Associate Program Officer, Medical Science

[Alexa Pagliaro]

Position: Associate Program Officer, Medical Science

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

The Fidelity Foundations are a group of private foundations that fund a diverse set of programs on a national scale. The Fidelity Foundations are committed to advancing the long-term vibrancy of communities through capacity-building investments in arts and culture, education, conservation, health, and economic opportunity-focused non-profits.

Fidelity Foundations’ grantmaking seeks to build the capacity of leaders and organizations tackling important societal challenges and promoting thriving communities. We are dedicated to strengthening organizations by fostering robust partnerships and supporting projects that enhance our grantees’ long-term success. Each program centers on the ecosystems’ needs and identifies where our capacity-building grants can have the greatest impact. We have a deep history of funding organizations in Boston and New England for over 50 years and also supporting communities in specific regions nationwide.

Today, the Foundations are at an important and exciting stage in our organizational history, having grown and evolved in recent years. As our strategies and organization continue to develop, we are seeking individuals with skills and expertise that support the advancement and execution of a long-term portfolio of significant and strategic philanthropic investments.  

As a capacity-building funder, the Foundations seek to make catalytic, lasting investments in non-profits at strategic inflection points and support projects that substantially enhance their impact and sustainability. Our values of excellence, integrity, respect, collaboration, and a deep sense of humility guide our quiet grantmaking. 

The Foundations’ Medical Science program is currently focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Specifically, the program seeks to identify bottlenecks, knowledge gaps, and unmet funding needs in neurodegenerative disease research. We continually monitor the research and funding landscape to identify opportunities where philanthropy can uniquely address critical barriers to research advancement. We aim to identify and pilot systems-level solutions and innovative approaches to improve the effectiveness of the scientific ecosystem. Current strategies include incentivizing global collaboration and lowering barriers to open data and sample sharing. There is potential to broaden the focus to other areas of biomedical research in the future.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Associate Program Officer supports the work of the Medical Science team by partnering with senior program staff to develop, manage and evaluate philanthropic investments across the team’s portfolios. The Associate Program Officer will collaborate with and support senior program staff by engaging with existing and prospective grantees and community members as well as participating in programmatic efforts in support of organization-wide initiatives.

The Associate Program Officer’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Grants Management & Administration

• Input relevant and timely information into the grants management system and maintain adherence to grant workflows and processes
• Develop processes and schedules to review and ensure data quality and integrity of grants-related data in grants management system
• Provide program staff with timely updates on grantee progress; support POs on grantee reporting requirements and reviews
• Support management of current awards, including conditional and contingent grants

Programmatic Support & Strategy

• Under the direction of Program Officers and Senior Advisor, provide comprehensive support towards the advancement of promising proposals and organizations by conducting due diligence through research, financial analysis, proposal review, and recommendation drafting
• Contribute to development of grant recommendations
• Conduct initial evaluation of grants against stated objectives and formulate recommendations to align grants with sector goals
• Participate in managing schedules and contribute to managing portfolio pipeline

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Collaborate with and support program staff by engaging with existing and prospective grantees and community members

• Synthesizes complex program information and prepares documents and updates for program leadership to share with the Foundations’ leadership in support of Trustee engagement and Foundations’ documentation practices

Sector Knowledge & Learning

• Follow literature and media to stay abreast of sector trends, key advances, and challenges in education fields of interest, as well as best practices in grant-making
• Attend relevant external meetings, site visits, and conferences as needed, to broaden knowledge and fulfill the above responsibilities

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

It is critically important that the Associate Program Officer be a highly collaborative, service-oriented, 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:

• Minimum of six years of relevant professional experience in development, philanthropy, medical science, or related fields. Advanced education beyond a master’s degree may count toward the required experience, depending on the credential.
• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in biomedical sciences preferred; experience in neurodegeneration is a plus.
• Strategy consulting experience in Alzheimer’s disease and/or related dementias is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with data harmonization and interoperability frameworks, including associated challenges and solutions, is an advantage.
• Knowledge of the open science ecosystem (tools, platforms and organizations that advance open scientific communication) is a plus.
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to developing expertise across a range of issue areas within the Medical Science portfolios.
• Understanding of the strengths and limitations of the medical science ecosystem and various funding models.
• Ability to learn quickly and thrive in diverse, dynamic environments.
• Strong written and verbal skills, with the ability to craft compelling, evidence-based narratives and recommendations.
• Proven ability to analyze data for due diligence on organizations and projects, assess information critically, and weigh short- and long-term implications.
• Familiarity with organizational and project budgets, financial reporting, and the ability to interpret financial statements and key performance metrics.
• Experience working collaboratively within enterprise-wide databases; Salesforce experience is a plus.
• Collaborative and diplomatic, with strong interpersonal skills to build consensus and foster effective relationships across all levels of the organization and with external partners.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving goals and delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work flexibly and creatively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Sound judgment, humility, respect for confidentiality, and commitment to ethical practices.
• Ability to advance work independently, balance big-picture strategy with meticulous attention to detail and demonstrate resourcefulness in executing priorities and managing projects to completion.

Please note: Candidates whose experience exceeds the stated requirements may be considered for the role at the Program Officer level.

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 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.

Please contact Cesar Mieses ([email protected]) with interest.

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