POSITION SUMMARY
The Faith, Work, and Economics Program promotes the idea that productive work within a free economy is critical to human flourishing as it allows the most people to lead meaningful, satisfying, and sustainable lives. The Program Director (PD) identifies, recommends, and actively stewards investments in organizations that help people connect their faith or beliefs system with their work and their understanding of the broader economy. The Program has a unique opportunity to build upon past impact and expand the work into new areas. The PD will play a pivotal role in guiding the program to achieve that impact.
The Program Director plays several important roles and possesses some key characteristics. S/he first serves as an ambassador of the Kern family, representing the ethos of the Kern family both within and outside the Foundation. S/he is a steward of the Kern family’s generosity and legacy. The PD plays the role of servant leader, working closely with the Senior Program Director (SPD), Leadership Team (SLT) and, at times, the Foundation’s benefactors and board to discern donor intent and conceptualize, design, and advance strategies and partnerships that help achieve the Kern family’s mission and vision. The PD also serves as translator and communicator, clearly communicating the Foundation’s mission and inspiring people and organizations to be a part of that mission. S/he is a relationship builder, recognizing that the best results come not from transactional relationships but from partnership. The PD is an evaluator, assessing the alignment of potential partner organizations and, once an investment has been made, evaluating a project’s progress and success.
The PD is first and foremost a person of strong character, who demonstrates a high level of integrity and accountability. S/he has an entrepreneurial mindset and can recognize new ways to build upon the Foundation’s past work. Together with the SPD, the PD will help nurture and develop the program team, providing direction, management, and an environment that helps team members reach their potential. S/he has the humility to place the family’s mission and vision first. The PD is organized and data-driven, striving to define impact with objective measurements. The PD is team-oriented and network-minded, recognizing that the greatest achievements are often due to the work and input of more than one person or organization. Finally, the PD is passionate about the Foundation’s animating ideas and the opportunities to make significant, systemic change.
The Program Director reports to the Senior Program Director for Faith, Work, and Economics.
