Programs Associate Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Description

Position Summary and Essential Functions:

The Senior Associate, Programs supports OFN's Programs Team, supporting the execution of innovative, high-impact initiatives that advance the community development financial industry and improve economic opportunity in underserved communities.

Reporting to the Vice President (VP), Programs II, this position supports key aspects of various initiatives led by the Programs team, including but not limited to the Innovation Initiative and sustainability-related programming. The Innovation Initiative is a multi-faceted strategic effort to design and implement new systems, solutions, and approaches that enhance the capacity and sustainability of the CDFI industry.

This role requires a collaborative, analytical, and detail-oriented professional with an adaptable skillset to support complex, cross-functional, and fast-paced projects.

OFN is the nation's leading investment intermediary and network CDFIs serving rural, urban, and Native communities across the United States. With over $1 billion in total assets under management, OFN manages a national membership network of over 490 mission-driven lenders and CDFIs, including community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, community development banks, minority depository institutions, and venture capital funds. OFN is a trusted investment partner to the public, private, and philanthropic sectors - foundations, corporations, banks, government agencies, and others. For more than 40 years, our team has helped partners invest in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities for people and places traditional finance doesn't reach.

To learn more, visit www.ofn.org

People who work at OFN come from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds. If you have:

• Passion for the mission and true believer in our core purpose.
• Courage to be a fearless advocate who is confident and resilient in our fight to drive capital into low-income communities.
• Smart, quick seekers of knowledge who thrive on creating and developing new strategies, products, and programs for increasing capital to communities we serve.
• Desire to be a collaborative team player who possesses humility and a willingness to lean in all areas of our work.

Come be a part of our growing diverse, highly committed, skilled, and collaborative staff. At OFN, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply nonetheless. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

***This position is based in Washington, D.C. All staff currently work a hybrid schedule.***  

Core Responsibilities:

Programmatic Content Development 

• Support the design and execution of programs, contributing innovative and resourceful ideas that align with program goals and      strategic priorities.
• Assist in developing member resources and content, including toolkits, presentations, blog posts, webinars, and outreach materials.
• Evaluate ideas, applications, and proposals for participation in OFN's Programs, such as innovation accelerator applications and proposals for working groups and hackathons
• Conduct research into new products and solutions that align with strategic priorities, such as innovation ideas for the Innovation Initiative's Environmental Scan
• Assist with logistics and content development for working groups, advisory councils, and stakeholder engagement activities, including drafting materials, taking notes, tracking follow-up actions, and ensuring accountability to ensure teams are aligned.

Program Management 

• Assist with inputting, organizing, and tracking tasks leveraging OFN's project management tools, such as Asana 
• Input, create, and maintain data, reports, and other stakeholder records in Salesforce
• Proactively identify implementation challenges and suggest pathways for resolution
• Contribute to data collection, reporting, and evaluation efforts, ensuring accurate tracking of program outcomes and KPIs, including supporting with preparing grant compliance reports and new funding proposals 
• Collaborate across departments to integrate program initiatives organization-wide and support consistent implementation.
• Assist with tracking invoices and budgets, identifying issues or discrepancies 
• Develop and maintain systems for organizing files to improve team efficiency 

Other 

• Represent the organization externally in partner meetings and industry events as requested
• Develop and maintain knowledge on relevant industry trends (sustainable lending, innovative capitalization strategies and financial products, technological opportunities for CDFIs, etc.)
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

 Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, public policy, urban planning, or related field, or 5+ years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 3+ years of relevant experience is required.
• Knowledge of AI, digital tools, and data analytics as applied to finance and community development. 
• Familiarity with CDFIs, program design, small business lending, community development finance, or disaster recovery is preferred.  
• Experience developing, evaluating, or supporting cross-functional programs is a plus.
• Experience developing new processes or programs is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Physical Requirements:

• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret financial data, assess risk, and synthesize complex information for decision-making.
• Proficient in Excel, Asana and CRM systems (Salesforce preferred); able to manage and manipulate data for internal and external reporting.
• Superior interpersonal and written communication skills; comfortable engaging with stakeholders across sectors.
• Passion for OFN's mission and a strong commitment to social and economic justice.
• Must be adaptable, collaborative, and proactive in seeking solutions and improvements.
• Occasional travel may be required (up to 5%).
• Normal physical requirements for an office environment.

Supervisor: VP Programs

FLSA Status: Exempt

The target salary range for this position is $74,000 - $92,000. The salary offered will depend on internal pay equity and the candidate's relevant skills, experience, qualifications, and job market data. Exceptional performers in this role who make an outsized contribution can make well in excess of this range.

Salary is one part of OFN's comprehensive total rewards package, which includes benefits like dental, health, and vision care plans, and family-building benefits like hybrid work arrangements to promote a better work-life balance. OFN also offers Lifestyle Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program, and mental health benefits. To maximize teammate financial well-being, OFN offers financial education and auto-enrollment in the company's 403(b) plan with employer contributions. To maximize professional growth, OFN provides professional development dollars for each employee, alongside learning and development opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in joining the OFN team in our effort and commitment to create opportunity for all.

EOE