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Temporary Program Officer

Arcus Foundation • Full-time • Remote (New York, New York, United States) • $115k - $130k / year • 9h ago

Title: Temporary Program Officer

Department: U.S. Social Justice

Labor Category: Temporary Full-Time/Exempt

Location: Remote and New York, NY

Pay Range: $115,000 - $130,000

Date: June 1 – December 31, 2026

About Arcus Foundation

Founded in 2000 by Jon Stryker, the Arcus Foundation is a private grantmaking institution dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. Arcus’ work is based on the belief that respect for diversity among people and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet and all its inhabitants. For more than 20 years, the Social Justice Program at Arcus has been a driving force behind groundbreaking work to ensure equality for LGBTQ people, and the Great Apes & Gibbons Program has provided visionary conservation leadership to protect and enhance the lives of great apes and gibbons. The foundation works globally and has offices in New York City and Cambridge, UK.

At the Arcus Foundation, we aim to foster a work culture that is rooted in the following values and practices:

• Honesty, integrity, and humility.

• Seeking and valuing opportunities for collaboration.

• Ensuring that grantmaking is strategic and focused on advancing equity for those who are most pushed to the margins.

To learn more, visit www.arcusfoundation.org.

The Social Justice Program envisions a world in which all LGBTQ people live with dignity, safety, and opportunity in inclusive communities and societies. We work toward this mission by providing grants to organizations dedicated to advancing the rights of LGBTQ people through advocacy, organizing, litigation, and communications.

Position Summary

The Arcus Foundation seeks a temporary Program Officer for the U.S. Social Justice Program (“Temporary Program Officer”) for a period of approximately six months. The Temporary Program Officer is an experienced grantmaker who works under the direction of and in close partnership with the U.S. Program Director to implement the program strategy by managing a grant portfolio and grantee relationships within that portfolio.

As a member of a seven-person Social Justice team, the Temporary Program Officer is expected to work collaboratively with other departments as necessary in the grantmaking and management process. The geographic scope is predominantly states within the Southern United States.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Program Director, U.S. Social Justice, the Temporary Program Officer, U.S. Social Justice, is responsible for managing the full grant cycle and grantee relationships within the portfolio. Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing grant proposals, performing necessary due diligence, writing grant recommendations, reviewing and analyzing grant reports, and processing grant amendments and modifications.

• Working collaboratively with the Grants Management team.

• Providing ongoing support to grantee partners.

• In consultation with the U.S. Program Director, ensuring that the portfolio is aligned with strategic objectives and that the annual grantmaking budget for the U.S. is expended appropriately.

Qualifications and Competencies

Technical Expertise

• 3-5 years of experience in grantmaking is required.

• Experience using Fluxx as a grants management database is required.

• Deep knowledge of LGBTQ movements within the U.S. is preferred.

• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills are required.

Professional Integrity

• A high degree of professionalism.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and operate with maximum discretion.

• Effective stewardship of foundation staff and financial resources.

• Ability to comply with foundation policy and procedures.

Cultural Competence

• Demonstrates sensitivity and respect for cultural values, practices, beliefs, and social experiences of diverse communities; effectively engages in a variety of cultural settings.

• Ability to be effective in a global, multi-cultural, multi-location organization.

Positive Partnerships

• Positively and professionally strengthens the capacity of Arcus’ teams and external partners.

• A confident and team-oriented relationship builder who can communicate and work with people at all levels and backgrounds.

• Demonstrated ability to build trust and collaboration across departments and teams.

• Exceptional team orientation and possession of a facilitative and collaborate style of engaging others in projects.

Location and Travel

The Temporary Program Officer position is fully remote but may be asked to travel to Arcus’ New York office on occasion.

Compensation

The Temporary Program Officer role is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position with an annual salary range of $115,000-$130,000, as well as employee-contributed medical, vision, and dental health insurance.

How To Apply

At the link, please submit a CV and responses to the following two questions. Please limit responses to one paragraph per question. No cover letter is required.

1. This position involves managing grantee relationships, implementing strategic pivots as needed, managing a grantmaking budget, and identifying prospective new grantees. Please describe your experience in each of these areas.

2. What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a grantmaker, and how did you navigate or address it?

Applications will be accepted through May 31, 2026. The anticipated start date for this position is as soon as possible. If you have any questions about the role, please email contact@arcusfoundation.org.

The Arcus Foundation is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws in the United States and United Kingdom. The Arcus Foundation prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for employment because of the individual’s race or color, religion or creed, immigrant, citizenship or non-citizen status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intersex status, sexual and reproductive health decisions or decision making (of employees or their dependents), disability, marital status, familial status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, preemployment arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Arcus Foundation also considers for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with federal, state, and local law.