Vice President of Programs VP (VPCT)

EPIP; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Vice President of Programs to lead impactful initiatives in Maricopa County. This role is pivotal in fostering excellence in grantmaking and community partnerships, guiding a talented team, and driving strategic alignment with local nonprofits. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a passion for community service, and the ability to inspire and support grantees. If you are an empathetic leader with a strategic mindset, this is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting difference in the community.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement package

Relocation assistance

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in philanthropy or nonprofit sectors.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage and report on community partnerships and initiatives.
• Guide development of grantee programs and provide strategic support.
• Collaborate with teams to improve grantmaking processes.

Skills

Leadership

Grantmaking

Strategic Planning

Community Engagement

Program Development

Communication

Team Management

Evaluation Design

Education

Advanced Degree

Job description

ABOUT VIRGINIA G. PIPER CHARITABLE TRUST:

“A moment-to-moment dignified responsibility.” This is how Virginia Galvin Piper characterized her philanthropic work, now carried out through Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, which is in the midst of celebrating its 20th anniversary serving Maricopa County.

Mrs. Piper lived in Paradise Valley, Arizona for the last three decades of her life and quietly but steadily worked to strengthen Phoenix-area nonprofits. Following her death in 1999, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust received approximately $600 million to support Maricopa County nonprofits.

Mission

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust is a private foundation honoring the philanthropic legacy of Virginia Galvin Piper. Piper Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. The Trust concentrates its efforts in six areas: arts and culture, children, education, healthcare and medical research, older adults, and religious organizations. By investing in and working side-by-side with nonprofits, the Trust strives to be a vital part of Maricopa County, which is home to more than 4 million people—not only as a source of leadership and financial support, but as a neighbor sharing a lasting stake in the county’s future. This hands-on approach focuses on solutions and uses various strategies:

• Making investments in nonprofit organizations whose work improves the lives of the people of Maricopa County.
• Strengthening nonprofits through education and expertise that moves them to new levels of effectiveness and stability.
• Becoming part of the fabric of the community not only as a grantmaker, but a community leader committed to fostering constructive change.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President of Programs works collaboratively across Piper Trust to foster excellence in grantmaking, strategic programs, and community initiatives. Guiding a talented program team of five people in managing the Trust’s grants portfolio, the Vice President of Programs provides intellectual leadership to the Trust’s priorities, program architecture, and strategic alignment with other partners serving Maricopa County. Working closely with the President and CEO to assess and present recommendations to the Board of Trustees about strategic funding opportunities, the Vice President of Programs strengthens an inclusive feedback-rich learning environment and guides the Trust’s strategic learning agenda to understand the impact of its work, and identify lessons learned that can inform continuous improvements internally and externally. As an officer and member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President of Programs plays a pivotal role in helping Maricopa County nonprofits meet their missions—which enables Piper Trust to meet its mission.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage, monitor, and report on the Trust’s community partnerships and initiatives, and design/implement initiatives as needed.
• Guide development and continuous improvement of Piper Trust grantee programs (e.g., Piper Academies, capacity building programs).
• Build long-term, cross-sector relationships that help sustain or expand impacts of Piper Trust grantees or initiatives.
• Provide strategic, inspirational support to grantees that encourages reflection about their goals and work.
• Coach, supervise and retain high-performance team members and create a supportive environment of continuous learning and development.
• Assist the strategic learning officer with development of strong evaluation design for the Trust’s grantmaking and work and operationalize strategies to improve the Trust’s work based on lessons learned.
• Leverage key grant/project outcomes for maximum community and organizational impact.
• Keep abreast of trends in philanthropy, changes in areas of interest to the Trust, program advancements, and state-of-the-art practices.
• Identify and utilize advisors as needed to provide expertise and technical guidance on the Trust’s programming and strategic learning work.
• Collaborate with grants management staff on the design and implementation of effective grantmaking processes and continually assess for improvements and streamlining.
• Collaborate with communications staff to identify and report on Trust learnings and grant/initiative impacts.

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED:

The Vice President of Programs will be an accomplished and inspiring leader who is passionate about advancing the Trust’s mission to make a lasting impact on the well-being and opportunity for people in Maricopa County. A strong relationship-builder and exceptional communicator, the Vice President of Programs will have a transparent, open and engaging style that encourages creativity and engenders trust while balancing action and results with empathy and servant leadership. The successful candidate must bring a good sense of humor and be empathetic, strategic, confident and professional. Humility, adaptability and the ability to exercise good judgement and maintain high integrity are critical attributes. An astute listener and team player who is responsive, accessible and open to the ideas and opinions of others, the Vice President of Programs will develop holistic community knowledge as well as an understanding of the unique landscape for each of the Trust’s core areas.

CAREER PATH LEADING TO THIS POSITION:

An advanced degree is required. Preferred candidates will have a minimum of ten years of leadership experience in the philanthropic sector, nonprofit and/or public sectors, including experience within a grantmaking organization. The ideal candidate will have experience and comfort with presenting to a Board, mentoring and managing staff, and working collaboratively with cross-functional teams. The Vice President of Programs should have a demonstrated commitment to professional development for staff, as well as to community involvement and partnership building. Knowledge of Maricopa County is not required.

COMPENSATION:

The Vice President of Programs is a professional, full-time, exempt position; salary will be competitive and relocation assistance, if needed, is available. The Trust also provides a comprehensive health benefits and retirement package.

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust is a private foundation and an equal opportunity employer. All employees and applicants are afforded equal opportunities for employment without discrimination of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability or any other protected characteristic established by law.