Program Officer, Racial Equity and Community Engagement

THE W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions so children and families can realize their full potential. The foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. WKKF centers racial equity, community engagement and leadership in its work and invests in community-led efforts that strengthen education, health, food and workforce systems.

“The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families, and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society.”

ABOUT THE WKKF WORKPLACE

The WKKF community of more than 240 employees brings expertise from a variety of professional and personal experiences. They are inspired by a common mission, shared values, and the difference they can make by working together.

WKKF is a mission-driven workplace for highly skilled collaborators who want their work to contribute to a more equitable future for children and families. The foundation values different perspectives, continuous adaptation and investment in its people. Employees are assigned to a WKKF office, and many roles support hybrid work arrangements depending on business and community needs.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Program Officer for the Racial Equity and Community Engagement portfolio is responsible for identifying and nurturing opportunities for affecting positive systemic change within communities and executing investments and collaborations that are aligned with the Foundation’s strategic priorities. The Program Officer will work closely with colleagues within the Foundation, the field of philanthropy, and communities to ensure that the Kellogg Foundation is advancing racial equity and racial healing, supporting the development of leaders in the work, and engaging communities to identify and address their greatest challenges. The Program Officer’s portfolio of work will expand investments that champion racial equity with particular consideration for the intersection of racial equity, healing, and immigrant justice. The Program Officer will also support strategic partnerships with colleague foundations, businesses, governmental agencies, Native Nations, and other key decision-makers and guide internal and external trainings and commitments to racial equity learning.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions

An officer at the foundation generally has the following responsibilities:

• Execute bodies of work requiring deep administrative expertise, including technical experience in project management software like Trello, grantmaking systems such as Fluxx, and Concur travel and expense reporting.
• Cultivate, execute, manage and monitor program/vendor/project portfolios.
• Provide high-level technical expertise and assistance, including monitoring deadlines, working closely with program specialists, and closing contracts.
• Actively develop and manage working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and represent the foundation’s priorities.
• Nurture strong, authentic relationships across the organization and with external partners/stakeholders
• Define, develop and implement projects.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders and partners internally and externally.
• Identify, document and disseminate results, outcomes and learnings.
• Analyze and solve problems.
• Solicit and respond to stakeholder input.
• Responsible for grant, vendor and contracts management.

Specifically, a program officer has the following responsibilities:

• Build and sustain relationships with healing practitioners and community-based healers, integrating culturally grounded healing practices and perspectives into program strategies, partnerships, and community change efforts.
• Execute WKKF strategy via grantmaking for the organization and assigned core programming area, and provide input into the development of programming efforts.
• Operationalize, provide leadership and assume responsibility for on-the-ground execution of program efforts.
• Screen and recommend grants for funding, prepare funding documents conduct site visits and manage and monitor grant portfolio.
• Maintain strong, authentic relationships with grant seekers and grantees, ensuring understanding of WKKF program direction, goals and expectations.
• Provide high level technical assistance to grantees, including consultation on model development, partnership negotiations, leadership capacity building, coaching, etc.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships to leverage participation of other foundations, businesses, communities, governmental agencies, and other key decision makers in alignment with WKKF core values and program interests.
• Articulate explicit change strategy(ies) and convene key stakeholders and intermediaries as appropriate.
• Working with key internal and external partners, identify and recommend grantmaking opportunities that leverage WKKF investments for maximum impact in creating systemic change.
• Incorporate assessment components into program efforts to measure progress and impact.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

While no candidate is expected to have all of the desired qualifications, strong applicants will have a track record of successful and relevant professional experience and a demonstrated commitment to the values and mission of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Ideal candidates will have:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to assigned area is required and an advanced degree is preferred.
• Understanding of and experience with supporting and advancing immigrant communities.
• Significant work experience demonstrating strong organizational and administrative skills. Minimum five years of related work experience and demonstrated success in a field or fields relevant to assigned responsibilities. Signification relevant work experience with strong networks and contacts with deep and comprehensive understanding of program design and development, systems, networking and community change is preferred.
• Experience in the formation or management of effective strategic and operational partnerships with other organizations.
• Understanding of and experience navigating political systems and processes.
• Experience working with issues and communities relevant to the programmatic priorities of the foundation.
• Experience working effectively on policy equity issues with persons from diverse cultural, social, economic, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Core Capabilities

