• Date Posted October 20, 2026
• Department Programs
• Location Flint, Michigan

The opportunity

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is seeking a program officer to oversee a grantmaking portfolio of our Flint Area Program. This position manages a portfolio of grants and plays a key role in shaping the Foundation’s work within an assigned program initiative. The program officer is responsible for the full grantmaking process — from program research, planning and development, and proposal evaluation through grant administration, monitoring and post-grant evaluation.

This is an opportunity for a thoughtful, collaborative and experienced professional to contribute to the Foundation’s philanthropic strategy while building meaningful relationships with nonprofit organizations and other partners. The program officer will stay informed about emerging issues and trends, assess opportunities for future grantmaking, and provide recommendations and written materials for Foundation management and trustees. The person also will represent the Foundation externally through meetings, site visits, conferences and other activities that support learning, relationship-building and the Foundation’s mission.

The Child Poverty Solutions grantmaking initiative is part of the Foundation’s new 10-year strategic program plan. The goals and objectives within the initiative are new to the Foundation and will be guided by internal staff recommendations, evaluation data and field-level developments. Grantmaking will include local, state and, potentially, national grantees that move this work forward. Permanent policy solutions that increase assets for families with children living in poverty are key to the success of this initiative. Candidates who have knowledge of poverty-reduction policies and experience with policy advocacy are preferred.

Key responsibilities

Program management

The program officer will monitor developments, trends and emerging issues within assigned program initiative and assess their continued relevance to the Foundation’s program objectives. The person will recommend opportunities for future grantmaking and prepare written materials for management and trustee review.

The program officer also will contribute to the development and implementation of new programs when appropriate and keep the program director and vice president of Programs informed of significant developments within assigned areas.

Grant administration and portfolio management

The program officer will manage all aspects of an assigned grant portfolio, including researching, administering and monitoring grants in accordance with Foundation policies and procedures. The person will evaluate proposals, monitor grantee progress, and ensure that grantmaking and program activities align with established objectives.

Serving as a primary liaison to grantees, the program officer will provide expertise and technical assistance as appropriate and serve as a resource to the public and nonprofit sectors consistent with Foundation policies and procedures.

The position will conduct site visits with current and prospective grantees to support due diligence, assess opportunities for new grants, and deepen understanding of grantee work and emerging needs.

Collaboration and leadership

The program officer will develop a broad awareness of the Foundation’s programs and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organization. The person will work closely with Grants Administration in reviewing grantee budgets, proposals and reports and will collaborate with the Communications department to develop strategies for advancing program work and sharing grantmaking and program activities when appropriate.

The program officer may supervise, train and mentor associate program officers, program assistants, administrative support staff and other staff as appropriate. The person must work effectively with multiple stakeholders across a variety of projects and use strong interpersonal skills to foster cooperation, navigate differences, and manage or negotiate conflict.

External engagement and representation

The program officer will represent the Foundation at meetings, conferences, site visits and other external functions, maintaining a professional and positive image of the Foundation in all interactions. Experience working with multisector coalitions will be beneficial. The person will participate in knowledge-sharing and learning opportunities and contribute to the Foundation’s understanding of issues and opportunities within the assigned program initiative. The program officer will seek opportunities through relationships and meeting attendance to stay informed about community issues, trends and opportunities.

Professional excellence

The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, integrity, trust and discretion to their work and represent the Foundation in a professional, helpful and courteous manner both internally and externally.

The program officer must be comfortable working with individuals from diverse cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds and demonstrate tact, diplomacy, discernment and respect in all interactions. The person will be expected to seek and respond constructively to feedback, maintain a high standard of work, meet grant processing and internal deadlines, and effectively manage multiple priorities. The person will demonstrate accuracy and excellent verbal and written communication skills.

The program officer also will monitor travel budget expenditures throughout the year and alert their supervisor to anticipated changes.

Ideal candidate

We are seeking a professional who combines strong grantmaking expertise with strategic thinking, sound judgment and a collaborative approach. The ideal candidate has significant knowledge of state and/or national poverty-reduction policies and is curious about developments within the field, able to identify emerging opportunities, and comfortable translating research and learning into thoughtful grantmaking recommendations.

The successful candidate will be an effective relationship-builder who can work productively with nonprofit organizations, colleagues, trustees, other funders and a broad group of community stakeholders. The person will demonstrate excellent communication skills, integrity and discretion, along with the ability to navigate complex situations with tact and diplomacy.

This role requires someone who can balance strategic program thinking with strong attention to detail and follow-through — someone who can see the larger picture while ensuring that the day-to-day responsibilities of grant administration, monitoring and internal deadlines are handled thoroughly and effectively.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree in a related field is preferred but not required.
• Five to 10 years of relevant professional experience, including demonstrated success working on policy related solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong writing, grammar and attention to detail.
• Experience working effectively with people from diverse cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds.
• Cultural competence and a demonstrated willingness to engage in ongoing learning about systemic oppression and its impact on individuals and communities.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate complex systems and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including collaboration, negotiation, diplomacy and conflict resolution.
• The ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when working with sensitive or confidential information.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the initiative to anticipate needs and move work from ideas to action.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
• The ability to gather, organize and analyze financial and other data and prepare clear reports and presentations.

Salary, benefits and location

The salary range for this position starts at $135,000. Highly qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

The Foundation recognizes that mission-driven work should be matched by strong support for its people, and its benefits reflect that commitment in clear, high-value ways. The Foundation supports its employees with a strong benefits package beginning on day one. Medical and dental premiums are fully covered for employees and dependents. Additional benefits include life insurance, a 401(k) and a pension plan. The Foundation also offers a range of additional benefits.

This position is based in Flint, Michigan. The Foundation maintains an in-person culture, and employees are currently expected to work in the Flint office four days per week, with remote work available on Fridays. Employees also have an additional bank of remote days they may use throughout the year.

The incoming program officer should be prepared for regular domestic travel connected to grantee relationships, field learning, conferences, peer-funder engagement and trustee activities.

To be considered

The Mav Group has been exclusively retained by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to lead this search. Please submit your resume and cover letter expressing your interest in the position and your fit for the role using this link: Apply here.

You can access the posting on The Mav Group’s website here: https://themavgroup.com/job/program-officer.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested parties to apply as soon as possible.

About the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott established the private charitable foundation that bears his name in 1926 in Flint, Michigan. The Mott Foundation supports and works with organizations in our hometown of Flint and communities around the world to promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. We make grants to nonprofit organizations working in our four areas of interest: the Flint area, youth engagement, environment and civil society. In 2025, the Foundation made 396 grants totaling more than $161 million. For more information, visit mott.org.

The Mott Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity of thinking, background and perspective among its staff. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.