Program Officer, Visa Foundation

  • Full-time
  • Job Family Group: Strategy

Company Description

Common Purpose, Uncommon Opportunity. Everyone at Visa works with one goal in mind – making sure that Visa is the best way to pay and be paid, for everyone everywhere. This is our global vision and the common purpose that unites the entire Visa team. As a global payments technology company, tech is at the heart of what we do: Our VisaNet network processes over 13,000 transactions per second for people and businesses around the world, enabling them to use digital currency instead of cash and checks. We are also global advocates for financial inclusion, working with partners around the world to help those who lack access to financial services join the global economy. Visa’s sponsorships, including the Olympics and FIFA™ World Cup, celebrate teamwork, diversity, and excellence throughout the world. If you have a passion to make a difference in the lives of people around the world, Visa offers an uncommon opportunity to build a strong, thriving career. Visa is fueled by our team of talented employees who continuously raise the bar on delivering the convenience and security of digital currency to people all over the world. Join our team and find out how Visa is everywhere you want to be.

Visa Foundation

Registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)3 entity, Visa Foundation prioritizes the growth of gender diverse and inclusive small and micro businesses through its grantmaking and investing. The Foundation also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. In April 2020, Visa Foundation launched the Equitable Access Initiative, a five-year, $200 million strategic commitment to support gender diverse and inclusive small businesses around the world. As a part of the initiative, Visa Foundation will provide $60 million in grants and $140 million in impact investments with a gender and diversity lens across the capital continuum.

Job Description

Visa Foundation

Registered in the U.S. 501(c)3 entity, Visa Foundation prioritizes the growth of gender diverse and inclusive small and micro businesses through its grantmaking and investing. The Foundation also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. In April 2020, Visa Foundation launched the Equitable Access Initiative, a five-year, $200 million strategic commitment to support gender diverse and inclusive small businesses around the world. As a part of the initiative, Visa Foundation will provide $60 million in grants and $140 million in impact investments with a gender and diversity lens across the capital continuum.

Position Summary

The Program Officer will support the full scope of grantmaking activity at Visa Foundation. They will engage with grantee partners, Foundation investment staff, Visa Inc colleagues and variety of external stakeholders. They will have joint-responsibility for developing and managing a complex, multi-million dollar grantmaking portfolio, including impact analysis and reporting. A passion for impact at scale, strong analytical skills, and comfort with a high degree of autonomy in a global foundation are essential for success in this role. This role reports to the Head of Programs.

Role and Responsibilities:

Strategy: Work with the Head of Programs to refine and implement Visa Foundation’s grantmaking strategy across a variety of program areas and geographies.

Origination: Lead sector/issue area mapping, identifying, and evaluating grantmaking opportunities, including working with Regional Social Impact Leads to identify local NGOs aligned to Foundation priorities. Support the full scope of grantmaking workflow, including pipeline management. Work closely with Foundation Investment Officers to identify/support complimentary grant/investment opportunities aligned to mission and financial return objectives

Execution: Lead analysis and evaluation of new grant opportunities. Conduct thorough due diligence on opportunities, including managing external service providers as needed.

Portfolio Management: Build and maintain relationships with grantees and provide targeted support as needed; assist with portfolio-wide analysis; help foster learning and connection between portfolio organizations. Play a key role in building out new portfolio and impact management tools and datasets

Market Research: Monitor the external environment, including emerging data and research on Foundation focus areas; and trends and best practices in grantmaking, including the integration of grants and investments.

Stakeholder Engagement: Interact consistently with senior leaders internally and externally including the Visa Foundation Board of Directors, Investment Committee, and Visa corporate staff and leadership. Externally, will have direct relationships with the senior-most levels of grantee organizations.  Responsibility representing the Foundation publicly via speaking events, written communications and on advisory boards, etc.

Qualifications

Basic:

  • 10 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 8 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters/ MBA/JD/MD)

Preferred:

  • 10+ years of related experience, including international program experience
  • Deep subject matter expertise and demonstrated track record of philanthropy and impact across a variety of sectors/program areas, including economic development, gender, small business and racial equity
  • Experience managing programs & partnerships in the areas of thought leadership and impact investing
  • Experience working with laws, guidelines and best practices governing grantmaking at US-based private foundations
  • Comfortable communicating with all levels of stakeholders internally and externally
  • Ability to integrate technology into work, including use of grant management systems; proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Teams)
  • Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative mindset, self-starter, and an exceptional work ethic.
  • Experience working/living in emerging markets. Fluency in Spanish, French, Hindi or Swahili is a plus.

In addition, we seek candidates who demonstrate these preferred qualifications:

  • Mission Focused: enjoy working within a small, entrepreneurial environment that is mission-driven, practitioner-led.
  • Team Player: collaborative and supportive of others with diverse backgrounds and skill sets.
  • DEI Focus: demonstrated experience and interest in supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.
  • Learning Focused: ability to seek knowledge about diverse fields within social impact and make connections across the Foundation’s work.

Additional Information

  • This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers, and reach with hands and arms.
  • This position requires the incumbent to be available during core business hours
  • This position requires the incumbent to travel for work 0-25% of the time.
  • No relocation will be provided for this position.
  • All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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