The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has announced they are hiring a Program Associate at the Center for Benefits Access (Equity Focus) in its Arlington, VA/Crystal City office.
The Program Associate, Center for Benefits Access (Equity Focus) plays a central role in the development and coordination of programmatic activities within the Center for Benefits Access (CBA). The Program Associate works independently and collaboratively with team members to plan and implement training and technical assistance for network members, including grantees and other service delivery partners and community-based organizations. Working as the Program Associate for the Center for Benefits Access, the incumbent will be the primary point of contact for community-based partners across the country and will be responsible for monitoring and supporting the progress of grantees and other network partners toward social impact goals; highlighting exemplary practices; and providing information, support, and resources to strengthen and expand an integrated, sustainable service system.
The Program Associate will work collaboratively with NCOA staff, external grantees, consultants, and other network members and partners. The incumbent will work across diverse audiences of service providers, community leaders, funders, and the public. Activities will center on technical assistance and support to the Center for Benefits Access’ network of community-based organizations.
With a focus on equity, the Program Associate will provide monitoring and oversight of a set of small grants to organizations interested in advancing equity in their programs and operations. They will also work closely with the Associate Director of the Center for Benefits Access to work with a partner organization to provide technical assistance.
COMPETENCIES AND EXPECTATIONS
- Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
- Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
- Ethics - Treats people with respect; works with integrity; upholds organizational values.
- Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.
- Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
- Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
- Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
- Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs of different audiences; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
- Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
- Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
- Diversity & Equity - Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; embraces the value of diversity & equity; supports a harassment-free environment; works to support a diverse & equitable workforce.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide technical assistance and support to network members to build capacity toward an expansive, sustainable infrastrcuture for programs. Technical assistance includes monitoring partner activities; researching and providing prompt and thoughtful responses to requests for information or assistance; resource development (tip sheets, issue briefs, fact sheets, toolkits, etc.); ongoing communication with partners via various channels to support their activities and goals; and documenting and sharing learnings and exemplary practices from the field.
- Track, identify, and foster use of promising practices related to comprehensive, person-centered approaches that facilitate access to or attainment of health coverage and benefits, economic and financial security, social benefits, and safety net system resources.
- Assist with the development of request for proposals to select and award grant funding to qualified community-based organizations.
- Participate in national and regional meetings and other events to increase knowledge about health care access, economic security, and access to safety net systems and social benefits for older adults, and the work of NCOA. Communicate learnings about the Center’s work through conference presentations, webinars, reports, publications, and other venues.
- Foster a spirit of collaboration, coordination, and communication in carrying out responsibilities, and work closely with NCOA staff to accomplish goals. Participate in team meetings, contribute to the agenda, and support creative solutions to issues that are discussed. Participate in work plan discussions, performance monitoring reviews, and continuous quality improvement activities to contribute to the success of the team.
- Monitor program activities to ensure quality and accuracy of work outcomes of contractual and grant commitments. Manage relationships with, and provide oversight of, partners and grantees. Oversee and track contracts with partners, assist with reporting and invoicing requirements.
- Research and identify opportunities to promote the Center and network members’ work at national and state conferences and via regular webinars. Assist with submission of abstracts, coordination of webinar schedules, and presentation preparation, as necessary.
- Assist with the identification of opportunities and development of grant proposals to expand the work of the Center and diversify its revenue streams.
- Conduct other duties as required in an environment that is flexible, fast-paced, and changing.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree required.
- A minimum of one year of relevant experience is required.
- Training, coursework, or experience working on equity initiatives preferred.
- Exceptional project and grant management skills.
- Attention to detail is critical.
- Exceptional verbal, written, and online communication skills are required. (Much of the work is done via email or over the phone).
- Demonstrated skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with diverse audiences.
- Understanding and knowledge of public benefits, aging issues, and/or impact of economic insecurity of older adults preferred.
- Basic understanding of grant-funded initiatives and associated reporting requirements a plus.
- Proficient with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM software, databases and online tools strongly preferred. Familiarity with webinar technology is also a plus.
- Occasional travel is required.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Occasionally required to sit.
- Occasionally required to walk.
- Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
- Occasionally required to talk or hear.
- Occasionally required to bend, lift, or climb stairs.
- Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
NCOA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion. We are committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals and in which personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military service status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. NCOA believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.