What Is a Program Officer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A program officer works for a non-profit organization or foundation to oversee the development of programs and learning activities and seek out grants to fund these programs. In this job, you oversee projects, manage budgets, and develop proposals to grantees as some of your duties. You need experience aligning these programs with the overall mission of the foundation or non-profit. Throughout your career, you work with a variety of people and organizations. Important qualifications include strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively.

The qualifications you need to become a program officer vary somewhat by job and employer. Some employers require program officers have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as public administration. Organizations often prefer applicants who have a master's degree in a subject such as nonprofit management or public administration. In this career, you need the skills to handle different aspects of planning program operations, obtaining funding, and making decisions. Some agencies and organizations prefer to hire applicants who have experience working in related programs in the past.