Program Associate

The Rome Group; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Wellness reimbursement

Matching gift program

Job summary

The Rome Group is seeking a Program Associate based in St. Louis to support the donor's grantmaking in Missouri and Iowa. You will work closely with senior program leadership to implement regional strategy, engage communities, and perform research and data analysis.

Travel within Missouri and Iowa is required, with occasional trips to Calgary, Alberta. This role contributes to program operations, budgeting, and cross-functional initiatives, helping ensure consistent practices across the US

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Three to five years of professional experience
• Demonstrated experience coordinating projects, managing multiple priorities, and working with detailed information and processes
• Experience gathering information from multiple sources, working with basic quantitative data, and preparing clear written summaries for professional audiences
• Proficiency with databases and Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
• Comfort with integration of AI into work product.
• Experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic, community, public policy, or other related sector

Responsibilities

• Grantmaking Support: Help applicants and grantees navigate grant-related processes and maintain records.
• US Program Operations and Collaboration: Support day-to-day operations of the St. Louis office and the wider US program.
• Regional Grantmaking Strategy & Community Engagement: Plan meetings, convenings, and site visits in MO and IA; represent the donor professionally.
• Research, Data, and Analysis: Gather data on community needs and summarize information for regional funding strategies.
• Budget & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Monitor program budgets, pipelines, forecasts, and collaborate across teams.

Skills

Project coordination

Writing & research

Budget literacy

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Independence

Curiosity

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Program Associate

About the Job

The Program Associate will support an anonymous donor whose grantmaking works to improve health, education, and economic security. The US program focuses on Missouri and Iowa, with interests that also include policy initiatives, medical research, and nonprofit sector capacity building.

The US program is based in St. Louis, Missouri, with a team member in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Why Join the Team?

• Small, fast-paced organization committed to making a difference
• Flexible workplace with a hybrid work environment
• Competitive compensation and benefit package (starting salary range of $65,000-$80,000)
• $1,000 wellness reimbursement
• Matching gift program

The Position

The Program Associate will be based in St. Louis and support the donor’s grantmaking and program activities in Missouri and Iowa. Working closely with the Senior Program Officer in St. Louis and the Director of Program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Program Associate will contribute to the grantmaking cycle, regional strategy implementation, community engagement, research, and other program activities.

As a member of the growing US team, the Program Associate will contribute to the effective operation of the St. Louis office and help strengthen coordination, information-sharing, and consistent practices across the US program.

The position requires regular travel within Missouri and Iowa to support site visits, community engagement, and other program activities, as well as occasional travel to Calgary, Alberta. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, resourceful, and comfortable working across grantmaking, research, project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and administrative processes. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong judgment, writing and communication skills, initiative, and a commitment to learning.

Responsibilities

Grantmaking Support:

• Support applicants and grantees in navigating all grant-related processes (e.g., application, reporting, etc.).
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with internal due-diligence requirements.
• Draft correspondence, summaries, and internal documentation.

US Program Operations and Collaboration:

• Support the effective day-to-day operation of the St. Louis office and broader US program.
• Assist with coordination, information-sharing, scheduling, and other activities involving US Program staff.
• Help maintain consistent Program processes, records, and practices across US geographies.
• Contribute to Program planning, workflow improvements, and other cross-functional initiatives.
• Provide backup support across the US Program as required.

Regional Grantmaking Strategy & Community Engagement:

• Assist with planning and coordinating meetings, convenings, grantee gatherings, and site visits in both states.
• Represent the donor professionally in interactions with communities and stakeholders.

Research, Data, and Analysis:

• Gather publicly available data and local information on community needs, demographics, nonprofit organizations, funding sources, and regional conditions relevant to the donor’s US grantmaking.
• Organize and summarize information from public data sources, community plans, reports, and conversations to identify key themes and considerations for regional funding strategies.

Budget & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Support monitoring and administration of US Program portfolio budgets, pipelines, forecasts, and related information.
• Assist with preparation and maintenance of Program planning and budget information.
• Work collaboratively with program, grants, finance, systems, and other team members as required.
• Contribute to process improvement and internal workflow enhancements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree
• Three to five years of professional experience
• Demonstrated experience coordinating projects, managing multiple priorities, and working with detailed information and processes
• Experience gathering information from multiple sources, working with basic quantitative data, and preparing clear written summaries for professional audiences
• Proficiency with databases and Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
• Comfort with integration of AI into work product.
• Experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic, community, public policy, or other related sector

Skills and Attributes

• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and follow work through to completion
• Strong writing, editing, research, and analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize information and identify key issues
• Ability to interpret and work comfortably with budgets and financial information
• Keen attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, organizations, and community partners
• Initiative, resourcefulness, and the ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a team
• Curiosity and a demonstrated willingness to learn about new issues, organizations, and communities
• Adaptability to a dynamic environment where priorities and responsibilities may evolve
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and judgment

Start Date

January 4, 2027 (with some flexibility)