Program Coordinator

Social Innovation Forum (Positively Partners)

Job Description

The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) builds the networks and capacity to accelerate social change in Greater Boston. SIF connects innovative nonprofit organizations with an ever-growing community of volunteers, investors and practitioners who contribute their time, talents, resources and money to drive positive social impact. Last year, 4,904 people engaged in our social change “marketplace,” building relationships and connections that accelerate positive social change. It is by mobilizing the members of Greater Boston that SIF is able to catalyze the impact of over 100 social impact organizations since its launch in 2003. To learn more about the Social Innovation Forum’s impact, check out this video: http://www.socialinnovationforum.org/our-impact.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Program Coordinator, you’ll share our belief that we can meaningfully drive social change by providing a range of support to local grassroots nonprofit organizations, while leveraging the resources that already exist within Greater Boston. You will play a critical role building relationships and designing programming for nonprofit leaders in our broad network of local nonprofits.

You will focus your time and talent on supporting SIF’s nonprofit network and Social Innovator Alumni program. In 2020, SIF launched a formal Alumni Program, designed to provide ongoing support to organizations who had “graduated” from our flagship Social Innovator Accelerator – a two-year capacity- and network-building program. As the organizations in SIF’s alumni community continue their important work for social change in Greater Boston, they face new challenges and opportunities for growth, development, and impact. SIF’s Alumni Program supports them in the next stage of their organization’s development through leadership development, skill-building, and network-building. Recognizing an opportunity to support a broader range of nonprofit organizations, SIF also offers a subset of this programming to nonprofit organizations who were finalists in the Accelerator and those who are part of our coworking program in downtown Boston.

You’ll be a wonderful addition to our team if you are an organized, results-oriented individual who is eager to support efforts to build and execute effective programs. This role reports to the Senior Program Manager and works closely with SIF’s Program team, Funder Education team, and Communications team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Support

  • Use a social justice orientation to assess the needs of organization’s in SIF’s nonprofit network and partner with the Senior Program Manager to design programs and services to meet those needs
  • Provide logistical and administrative support for all nonprofit network workshops, events, meetings, and learning cohorts, including managing advertising and registration, communication with participants, and technology support
  • Partner with the Senior Program Manager to plan nonprofit network workshops, including identifying workshop topics and facilitators, communication with facilitators, and writing workshop descriptions
  • Pilot and test new strategies to support network-building and collaboration among nonprofits in the nonprofit network, to build an inclusive and supportive community
  • Manage relationships with in-kind partners that serve the nonprofit network community
Communications

  • Lead the content and design of the Nonprofit Network Newsletter, which advertises SIF’s workshops along with other resources for community leaders. Manage email lists and develop strategies for maintaining up-to-date contact information
  • Support the Senior Program Manager in creating progress reports for graduating Innovators, including interviews with Innovators, identifying themes, writing, and managing communication with Innovators
  • Serve as the content lead for website content for members of SIF’s nonprofit network, including information about in-kind partnerships, workshops, and other resources
  • Partner with the Communications team to highlight nonprofit network events through blogs posts and social media, and to share out best practices and resources more broadly
  • Monitor the social media accounts and newsletters of nonprofit network organizations in order to stay up-to-date with their news. Share highlights with the SIF team and identify stories for SIF to spotlight
QUALIFICATIONS

Each candidate brings their own unique combination of strengths, skills and lived and professional experiences to a role. Reviewing the qualifications listed below can help you to better understand what will be expected of you as a member of the SIF team. We do not expect candidates to meet all of the criteria. If you think you would be a strong candidate for this role, please apply even if you don't meet all of the qualifications listed. Due to SIF’s event schedule, a willingness to work some early mornings and evenings is required for this position.

  • 1-3 years of relevant work experience with preference for project and/or program management experience in the nonprofit (part-time, work study, volunteer, or internship included), and a desire to learn and grow
  • No degrees required
  • A strong interest in/knowledge of the range of social issues our Innovators are working to address
  • Commitment to SIF’s mission and to capacity building as an approach to strengthening the nonprofit sector
  • Familiarity and/or lived experience in the Greater Boston community highly valued
  • Experience in efficiently and effectively managing multiple projects and deadlines
  • Exceptional organizational skills, detail orientation, maturity, and discretion
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including strong editing and storytelling skills  
  • Comfort leveraging technology, including experience with CRM databases (eg. Salesforce), Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and communications tools (eg. Constant Contact) and/or a willingness to learn new web tools and computer programs as needed 
  • Graphic design experience with Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite is a plus
  • Cultural humility and an ability to build strong and lasting relationships with various stakeholders
  • Flexibility, a learning orientation, and an ability to bring an enthusiastic, collaborative approach to your work

OUR CORE VALUES

Engaged Community SIF’s “marketplace approach” centers on a connected and collaborative community in which nonprofit leaders, donors, volunteers, and others put their skills to work most effectively towards the shared goal of addressing inequities and accelerating social impact in Greater Boston and beyond.

Deep Relationships Building and fostering authentic and trusting relationships among members of our community is core to how we do our work. SIF makes these connections with intentionality and care, and we find joy in seeing them grow and evolve.

Continuous Learning Out team actively seeks to gain new knowledge and understanding from others, with others, and independently. We welcome feedback, engage in honest reflections, and focus on ongoing improvement. We also share our learning with others whenever possible.

Nimbleness SIF is willing to take risks, test new approaches, and pivot in order to respond to emerging priorities. We are adaptable and recognize the need to continuously adjust and innovate in an ever-changing world.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion At the Social Innovation Forum (SIF), diversity, equity, and inclusion are part of our core values. We commit to continuous learning and acknowledge that making progress in these areas will be an ongoing journey. We invite all members of our community to engage in this learning with us, share their perspectives, and give us feedback along the way. 


MAKING THE DECISION TO APPLY

SIF is a vibrant organization with a deep commitment to creating positive social change. We work in a highly collaborative environment that values learning. Knowing its importance to the success of our work, SIF is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

This position is currently hybrid with SIF employees working at least one day in the office each week. The Program Coordinator will need to be available to commute with some consistency to and from SIF’s Boston-based office.

If you think you have what it takes, please answer a few questions following the application link and submit an updated resume. Cover letter is not required. We appreciate your time and will review and respond to all applications received.

We hope to have phone interviews in late March with select candidates followed by video interviews with Jenna Nackel, Senior Program Manager and Melissa Duggan, Director of Strategy and Operations at SIF. A few finalists will have a virtual interview day with other staff and leadership at SIF followed by a holistic reference check process. The expected start date for this role is May/June 2022.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary will be commensurate with experience and the range begins at $45,000. The Social Innovation Forum offers a robust compensation and benefits package including high quality health and dental insurance, four weeks of paid time off, and access to a retirement plan.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SIF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status in employment or the provision of services. Knowing its importance to the success of our work, SIF is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership.