Overview
Founded in 2001, Common Future works to close the racial wealth gap. We are building a future where all people—no matter their race and class—have power, choice, and ownership over the economy. Our current economic system does not work for everyone. Generations of Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color have been and are currently intentionally locked out of wealth and power. Centuries of policies that systematically favor a select few cause persistent economic inequities that hold us all back.

With a multiracial, women-led co-CEO team we are reimagining leadership, prioritizing sustainability, shared leadership and clarified decision making, and reflecting the communities we serve. We are audacious, expansive, and unapologetic thinkers and doers who bring lived experience to the problems we tackle. Our diverse team of strategists, community organizers, financial activists, and policy enthusiasts provides capital, operational support, and strategic partnership to budding solutions addressing racial and economic injustice.

Our culture values include centering equity, being the communities we serve, embracing experimentation, reimagining what’s broken, collectively solving problems, and modeling a new way of working. We strive to be an innovator that prioritizes the well-being of our employees. Read more about us on our Medium page.

Job Posted on January 17, 2025

Purpose

The Director of Programs is responsible for cultivating and maintaining a network of community-based solutions and innovations that serve as proof points for the different policies, practices, forms, and structures that can support a more equitable economy. This includes designing, developing, implementing, and managing programming that supports the leadership of network members and nurtures collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building across the network while aligning with the organization’s broader mission of economic justice and systems change.

Additionally, the Director of Programs will work cross-functionally to ensure that insights from community partners inform advocacy efforts, philanthropic strategies, and thought leadership, reinforcing the role of grassroots innovations in shaping policy and influencing institutional change. Success in this role will depend on the ability to build trust, facilitate equitable partnerships, and create spaces for communities to co-lead and co-design solutions that foster collective prosperity.

Position Responsibilities

Program design, development, implementation, and evaluation (40%)
Lead the design, development, and - with support from the Program Manager - the implementation of programs (in-person, virtual, and hybrid) that foster trust, create value for, and enhance the capacity of community-based organizations to share knowledge, collaborate, develop shared frameworks and agendas
Develop frameworks for gathering insights, measuring impact, and documenting best practices from network partners
Ensure programs are aligned with the mission, theory of change, and strategic goals of Common Future, addressing the unique needs and challenges of community-based organizations to gain traction for their visions and solutions in the economy policy ecosystem.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of programming, making adjustments as needed to achieve desired outcomes
Network engagement strategy, cultivation, and stewardship (40%)
Cultivate and, with support from the Program Manager, maintain a diverse network of values-aligned, community-based organizations, leaders, and initiatives that exemplify equitable and regenerative economic practices
Foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose among network members by facilitating connections, collaboration, shared learning, and resource-sharing among partners
Work with the VP of Impact Initiatives, the Director of Strategy Advocacy and Impact, and other internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for network members to engage with Common Future and with Common Future’s impact priorities.
Support the Program Manager in maintaining strong relationships with Common Future program participants and alumni network and in developing opportunities for continuous engagement.
Team Management and Leadership (20%)
Lead and manage Program Manager, fostering a collaborative and values-driven team culture
Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities that strengthen team capacity to engage in equity-centered, community-driven work
Partner with the Operations team and contribute to data management, impact reporting, and analytics by supporting data collection, compilation, and analysis
Serve as a thought leader and representative of the organization in external forums, written reports, and other outlets, sharing insights on community-driven economic initiatives.

Desired Qualifications

Specific to this Role
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build authentic, trust-based relationships with Black, Indigenous, and other historically excluded communities
Experience co-designing programs and initiatives with community partners, ensuring shared leadership and decision-making
Deep understanding of the social, political, and economic dynamics affecting marginalized communities and the ability to navigate them with humility and cultural competence
Knowledge of and experience working in economic justice and/or racial justice and the practices, frameworks, and levers that can be leveraged to support systems change.
Experience with utilizing and facilitating various training and community-building modes and tools to deliver programming.
Strong capacity to think at both a macro and micro level and the ability to translate big-picture strategies into actionable, community-driven programs
A nuanced understanding of the role of intermediaries in the economic policy/justice ecosystem and the ability to communicate that role to community-based organizations
The aptitude to identify higher-level themes, narratives, and/or frameworks that can support shared and collaborative work with Common Future and across Common Future community-based partners.
Strategic discernment, pattern matching, and opportunity spotting
A high degree of comfort with ambiguity while simultaneously holding space for organizations to remain engaged with Common Future
Ability to delegate and track project status and impact on multiple projects simultaneously.
Competencies for all Common Future team members
Understands the Work and Organization
Project Management/Planning
Relationship Building
Strong Communication
Strategic Thinking
Practices Emotional Intelligence

Compensation
This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range is $101,276.17 to $122,978.20. USD and commensurate with competence and experience.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary will be calculated based on competence and experience at the conclusion of the interview process. Compensation is non-negotiable, aligning with our internal equity principles and compensation philosophy. Once onboard, there is potential for salary increases within the established band, as Common Future staff have opportunities for annual merit increases and cost of living adjustments.

Our Commitment

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Common Future does not discriminate against applicants or employees due to their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical ability, hairstyle, previous incarceration, or length of time spent unemployed. As an organization, we are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve.

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Benefits
Common Future offers a work environment that is committed to the wellbeing and support of our employees. We embrace a human-centered approach to our practices and policies. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

Ongoing 4 day work week, Monday - Thursday, 32-hour workweek, 80% time at 100% pay
Remote and flexible work options
20 days of PTO
18 paid holidays*, including a week off in the Spring and Winter
Fully paid medical, dental, vision for employees. Dependents covered at 75%
Access to a flexible spending account (FSA) for medical and dependent expenses
Paid long-term disability and life insurance
16-week paid parental leave
$500 annual professional development stipend
$500 monthly caregiver stipend
Immediately vested 4% 403b retirement plan contribution after 90 days
$800 one-time home office set up stipend for new employees
$150 per month coworking, home office, and cell phone stipend
Annual in-person retreat, and more!
Holidays that fall on Fridays are not rescheduled to another day

Notes

Applications will be evaluated as they arrive and the position will remain open until filled.

Due to the high volume of applications, our hiring team is not able to field requests for feedback or informational interviews sent via LinkedIn or email. If you are a good match for the role, our team will reach out to you directly.

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Director of Programs