Anti-Hate and Belonging Program Officer 

Location: Remote/Hybrid if based in the Bay Area, otherwise Remote
Reports to: CEO
Hours per week (average): 40
Overtime Status: Exempt

About the Organization

The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) is a convener, incubator, and investor committed to accelerating opportunity and prosperity for the AAPI community. TAAF supports the ecosystem of advocates and organizations committed to AAPI causes so that together we can more effectively take action against hate and violence, and build the infrastructure needed to improve AAPI advocacy, power, and representation across American society. We were founded to solve for the longstanding lack of investment and resources provided to the AAPI community — particularly as anti-AAPI hate and violence persist at alarming rates. We strive to be a catalyzing force for creating a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for the 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the United States.  TAAF is an operating foundation.  Learn more at taaf.org. ‍

About the Anti-Hate and Belonging Program

The Anti-Hate and Belonging (AH&B) Program is the flagship program of the organization. It is responsible for piloting a national infrastructure for tackling hate nationally through our Anti-Hate National Network and locally through our AAPI Action Centers.  The members in the Anti-Hate National Network are a diverse set of organizations supported by TAAF to address different facets of anti-AAPI hate across the country.  The network’s purpose is to provide greater coordination and collaboration. AAPI Action Centers are TAAF partner organizations in cities who are coordinating local community responses to anti-AAPI hate.  

The AH&B program also liaises with other TAAF programs related to education, narrative change and data and research to take proactive measures against anti-Asian hate.  Further, the AH&B program supports TAAF’s efforts to marshall resources and connections from community, government, corporations and philanthropy.  

About the Role

TAAF seeks a Program Officer for the TAAF Anti-Hate and Belonging Program to join our team. The Program Officer’s primary areas of responsibility is to 1) lead the implementation of the program under TAAF’s strategic plan, which involves preventing, tracking, responding to and protecting victims and communities against anti-Asian hate 2) manage stakeholder relationships, primarily the grantees 3) monitor and evaluate the program 4) manage the program budget and 5) report out the program work to internal and external stakeholders.  The mainstay of the program is the Anti-Hate National Network, including local AAPI Action Centers in select cities. The Program Officer manages 1-2 program staff, works with senior advisors, engages consultants and is considered senior staff.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a passion to serve the AAPI community and come with deep roots in the AAPI community, having worked 7-10 years in AAPI philanthropy or with AAPI-community serving organizations.  The candidate is expected to have extensive connections with stakeholders in the AAPI community nationally.  Previous work experience addressing hate crimes targeting AAPIs is preferred.  Moreover, the ideal candidate will have cross experiences in executive-level nonprofit management and grassroots community roles such as a direct services provider or community organizer.  The Program Officer should be experienced with traversing between strategy and operations, managing teams and deadlines in a fast paced environment, intuiting future possibilities and challenges and communicating effectively with diverse audiences.  

Responsibilities

Program Strategy/Management

• Lead strategic meetings for program staff to align the program’s work plan with goals and objectives to TAAF’s annual strategic plan  
• Scan external environment for necessary adjustments to the program’s work plan
• Regularly monitor and evaluate program KPIs, and report out at staff and Board meetings
• Coordinate overlapping areas of responsibilities across programs
• Negotiate competing organizational priorities in the management of program work
• Work with staff across all departments to ensure strategic effectiveness and organizational efficiencies and consistencies in TAAF’s approach to anti-Asian hate work 
• Monitor racial justice issues related to AH&B program
• Follow key legislative developments at all levels of government related to the AH&B program, provide strategic direction and guidance on key policy questions and connect experts and resources in furtherance of AAPI community interests in those policies
• Help develop or support an expanded TAAFs’ hate data strategy, currently involving the Decoding Hate and Codebook projects.
• Advise TAAF on its organizational strategic plan 
  

Action Centers/National Network

• Work with Action Centers (currently three in Chicago, New York and Oakland) to carry out their roles as coordinating hubs to anti-hate work, and provide guidance and support, as needed 
• Oversee a communications platform that fosters information exchange and collaboration among the grantees in the Anti-Hate National Network - local Action Centers and national organizations
• Foster a learning community among the grantees.  This includes organizing monthly trainings/meetings and events, engaging subject matter experts, and curating best practices and lessons learned through an online resource library.  
• Oversee formal evaluation by consultants of TAAF’s Anti-Hate National Network and AAPI Action Centers
• Manage responses from TAAF, the National Network and Action Centers to acts of hate and violence targeting AAPIs
• Lead TAAF rapid response to anti-Asian hate which may involve fact checking/gathering, stakeholder mapping, crisis communications, grants investments and donations and new initiatives 
• Recommend funds to victims under joint TAAF-Go Fund Me agreement  
  

Budgeting 

• Manage program budgets and direct resources to meet program goals and objectives
• Work with finance and operations for budgeting; communications for messaging on grants commitments; and, development team for fundraising purposes. 
  

Team Management

• Lead and support team of staff, advisors and consultants to ensure timely and effective implementation of the AH&B work plan
• Set agenda and facilitate program staff meetings and off-site meetings 
• Use dashboards to monitor and evaluate team progress and re-prioritize work as necessary
• Manage, support and evaluate staff with performance goals
• Coordinate with senior advisors and consultants on strategy, AH&B program including the Action Centers/National Network, grants, evaluations and communications
  

Grants

• Carry out programmatic due diligence on potential grantees
• Recommend key partners to receive funding within comprehensive national anti-hate strategy
• Work closely with the program and grants team on grantee management, supporting the development of grantee project description and budgets, monitoring grantee progress, and determining renewal opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with all funding requirements and other administrative, fiscal, and legal responsibilities
• Contribute to the development and execution of a TAAF grants program with public solicitations
  

Stakeholder Relations 

• Cultivate current and potential partners from the community, government, corporations and philanthropy, depending on priority and alignment, in support of the work of the National Network
• Lead collaborations with those partners, e.g. co-sponsorship of conferences, roundtables, forums
• Strategize with TAAF liaisons to government, corporations, philanthropy and community on cross-events or initiatives, e.g. commemorations of key AAPI events, publicity events, and manage program staff in support of those efforts
  

Communications

• Create messaging related to the AH&B program for diverse audiences 
• Draft, review, edit, and approve communications products including powerpoint presentations, website, newsletter, reports, policy statements, opinion pieces, issue briefs, letters, fact sheets, and talking points to educate policymakers and the general public on organizational and coalition priority issues
• Meet with internal and external communications teams on TAAF communications portfolio and respond to breaking news that endanger or defame AAPIs, call into question their loyalties or involve acts of hate and violence toward AAPIs and in accordance with a communications strategy 
  

Job Requirements

Education and Experience

• Graduate degree is preferred
• 7-10 years work experience related to AAPIs, community and issues in philanthropy or non-profit or related fields, e.g. public sector service, or experience equivalent.
• Previous work experience addressing hate crimes targeting AAPIs is preferred; or, progressive, civil rights or racial justice issues
• Cross experiences in executive-level nonprofit management and grassroots community roles such as a direct services provider or community organizer
  

Skills and Knowledge 

• Strategic, visionary and innovative thinking coupled with realistic operational sense
• Developing and managing programs for emerging to mature nonprofits
• Managing program budgets and evaluations
• Efficient time management skills. Ability to multitask and work under tight deadlines
• Experienced leadership skills, including the ability to develop talent and foster a positive and creative work environment. 
• Exceptionally strong work-flow management skills, with the ability to navigate a team carrying a complex workload and having to shift quickly with fast changing priorities
• Strong oral and written communications skills that are adaptable to different audiences 
• Strong interpersonal skills, and with emphasis on mediation skills
• Knowledge of policy making or policy advocacy, and in particular around funding for AAPI organizations or legislation affecting AAPIs. Knowledge of federal hate crimes law, and its application a plus.
• Knowledge of AAPI history and national landscape of AAPI stakeholders
  

Working Hours

• Requires occasional weekend, off-hours, or evening work. Some travel required.
  

Compensation and Benefits

• TAAF provides competitive compensation and benefits including health insurance (including dental and vision) and a 403b retirement plan to all employees.
• Salary range for this position is $120K - $140K
  

To apply, please email application materials careers@taaf.org with “AH&B Program Officer- [your name]” in the subject line. Please submit the following:

• Résumé
• Cover letter
  

Equal Opportunity Employer

TAAF is deeply committed to being a diverse, inclusive, and equitable place to work. We encourage people of all backgrounds, experience, and perspectives to apply.