State Program Officer for Pennsylvania

Team Summary

Common Ground USA (CG-USA) is a bold, nonpartisan initiative by Search for Common Ground, to foster the conditions for a peaceful America. With 40 years of experience working on the frontlines of violent conflict, we see the risks facing our nation – from unaddressed grievances and deep distrust in both our institutions and each other. We also see a people that have made great progress toward noble ideals and a nation with the capacity to live up to our democratic goals. Our dynamic, motivated, and diverse team supports collaboration across divides to solve our common challenges, transform our divisions, and build an America where we all belong.

The Resilient States Program supports leaders from different sectors, ideologies, backgrounds, and parts of the state to work together to lower temperature and make sure that violence stays out of our daily lives. We support partners through convening, technical support, and resourcing as they work to prevent and defuse risks for political violence in the Commonwealth.

Position Summary

The State Program Officer will be responsible for supporting a network of diverse leaders in PA, coordinating and supporting programs to mitigate risks of political violence, and working closely with their colleagues in other states and in headquarters to share resources and collaborate on common challenges. The ideal candidate brings a demonstrated effectiveness in coordinating activities and supporting relationships with a broad range of community leaders; a deep commitment to working across differences to build a more peaceful and just America; the ability to adapt and respond to evolving challenges; and a highly collaborative working style. The ideal candidate would be based in (or have significant ties to) Western PA. Full time residency in PA is required. The PA State Program Officer will work under the supervision of the PA State Lead to implement programs and support partners in the Commonwealth.

Core Responsibilities

• Program coordination, including planning and executing events and regular gatherings;
• Maintaining regular communications with partners, including sharing resources and coordinating rapid response;
• Supporting relationship building, especially in Western PA, in coordination with the PA State Lead;
• Through program implementation, ensuring effective collaboration, problem solving, and follow up;
• Coordinating program reflection and learning for in-state activities;
• Supporting procurement and logistical planning in PA according to CG-USA policies and safety protocols, in coordination with HQ colleagues;
• Collaborate with other CG-USA colleagues and national partners; and
• Contribute to CG-USA team strategy and planning.

Other Contributions

• Partnerships: Identify potential partners and communities for potential engagement
• External engagement: Represent CG-USA in outreach/events, coordinate with partners, ensure effective communication, and draft external materials
• Program planning: develop and maintain detailed work plan for in-state activities
• Reporting: lead and coordinate activity tracking/reports and document challenges and lessons learned
• Compliance: support organizational and funder policies, including strict compliance to 501(c)3 regulations.
• Financial management: Plan and monitor project budget-lines, manage procurement, and track spending for in-state activities
• Subaward management: support sub-granting to partner organizations
• Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Qualifications

• BS/BA with minimum 6 years’ experience
• Excellent track record of program planning, coordination and execution
• Knowledge of and relationships with civil society and community leaders in Western PA
• A demonstrated ability to work with partners, leaders and constituencies from different backgrounds and viewpoints
• A commitment to working across difference and to CG-USA and Search values
• A highly collaborative working style

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Works collaboratively with colleagues within CG-USA and Search for Common Ground;
• Initiates brainstorming or problem-solving. With time in the job, develops skills for analyzing and communicating program successes and failures; reports lessons learned to the team and other members.
• Represents CG-USA events and meetings for professional organizations, vendors, partners, and funders. Develops skills to independently initiate and maintain relations with vendors, partners, and funders.
• Articulates program/project objectives and how they fit into CG-USA’s goals and/or Search’s mission and adapts to the communications setting.
• Demonstrates appreciation for diversity of thought and is adaptable and willing to confront own ideas and preconceptions with resiliency and flexibility. Builds cross-functional relationships with other departments.
• Drafts team documents, briefing materials, and presentations. Articulates program objectives and how they fit into a team’s goals and/or Common Ground USA’s mission and adapts to the communications setting.
• Applies standards, identifies areas for standardization, and coordinates across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
• Takes into account the environmental landscape, assesses one’s own and others’ viewpoints in their environment, and proposes solutions from an ethical, do-no-harm perspective.
• Recognizes the options available for solving problems, conducts analyses, and calculates metrics and other tools to support informed decision making.
• Conducts quality control to ensure accuracy of team documents, materials, presentations, and data. Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work. Proactively informs management of potential risks and concerns; suggests resolutions.
• Independently prioritizes time to reach deadlines and reaches end results of assignments with ability to accomplish multiple steps with limited to no supervision.

Location

The candidate must be based in Pennsylvania, ideally in Western PA. Standard work will take place remotely/at a home office, but will require interfacing and attending in-person events in state. Occasional travel to other US locations will be required.

Type and Nature of Contacts

Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.

Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.

Interacts with the Common Ground USA program and Common Ground USA for Common Ground staff.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel in state at least 10%.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility

May supervise one or more staff interns.