Program Officer, Samueli Foundation

OC Sports & Entertainment; Newport Beach (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

The Samueli Foundation is seeking a Program Officer to manage grant portfolios in Orange County, overseeing sourcing, diligence, execution, monitoring, and closeout. You will build strong grantee relationships and help shape funding strategies across areas such as housing, STEM, workforce development, and social sector strengthening.

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, you will synthesize data for leadership, collaborate with programs, grants management, and accounting teams, and advance the

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of relevant experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, public service, community development, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to assess nonprofit strategy, leadership, finances, operations, and program effectiveness and translate qualitative and quantitative information into sound recommendations.
• Excellent judgment and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple relationships, grants, priorities, and deadlines independently and elevate decisions or concerns when needed.
• Strong relationship-building skills across nonprofit, community, public sector, philanthropic, and internal partners.
• Knowledge of Orange County and its nonprofit, philanthropic, civic, or public-sector landscape is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Commitment to the Foundation’s values of integrity, gratitude, empathy, curiosity, creativity, and trust, and to working inclusively and in genuine partnership with the communities and organizations we support.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset with the flexibility to contribute beyond assigned responsibilities, pitch in where needed, and work effectively as part of a small, nimble team.

Responsibilities

• Manage annual priorities, grant pipelines, budgets, and approximately 20–25 core grantee relationships across assigned portfolios, with the specific mix varying based on portfolio size and complexity.
• Source and assess potential investments through research, prospective grantee organizational and financial review, site visits, and other diligence.
• Develop concise funding recommendations for the Chief Program Officer, President, and Board that state the rationale, risks, expected outcomes, and proposed grant structure.
• Manage grants pipeline from exploration through closeout, including reporting, progress monitoring, renewal decisions, and timely action when conditions change, in partnership with Program, Grants Management and Accounting teams and within grants management system.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Analytical thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Mission

To be a place where the everyday becomes extraordinary – and the potential is unlimited. Where every experience can change you

Vision

We are the gathering place of Orange County

Values

Be Safe | Do the Right Thing | Be Generous | Include Everyone | Make it Easy | Be Bold

Job Title

Program Officer, Samueli Foundation

Pay Details

The annual base salary range for this position in California is $155,000 to $175,000 per year. The starting pay for the successful candidate depends on various job-related factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, education/training, internal value, peer equity, external market demands, and organizational considerations.

About The Foundation

The Samueli Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to fostering community well-being in Orange County through innovative initiatives that enhance quality of life. Guided by its values and philanthropic framework, the Foundation supports catalytic ideas, strengthens multisector cooperation, and builds partnerships that advance lasting community impact.

About The Position

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Program Officer manages assigned grantmaking portfolios from sourcing and diligence through recommendation, execution, monitoring, renewal, and closeout. Potential areas of investment may include Human Trafficking, Housing & Homelessness, Workforce Development, Strengthening Social Sector, Food Security, STEM, and other emerging areas of the Foundation’s work. The role manages grantee relationships, develops field knowledge, and elevates significant decisions, risks, and opportunities for leadership. The Program Officer contributes to portfolio strategy development but does not lead strategy across multiple portfolios or supervise staff.

Core Responsibilities

Portfolio and Grant Pipeline

• Manage annual priorities, grant pipelines, budgets, and approximately 20–25 core grantee relationships across assigned portfolios, with the specific mix varying based on portfolio size and complexity.
• Source and assess potential investments through research, prospective grantee organizational and financial review, site visits, and other diligence.
• Develop concise funding recommendations for the Chief Program Officer, President, and Board that state the rationale, risks, expected outcomes, and proposed grant structure.
• Manage grants pipeline from exploration through closeout, including reporting, progress monitoring, renewal decisions, and timely action when conditions change, in partnership with Program, Grants Management and Accounting teams and within grants management system.

Relationships and Field Knowledge

• Serve as the primary Foundation contact for assigned grantees and prospective partners and build trusted relationships with relevant nonprofit, philanthropic, public-sector, academic, and community leaders.
• Maintain current knowledge of community needs, organizations, funding gaps, field developments, and emerging opportunities; connect partners when it can strengthen the work.
• Represent the Foundation at relevant visits, meetings, convenings, and events.

Analysis and Reporting

• Synthesize grantee information, research, and data to refine portfolio strategy, surface risks and opportunities, and prepare leadership and Board materials.

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of relevant experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, public service, community development, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to assess nonprofit strategy, leadership, finances, operations, and program effectiveness and translate qualitative and quantitative information into sound recommendations.
• Excellent judgment and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple relationships, grants, priorities, and deadlines independently and elevate decisions or concerns when needed.
• Strong relationship-building skills across nonprofit, community, public sector, philanthropic, and internal partners.
• Knowledge of Orange County and its nonprofit, philanthropic, civic, or public-sector landscape is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Commitment to the Foundation’s values of integrity, gratitude, empathy, curiosity, creativity, and trust, and to working inclusively and in genuine partnership with the communities and organizations we support.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset with the flexibility to contribute beyond assigned responsibilities, pitch in where needed, and work effectively as part of a small, nimble team.

Success in this role

Success means well-managed portfolios, decision-ready recommendations, responsive grantee relationships, and early escalation of significant risks and opportunities without day-to-day involvement from the Chief Program Officer. Just as important is how the work gets done. The Program Officer thrives on a small, hardworking, collaborative team; pitches in beyond their own portfolio when needed; brings humility, good judgment, and a low-ego approach to the work; and takes the work seriously without taking themselves too seriously. They understand the responsibility of representing a family foundation and consistently steward the donors’ interests, intent, and values in relationships and decision-making.

Compensation And Benefits

Compensation will be competitive and based on job-related factors, including knowledge, skills, experience, education or training, internal value, peer equity, external market demands, and organizational considerations. The Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, 401(k), and other discounts and perks.

OUR COMMITMENT

We provide an environment of mutual respect and equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, employee-organization membership, parental status, military service, medical condition, or any category protected by local, state, or federal law. We believe a diverse and inclusive team is critical to our success and seek to recruit, develop, and retain talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Company

Samueli Foundation

Our Commitment

We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and team members without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. We are firm believers that diversity and inclusion among our team members are critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.