness to do whatever is needed in a small, start-up organization
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, impact driven environment
• Knowledge MS Office. Knowledge of Sales Force, Constant Contact, Zoom and WordPress a plus
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience
RIZE seeks someone for this position who is passionate about ending the overdose crisis and unafraid of new ideas. Success in this position will require a positive, can-do, learning mindset and a collaborative, team-oriented approach. We are looking for candidates who are confident in setting and acting on shared goals and who understand how complex and interconnected issues, such as the social determinants of health, funding and political environments, and economics intersect with addressing the overdose crisis.
The associate program officer is a full-time, hybrid role. RIZE is located in downtown Boston and occasional travel, primarily in-state, will be required for meetings and events as needed. The role may require evening and occasional weekend work.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law.