Program Assistant

WAM Foundation; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Weiss Asset Management Foundation in Boston seeks a Program Assistant to support a cost-effectiveness-driven grantmaking RFP program and manage a growing portfolio of high-impact grants. This hybrid, Boston-based role is ideal for an early-career professional (0–3 years) with strong writing, coordination and teamwork skills; visa sponsorship is not provided.

The position offers exposure to the full grant lifecycle, occasional travel, and opportunities to contribute to global health and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with strong academic performance.
• Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Collaborative, mission-driven mindset and team player.

Responsibilities

• Track grant milestones and review reports to assess progress.
• Draft grant modifications and related documentation.
• Maintain organized records of grant documents and correspondence.
• Provide operational support for RFP and grant management systems.
• Maintain records of expenses and disbursements.
• Prepare reviewer guidelines, templates, and checklists.
• Compile scores, rankings, and reviewer feedback for internal use.
• Organize due diligence checklists and track outstanding items.
• Draft applicant communications.

Skills

Excellent communication

Collaborative

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Weiss Asset Management Foundation is growing! We're hiring a Program Assistant to support a cost-effectiveness-driven grantmaking Request for Proposals program focused on global health and development. This hybrid position is based in Boston.

About Weiss Asset Management Foundation

The mission of Weiss Asset Management Foundation is to reduce human suffering globally. With an Allocation Committee composed of leading development economists and practitioners, the Foundation supports evidence-based, cost-effective, and scalable programs and research that we believe can deliver high, risk-adjusted social returns.

Our grant portfolio has positively impacted millions of lives. We have supported programming and research across multiple sectors, including evidence-based nutrition programming for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, policy-oriented research of water purification efforts reaching hundreds of millions of people, and catalytic initiatives to improve the livelihoods of farmers in low- and middle-income countries.

Weiss Asset Management Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Weiss Asset Management.

The Role

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Program Assistant who is mission-driven and eager to learn. Working closely with the Foundation team, the Program Assistant will support a cost-effectiveness-driven Request for Proposals and help manage a growing portfolio of high-impact grants. This role is well suited for an early-career professional (0–3 years of experience) who is interested in international development programming. Candidates with additional relevant experience are also encouraged to apply; for the right candidate, we will consider hiring at the Program Associate level.

The Program Assistant will support drafting, coordination, documentation, and communication across complex workstreams and ensure that processes move forward smoothly and accurately. The role offers significant exposure to the full grantmaking lifecycle and is a great opportunity to learn how a foundation works within a collaborative and supportive team. This Boston-based position requires occasional domestic and international travel. The position requires permanent work authorization in the United States. The Foundation is unable to provide visa sponsorship or STEM OPT certification.

Responsibilities

The list of responsibilities below is indicative-only; Weiss Asset Management Foundation is a small, start-up environment, and we expect our team to embrace and grow from a wide range of tasks.

Grant Management & Performance

• Track grant milestones and deliverables, review reports and materials to assess grantee progress against approved milestones.
• Drafting grant modifications and related documentation.
• Maintain organized records of grant documentation and correspondence.

Operational Support

• Provide operational support for RFP and grant management systems.
• Maintain records of expenses and disbursements.

Proposal Evaluation

• Support the preparation and organization of reviewer guidelines, templates, and checklists.
• Compile and organize scores, rankings, and reviewer feedback for internal use, helping the Foundation program team surface the highest-potential proposals for the Committee

Due Diligence and Grant Approval

• Organize due diligence checklists and help track outstanding items.
• Draft applicant communications.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• A bachelor's degree in a related field with strong academic performance.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• A collaborative and mission-oriented approach, with the judgment and interpersonal skills to contribute positively to a busy and high-performing team.

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. We expect the base salary to be in the range of $64,000 - $85,000. Weiss Asset Management Foundation offers competitive benefits, including a 100% match on 401(k) contributions.