MDC Senior Program Director, Leadership & Philanthropy
MDC seeks a Senior Program Director to lead our work to advance equity centered leadership and philanthropy through fellowships, foundations, and community partners. MDC enjoys support from national and regional partners in private philanthropy, business, and government. MDC envisions a South where systemic inequities no longer exist, and all people thrive.
About MDC (Meaning, Dignity, and Community)
Founded in 1967, MDC catalyzes and accelerates economic mobility across thirteen Southern states by activating changemakers, strengthening capacity, framing key issues, and cultivating networks—centering equity through it all.
We currently work in 4 key issue areas:
- Leadership & Philanthropy
- Educational Equity
- Economic Security & Mobility
- Rural Prosperity & Investment
MDC is based in Durham, NC with a staff of 40 and oversight from a national board of directors. Our leadership team is led by our President and CEO, two Vice Presidents, and four Senior Program Directors, each leading one of our four major issue areas. About the Senior Director for Leadership & PhilanthropyMDC defines equity-centered leadership as the work of developing collaborative, human-focused solutions to achieve systemic equity and build community. We currently advance this agenda among young leaders in the early stages of their careers, leaders of color established in their careers, and within foundations at varying stages of their equity journeys across the South. The Senior Program Director will drive three significant initiatives to further this work. First, they will guide a team to develop a strategy for MDC’s signature Equity Centered Philanthropy program that reflects recent learnings and shifts in the field. Core to this work will be shaping and leading a cohort-based approach and a fee-for-service model to engage philanthropic foundations desiring to implement equity in their internal culture, community engagement, and grantmaking.Second, the Senior Program Director will lead Launch Carolinas, a co-designed, bi-directional experience between nonprofit leaders of color and foundations designed to deepen relationships and build a stronger philanthropic ecosystem in North Carolina and South Carolina. Launch Carolinas brings together several foundations across the Carolinas with twelve selected nonprofit leaders of color to co-design a cohort-based fellowship program that includes financial support for the leaders’ organizations and designed engagements with foundations. Third, the Senior Program Director will lead the continued development of MDC’s current fellowship programs, including the Autry Fellowship. This position will work closely with MDC’s senior leadership to drive the organization’s leadership and philanthropy agenda and identify key learnings to share with internal and external audiences.While these three initiatives represent the key strategy areas for the Senior Program Director, this role also oversees the delivery of MDC’s State of the South programming and the social entrepreneurship program, Race Matters Institute at MDC, which are also a part of the overall Leadership and Philanthropy body of work.This position is supervised by the MDC Vice President for Partnerships & Programs.Primary Responsibilities and Expectations- In close partnership with MDC senior leadership and project teams, direct the three strategies described above in a way that centers equity, innovation, growth, and impact.
- Synthesize lessons from MDC’s Equity-Centered Philanthropy strategy, to design and implement the next iteration of this work.
- Shape MDC’s equity-centered leadership approach and infuse effective leadership practices across all of MDC’s work and within project teams.
- Build partnerships with multiple foundations to co-design strategy and recruitment for all MDC leadership programs.
- Build productive partnerships with community leaders, academics, nonprofits, and leaders in the field.
- Lead the fundraising strategy to support this body of work.
- Facilitate and supervise programming as designed across the three strategies described above.
- Work closely with MDC’s Director of Learning and Impact and Director of Communications to identify knowledge and insights that should be shared with wider audiences; help shape written and other materials for dissemination.
QualificationsThis position may be remote, with a preference that it is based out of MDC’s offices. The Senior Program Director should have at least 10-15 years of relevant experience, including work within the philanthropic sector and in leadership development.In addition, candidates must have:- A deep understanding of, and a demonstrated commitment to, equity - particularly racial and gender equity - and applied experience in infusing equitable practices within philanthropy.
- A deep commitment to and understanding of equity generally, and racial equity specifically.
- A deep understanding of the American South.
- Experience leading and/or shaping leadership development efforts for leaders early in their careers, as well as established leaders furthering their development.
- Currency in the field, so that MDC is both learning from and leading in equity-centered leadership and philanthropy.
- Proven management and team leadership skills along with a style that builds upon MDC’s values and culture of team-based project staffing and inclusive decision-making.
- The ability to foster a culture of humanity and joy within teams.
- A results-driven orientation, with the capacity to forecast, plan and deliver in a timely fashion.
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with a broad range of strategic partners, including a range of nonprofits (organizing, advocacy, community development), local leaders, arts organizations, academic institutions, foundations, and others.
- Demonstrated ability to understand, communicate, and work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Ability to facilitate an environment that enables team members to thrive by understanding their preferred working styles, providing necessary resources, and offering support tailored to their needs.
- Strong self-awareness and empathy, with the capacity to build authentic relationships.
- Superb writing skills.
- Strong communication and facilitation skills, including clear and compelling oral presentation skills as well as comfortability in engaging in hard, challenging conversations.
Organizational CultureWe work in a high-paced environment with full days, but remain dedicated to a strong work/life balance. We strive to produce excellent work toward our individual and collective goals as a program and as part of MDC. Staff members have their own projects but will also be expected to work collaboratively.- The Leadership & Philanthropy team currently consists of a senior director, 3 program directors, 1 program support administrator, and 2 program coordinators.
- Currently, the Senior Director supervises three program directors and the program administrator.
- The MDC leadership team (president, vice presidents, communications director, and senior directors) meets twice a month for 1.5 hours.
- The senior director has access to shared space at the MDC office, though they will travel across the state 2-3 days a month. Working remotely is standard.
- The Leadership & Philanthropy team meets mandatorily every month for two hours and has at least two retreats per year.
- MDC staff mandatorily meet monthly for 90 minutes and quarterly for 3 hours.
The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $120,000. MDC offers an excellent benefits package. This position will be a full-time exempt position and is eligible for a full package of benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance; short-term and long-term disability; life insurance; vacation, sick, and personal leave; employee assistance program, wellness benefit, remote work stipend and paid retirement account contributions with match.MDC is an equal opportunity employer. As an organization committed to diversity and equity, it is our policy to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to age, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation or status in any other group, protected by federal or local law or for any other reason. We encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups. Further, MDC values candidates with lived experience relevant to our mission. Reasonable accommodations are available on request. - For more information about MDC, go to www.mdcinc.org.
- Send the application package electronically through JazzHR rather than by regular mail.
- Application materials should include: (a) cover letter, (b) resume, (c) a writing sample that you have completed in the last two years, and (d) contact information for three references.
- Deadline for applications is 5:00 PM Eastern Time, on Friday, April 12, 2024.The desired start date for this position is not later than July 1, 2024.
- If you require assistance with your application, please email [email protected].