• Strong relationship building and communication skills with the ability to have authentic dialogue around sensitive issues; highly developed emotional intelligence and active listening skills, and the ability to use interpersonal and political skills in collaborative, diplomatic ways.
• Comfort with and ability to work effectively within communities, including appreciating historical contexts, discerning nuances of relationships and power dynamics, understanding racial/ethnic realities, and respecting community needs and desires.
• Accurate and current knowledge of trends, movements, and developing policy to stimulate appropriate programming directions and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Understanding of broad social and economic forces that affect communities and families and shape programming efforts.
• Highly responsive; strong propensity to provide excellent customer service and support, ensuring compliance and adherence to Foundation processes, policies and procedures.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and ability to adapt quickly to change.
• Demonstrate agility in day-to-day work.
• Demonstrated commitment to mindfulness, resilience and ongoing personal development.
• Ability to represent WKKF to a variety of stakeholders and intermediaries in a credible and influential way, with a selfless manner focusing on values and the greater good and not on individual interests.

Desired Qualities and Characteristics

• Strong alignment with WKKF’s values and DNA (WKKF’s DNA is composed of Racial Equity/Racial Healing, Community Engagement & Leadership Development)
• Intercultural competence
• Openness / self-awareness
• Ego-management
• Systems thinker
• Brings people together
• Change competence
• Collaborative
• Conflict competence
• Listens well
• Talent architect / people developer
• Empowers leadership
• Trust builder
• Shares accountability and responsibility
• Results-oriented

Travel Expectations: Travel as required to support position duties/responsibilities with travel that puts our grantees and communities first as top priority. The foundation supports a healthy workplace and a virtual-first approach to in-person meetings and travel.

TOTAL REWARDS, TOTAL WELL-BEING

Investing in our people means caring for the health, well-being and success of our employees and their families — a precedent set by our founder, Will Keith Kellogg, more than 95 years ago. Today, our Total Rewards package provides top-tier compensation and benefits as we aim to be the best foundation to work for.

Salary Range: The salary range for this position is $145,000 - $181,000. Actual starting salary of candidate will be commensurate with years, breadth, and depth of relevant experience, education, certifications, credentials, special skills, accomplishments, and other factors relevant to the position.

WKKF offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package that goes beyond salary. At a glance:

• Compensation: Competitive base pay, merit increases, spot bonuses and service awards.
• Health & Welfare: Medical, dental and vision coverage effective on date of hire, plus HSA/FSA options and monthly Choice Credits.
• Retirement: 401(k) with employer match plus an annual employer contribution; 100% vested immediately.
• Income Protection: Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability coverage.
• Time Off: Holiday, Vacation, Parental Leave, Medical and Family Care Leave
• Wellness: Health & fitness reimbursement, financial planning support and the LiveWell incentive program. Best & Brightest in Wellness State and National Award (2025)
• Extended Programs: This role is Flexible Work Program eligible (eligibility based on location), Employee Assistance Program, educational reimbursement, adoption assistance, relocation assistance and more.

TO APPLY

More information about the W.K. Kellogg Foundation may be found at: www.wkkf.org.

This search is being led by Katherine Jacobs and Jessi Davison of GDSI Leadership. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, via GDSI’s applicant portal.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, experiences, and perspectives.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplace, partnerships and programming. The active pursuit of racial equity, including addressing structural racism and supporting healing, is central to our work. We value diverse backgrounds, identities, perspectives and lived experiences and believe they strengthen our ability to create opportunities for children, families and communities to thrive. We aspire to foster a culture where every person is valued, included and has a sense of belonging.

The statements in this posting are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, qualifications or working conditions.