Program Officer

The Horizon Foundation's mission is to promote and enhance the health and wellness of the Howard County, Maryland.

- Provide creative, innovative, and thoughtful leadership in program development, program funding, and program execution. Contribute to the design and implementation of new team initiatives. Working closely with the CPO and other staff, the Program Officer will help design the Foundation’s approach to achieving assigned strategic goals and will take the lead in implementing program plans to include: (a) recruiting community partners and potential grantees; (b) contracting with vendors; (c) producing work plans, timelines and monitoring budgets; (d) analyzing public policy changes; and (e) developing accountability measures. - Offer technical assistance to grantees via grantee meetings, site visits, and one-on-one consultation. - Analyze and evaluate external grant requests related to assigned priority areas including the strength of the proposed grant activity, outcome measures to be achieved, and the organization's health and stability. Contribute to the development and monitoring of quality and performance indicators. - Lead the Howard County Health Assessment Survey Revision Process, Grantee Satisfaction Survey Process, and other data collection efforts of the Foundation, as assigned. Annually, the Foundation surveys its grantees to better understand how to improve its grantmaking and technical assistance function. Every two years, the Foundation and its partners field a comprehensive health survey of county residents that helps drive joint strategic planning and program development. - Represent the Foundation at local meetings, committees, task forces, and events. Mobilize and partner with local organizations critical to solving community health problems, including community health organizations, faith organizations, health care providers across acute, primary, specialty and long-term care, social service and aging agencies, and organizations supporting minority health. - Complete special projects as assigned by the President and CEO or Chief Program Officer.

Required Education and Experience - Master’s degree in related field (e.g., public health, public policy, health management). - Three to eight years of relevant experience with local/state public health departments, non-profits, foundations, policy and/or advocacy organizations. - Strong project management skills including the ability to effectively manage time, meet multiple competing deadlines, quickly develop written materials, maintain a positive attitude under pressure, and manage budgets. - Experience working with a broad array of community organizations, particularly organizations representing low-income residents and diverse communities. - General understanding of population health statistics preferred. - Senior Program Officer position may be considered based on qualifications and experience. Other Qualifications - Motivated by and committed to the Foundation’s mission. - Proactive self-starter with ability to conceptualize and implement community public health initiatives using proven strategies such as social marketing, policy change, etc.. - Exceptional writing and oral presentation skills. - Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop robust community partnerships. - Ability to work independently and as a team member in a small group, collegial environment where differing viewpoints and give and take are expected and encouraged. - High energy, maturity, and creativity. - Tolerance of ambiguity and unplanned changes in day-to-day task priorities. Sense of humor and generally positive outlook. - Willing to occasionally work non-traditional hours (nights and/or weekends).