Program Associate, Economic Opportunity

FIDELITY FOUNDATIONS; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Fidelity Foundations is seeking a Program Associate in Boston to manage workflows, coordinate data systems, and support high-quality materials for leadership decision-making. You will partner with the Program Director as a central project manager, ensuring initiatives move forward smoothly with consistency and accuracy.

The role emphasizes collaboration, data integrity, and professional written materials. It is based in Boston on a hybrid schedule with in-person work required several days per

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in nonprofit/philanthropy/related environment.
• Experience coordinating workflows, managing data, and producing written materials in a fast-paced team setting.
• Exposure to grantmaking or mission-driven work is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as project manager for board cycles and team initiatives, ensuring timelines and quality control.
• Coordinate team meetings by setting agendas and preparing briefing materials.
• Anticipate risks and information needs; address bottlenecks and issues.
• Maintain and improve systems, tools, and processes for efficiency and clarity.
• Draft and edit board materials, presentations, memos, and grant letters for decision-making.
• Track and report on active and prospective grants; support the full grant development process.

Skills

Project management

Data management

Grant support

Process improvement

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Program Associate ensures the effective execution of the Economic Opportunity team's work through managing workflows, coordinating systems and data, and supporting the delivery of high-quality materials that enable team decision making. As an execution partner to the Program Director and a central project manager for the team, they coordinate projects, monitor progress, and ensure initiatives move forward smoothly with consistency, accuracy and reliability.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Team Operations & Project Management (40%)

• Serve as project manager for board cycles and other team-wide initiatives, ensuring timeline adherence and managing quality control
• Partner closely with members of the team to translate strategic priorities into actional plans and ensure strong follow-through
• Coordinate team meetings by setting agendas, preparing briefing materials, and maintaining shared knowledge resources
• Anticipate risks, bottlenecks, and information needs and proactively address them
• Maintain and improve systems, tools, and processes to increase efficiency and clarity

Grant & Strategic Support (30%)

• Partner with program leadership to synthesize information, surface insights, and help prioritize efforts
• Monitor progress against goals and proactively identify risks, gaps, and opportunities for improvement
• Draft and edit materials—including presentations, memos, meeting summaries, grant letters, and reports with clarity and professionalism that enable decision-making by Foundations leadership
• Track, monitor, and report on active and prospective grants, ensuring timely updates
• Support the full grant development process through managing pipeline timelines, QCing materials, and preparing polished board materials
• Partner with the Grants Management team on grant reports, modifications, and extensions, and compliance follow-up
• Conduct preliminary research and monitor field trends to inform landscape analyses, grantee and external partner briefings, and monthly updates
• As requested, participate in grantee calls, site visits, and events; synthesize meeting notes and extract insights for internal use

Database Management (30%)

• Manage databases supporting grant applications, portfolio tracking, and program evaluation
• Maintain strong data integrity and quality control
• Use grant system data to support execution, identify patterns or issues, and recommend process improvements
• Lead data quality control efforts and develop dashboards, visualizations, and Salesforce tools to support team decision-making
• Collaborate with Grants Management to drive continual improvement in grants processes and system use

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

It is critically important that the Program Associate be a highly collaborative and collegial team player who listens and communicates well. To be considered, candidates will possess a majority of the following professional and personal attributes and competencies:

Education

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, nonprofit management, business, social sciences, or a related discipline).

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in a nonprofit, philanthropy, research, consulting, or operational environment
• Experience supporting projects, coordinating workflows, managing data or systems, and producing written materials in a fast-paced, team-based setting
• Exposure to grantmaking, social impact work, or mission-driven organizations preferred but not required

Core Skills and Capabilities

Successful Program Associates typically demonstrate the following skills and capabilities:

• Takes ownership of work and follows through on commitments with strong attention to detail and quality
• Manages multiple priorities effectively, staying organized and communicating proactively about progress, risks, and timelines
• Works effectively in a fast-paced environment, adjusting priorities and approach as needs evolve
• Embraces feedback and new information, using it to improve work and strengthen results
• Communicates clearly and professionally in writing and verbally, producing materials that are well-structured and audience appropriate
• Builds positive, collaborative relationships and contributes to clear, consistent coordination across teams
• Demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to learn, actively seeking feedback and new knowledge to improve performance
• Applies learning to strengthen day-to-day work and contribute to team effectiveness over time
• Approaches work thoughtfully, using available information to identify issues and support practical, effective solutions
• Anticipates challenges and takes initiative to address them, helping keep work moving forward smoothly

This position will be based in Boston, MA on a hybrid schedule with a requirement to work in-person a minimum of 3 days per week with colleagues; successful candidates will need to undergo a comprehensive background check.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The base salary range for this position is $82,000 - $125,000 per year.

Placement in the range will vary based on a variety of factors such as job responsibilities & scope, special skills, education, special certifications, candidate's relevant experience, and other factors.

Base salary is only part of the total compensation package. Employees are eligible for an annual discretionary performance bonus in addition to their base pay.

The Fidelity Foundations offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, an annual performance-based bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package.

The Fidelity Foundations are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive professional environment. We encourage applications from candidates with a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.