Senior Specialist, Foundation Programs

The SHRM Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the world's largest HR professional society, SHRM. The SHRM Foundation mobilizes and equips HR professionals to lead positive social change so that all talent and workplaces can prosper and thrive. The Foundation’s work is organized in three main pools: Widening pathways to work for all, including particularly those without a degree and untapped pools of talent such as people with disabilities, justice-impacted individuals, and military connected people; Strengthening and diversifying the HR field, including through scholarships, grants, awards, mentorship, fellowship, and mental health support; and Helping employers understand and create the conditions that comprehensively support their workforce by creating mentally healthy environments, ensuring job quality, and addressing wrap-around social barriers that make it harder for employers and employees to thrive together.     POSITION DESCRIPTION The Senior Specialist, Programs is a dynamic and proven leader who collaborates with Program Managers and the Director of Programs to administer and evaluate SHRM Foundation’s programming.   The Senior Specialist engages and stewards HR professionals and partners in developing and/or participating in our programmatic offerings while supporting the Program Managers in implementation and evaluation. This position provides programmatic and administrative responsibility for 1-2 programmatic projects, for which the person is responsible for overall project management, ensuring program quality and achievement of intended impact, and support and collaboration on supplemental Foundation programming. The Senior Specialist is accountable for supporting engagement with appropriate SHRM business units to drive strong, positive relationships to the benefit of SHRM Foundation’s stakeholders.   This position will predominantly focus on the aspects of the Foundation’s work addressing skills-based hiring and retention—a body of work that currently centers on the creation and curation of tools, trainings, and technical assistance for HR leaders; iterative pilot programs to demonstrate and test efficacy; coalitions and convenings; casemaking and landscape research; and communications and awareness building around skills-based hiring and retention. The skills focus spans all three principal pools of the Foundation’s work, and the Senior Specialist, in addition to the management of 1-2 projects as lead, may be called upon to provide support to other ongoing programs, as well as to assist in baseline evaluation and metrics assessment. In this capacity, this Senior Specialist should demonstrate a specific aptitude for program articulation, development, and assessment; knowledge of research related to, and current state of, the skills-based hiring movement; and coalition/community of practice management.   The Senior Specialist should demonstrate a specific aptitude for program articulation, systems development, relationship management with our customers, subject matter experts, vendors, and internal stakeholders as we develop and implement our programmatic offerings; and engagement, coordination/management of associated coalitions, communities of practice or affiliate network pilots. Under the direction of Manager, Foundation Programs this position coordinates the activities of the skills first portfolio and assists in ensuring program quality and impact by managing project timelines, tasks, and responsibilities.   Responsibilities: Drives and executes the implementation of aspects of the Foundation’s skills first portfolio of programs, research, convenings, and communications. Manages implementation of projects within the skills first portfolio, including cross-team coordination, timelining, budget tracking, and, in collaboration with the Program Manager, the Director of Programs and evaluation team, evaluation and reporting. Provides support and coordination in the development of annual and monthly operational plans. Independently executes multiple complex tasks within program projects Develop funder deliverables, including designing and distributing surveys, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends and gather insights, and communicating findings through written reports. Provides supplemental support for other widening pathways-related efforts, including in the other pools of work the Foundation leads. Interfaces with program partners, funders, and recipients in a professional and competent manner. Serves as a liaison to subject matter partners, industry experts, consultants, and partner institutions. Collaborates with other departments within SHRM to ensure integration of program plans to strategic objectives and alignment to audience segments. Serves as a liaison to relevant teams and departments in the tracking and oversight of project tasks, program budgets, contract development and compliance. Contributes to program strategy and general program administration. Assists in the management of vendor relationships directly impacting SHRM Foundation programs. Collaborates with Programs team to develop donor solicitation ideas and proposals, participate in donor meetings as needed, and track the fulfillment of donor commitments related to the SHRM Foundation’s programs and initiatives.    Position Requirements At least five (5) years of progressive experience, preferably within the membership association or nonprofit organizations.  Specific focus on programming, communications and public relations, and project management of products, and events/convenings. Demonstrated aptitude in written and verbal communications, program/project management, collaboration, budget management, and engagement. Preferred knowledge of the HR field, talent management space, and an understanding of broader processes for creating employer-inclusive movements and managing change. Experience in volunteer, board member, and donor management. Collaborates with Programs team to develop donor solicitation ideas and proposals, participate in donor meetings as needed, and track the fulfillment of donor commitments related to the SHRM Foundation’s programs and initiatives.  Bachelor’s Degree is not required but will be considered. All candidates are required to demonstrate aptitude in written and verbal communications, program/project ideation and management, coalition/community of practice creation and facilitation, budget development and assessment, funder/investor relations, and people management. Experience in volunteer, board member, and donor management.   Certifications N/A Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Resourceful, solutions-focused problem solver who sees challenges as opportunities to build innovative solutions. Ability to develop creative solutions. Highly organized and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Partner engagement and relationship management, ability to interface regularly with colleagues, foundation, corporate, and other partners. Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision, and to lead and grow capacity within both directly managed and informal/cross-organizational teams working towards a shared vision and goal. Cross-functional collaborator with the ability to effectively move projects forward and advance common goals by working with both internal and external partners. Superior written and oral communications skills. Ability to articulate overarching strategy and manage multiple projects; an eye for detail paired with an appreciation and understanding of the bigger picture. Ability to synthesize information from different sources quickly and efficiently. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and networking skills with large groups as well as with individuals, including ability to speak to CEOs, practitioners, and everyone in between confidently and competently, to position new ideas and ways of doing business that inspire and excite stakeholders, and to initiate and build relationships with members, customers, vendors and interact via telephone, virtual meeting and in person with different stakeholders. Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances. Excellent organizational planning, presentation, and professional writing skills in English.  Computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint as well as database. Additional Notes Physical Requirements Must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily with reasonable accommodations. Work is generally done sitting, talking, hearing, and typing. Visual acuity to use a keyboard, prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. Work environment Work is regularly performed in a combination of office and conference settings and routinely uses standard office equipment. This position is an in-office position, with a requirement to work in-person at the Alexandria, VA, offices of SHRM Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week within cure business hours, as well as at germane conferences and convenings. This status is subject to change. Travel up to 20-30% of the time.   #LI- Hybrid  The hiring range for this position is $75,000 to $90,000 per year. This range is an estimate and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications. SHRM offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The benefits for this position include professional growth and development, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, open leave, and annual discretionary bonus and incentives.

Salary : $75,000 - $90,000