About the Peterson Foundation
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation (“Foundation”) is working to secure a healthy, growing economy by addressing America’s long-term fiscal and economic challenges. The Foundation partners with leading decision-makers in government, policy, academia, media, business and issue/constituent groups to build support for solutions to put America on a sustainable fiscal and economic path. As a non-partisan organization, the Foundation engages in grant-making, partnerships and research to educate and involve Americans from a variety of perspectives.
Department Summary
The Programs Team develops and implements strategic programs and initiatives, collaborating across the organization and with external partners and grantee organizations to advance the Foundation’s mission in both traditional and emerging areas of engagement. The team manages grant-making portfolios and identifies, funds and scales new ideas and approaches to achieve organizational goals. The Programs team also oversees two major programmatic portfolios: Next Gen Leaders and Effective Democracy.
- The Next Gen Leaders portfolio carries this work into the future through the Up to Us Leadership Network, the nation’s leading talent pipeline for fiscal leadership. By equipping college students with advocacy, policy, and leadership skills, the Network prepares the next generation with the tools and community to address the nation’s long-term fiscal challenges.
- The Effective Democracy portfolio strengthens policymaking and institutions by supporting secure, transparent, and trustworthy election administration and equipping elected leaders with the knowledge, skills, relationships, and political space needed for collaborative, solutions-oriented policymaking.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Director, Programs, and working in coordination and collaboration with the Programs Manager, the Senior Manager supports strategy implementation and drives operational excellence for the Next Gen portfolio. This role bridges strategy and execution: overseeing program delivery across grantees, executing on portfolio-wide initiatives, as well as systems that ensure quality, accountability, and impact. The Senior Manager collaborates with cross-functional teams, and represents the Next Gen program in selected external settings, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across all initiatives.
Up to Us Leadership Network – Strategy Support
- Partner with the Director to implement the Next Gen Leaders strategy and portfolio priorities.
- Monitor developments in fiscal policy, youth engagement, and philanthropy; brief the Director and VP on trends, policy developments, and best practices to inform current projects and new opportunities.
- Research and evaluate potential partnerships, grantees, and initiatives; develop data-informed. recommendations. Support sourcing, due diligence, and recommendations for prospective grants and partnerships aligned with strategic priorities.
- Participate in key strategy-decision meetings and support preparation of executive-facing materials, including decks and memos for the EVP and CEO.
- Represent the Next Gen portfolio in selected external forums, conferences, and working groups.
Up to Us Leadership Network – Project Leadership
In coordination and collaboration with the Director and Manager, as well as other key Foundation teams
- Communications: Manage brand strategy development and compliance as it relates to website updates, and social media guidelines; evaluate and adjust as needed.
- Metrics and Evaluation: Reflecting the Theory of Change, support the development of impact matrices and measurement plans; track data collection processes and KPI achievement.
- CRM: Lead CRM identification, oversee build process, manage rollout to grantees with appropriate training and support; ensure CRM utilization and maintenance standards.
- Grant and Vendor Contracts: Oversee grant compliance materials and facilitate the approval process.
- Legal: Support collaboration with legal team on participant information collection and disclosures, trademarks and other issues.
- Time Management: Ensure deadlines are met and project timelines established.
Up to Us Leadership Network – Grant Support
In coordination and collaboration with the Director and Manager:
- Manage the day-to-day development of Next Gen initiatives, including the Up to Us Leadership Network, with a focus on enforcing and improving established systems and processes ensuring program excellence and consistency.
- Support the management of multiple grantee and vendor relationships and day-to-day operations with a detailed focus on tracking program objectives, deliverables, and progress across the Up to Us Leadership Network external partners and internal Foundation teams.
- Facilitate collaboration across Peterson Departments (Communications, M&E, Policy, Legal, Grant Operations, Finance).
- Coordinate grantee collaboration and working group activities.
- Evaluate programmatic outcomes, including managing assessments, renewals, and learning processes.
- Establish and maintain excellent rapport with grantees.
Requirements:
Education and Experience
- 9+ years of experience in program or project management, professional services or related experience and previous program or project design experience required.
- Bachelor’s degree required and Master’s degree preferred.
Core Competencies
- Big picture thinker who can effectively translate and execute strategy into smaller projects, work plans, and processes.
- Skilled in working independently and collaboratively as part of a team, as well as experience managing external partners and/or cross-functionally.
- Demonstrated interest in fiscal policy.
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and have the organizational skills to prioritize and manage numerous projects at once as they evolve and change.
- Ability to deliver results in ambiguous environment.
- Strong analytical skills and impeccable attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to be proactive, take initiative, have a strong sense of urgency, and thrive in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.
- Growth mindset.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with clear, concise, and accurate writing, editing, and proofing skills.
- Ability to coordinate and collaborate with multiple parties both internally and externally.
- Strong interpersonal skills including tact, diplomacy and flexibility to work effectively with a variety of people.
- A desire to learn and grow with comfort around receiving instruction, direction and feedback.
- Adaptable, flexible and comfortable operating with ambiguity.
- Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of fiscal policy and public affairs.
- Ability to forge productive working relationships with managers and colleagues at all levels
Work Environment
- In order to build productive relationships across the organization and to ensure effective collaboration, this role requires in-person presence in accordance with the organization’s hybrid schedule of working in the office three days per week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday).
Salary and Benefits
We anticipate that the starting base salary range for this position will be $115,000 to $120,000, plus eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus. A final decision on the successful candidate’s starting salary will be based on a number of factors, such as skills, experience, qualifications, education, and the location in which the job will be performed. In addition, we offer an extensive benefits package to support our employees, including comprehensive health insurance, a substantial 401k match, paid time off, a hybrid work schedule and other flexible work policies.
To Apply
We are a dynamic, growing organization that embraces critical thinking, problem solving and innovative ideas. If you have relevant experience and qualifications, please send your resume to careers@pgpf.org with the subject ‘Senior Manager, Programs Application.”
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply to our organization. We offer a welcoming community that respects each individual and fosters a diverse set of experiences, perspectives, skills and ideas. We are committed to building a workplace in which every team member can thrive personally and professionally and contribute to our missio