Program Assistant

ABOUT US

Interfaith America is a national nonprofit organization based in Chicago. We believe that religious diversity is a foundational American strength, and we are building a nation that achieves that promise for the common good. Our mission is to inspire, equip, and connect organizations and leaders to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity. We leverage our expertise in interfaith leadership in different sectors and spaces in American life, such as higher education, health, public policy, racial equity, and business – giving leaders and institutions the tools and resources they need to positively engage religious diversity for the common good.

At Interfaith America, we are ever-adapting and changing. We look for people who set audacious goals and love that one workday may not be like the next. We have a strong commitment to pluralism and building bridges across deep differences. Our programs help people build skills to bridge deep ideological divides. Our work is about staying in relationship with one another and contributing to the common good even when we might disagree on fundamental things. We seek to attract and retain a team of staff comprised of a wide variety of views and backgrounds we need to achieve our vision, especially people from communities historically underrepresented in interfaith work.

Interfaith America seeks to hire four (4) Program Assistants. Each Program Assistant will report to the director or senior director for each of the following teams: Campus Partnerships (Higher Education), Corporate Strategy, Learning, and Strategic Communications. The job description below is a general overview of our Program Assistant’s roles and responsibilities. Specific tasks and projects will vary depending on the team.

About You:

You are energized by the opportunity to support interfaith leaders in action! You are someone who thrives in a fast-paced, adaptable environment where one day won’t look like the next. You are organized, love to get things done and have a reputation of completing tasks on time and with the highest level of accuracy. You hold yourself and your work to a high bar of excellence and take personal responsibility for achieving your goals and supporting those of our colleagues.

Responsibilities:

Executive Assistance:

· Schedule meetings with both internal staff and external partners

· Prepare materials for meetings; take notes and provide meeting summaries

· Prepare reimbursement requests for director(s)

· Manage travel logistics for director(s) including making travel arrangements and preparing materials for directors’ site visits, conferences, and other events

Event Logistics:

· Track program interest and participation

· Manage expense tracking, process stipends, create MOAs, reimbursement requests, and other financial logistics for program participants

· Support technical and communication needs for virtual events and meetings

· Provide participants with, and answer questions regarding, logistical program information

· Manage logistics for large and small program events or meetings including participant travel, catering, accommodations and event space

Editing Materials and Communication:

· Proofread and copyedit materials

· Create and edit surveys, applications, and other forms using IA’s survey software

· Create and format presentations in PowerPoint

· Prepare application materials for campus and individual grant programs

· Communicate with external partners on programs in order to solicit or share required information

· Prepare mailings and file documents

· Prepare materials for events and programs such as name tags, agendas, and folders

Data:

· Input new data and clean existing data in Salesforce to ensure audiences and program participation are tracked completely and accurately

· Pull data reports from Salesforce

· Compile data and manage internal tracking systems

· Clean data spreadsheets to upload into Salesforce

· Compile, collate, and analyze grant reports

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

· Ability to balance and prioritize multiple ongoing projects from multiple stakeholders

· Collaborative nature; flexibility and agility in problem-solving

· Ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure

· Strong attention to detail

· Strong project management and organizational skills

· Strong competence in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel); willing to learn and utilize organization-wide constituent relationship management software (Salesforce)

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Authorization to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications (not required)

· High level of religious literacy and fluency in diversity, pluralism, and inclusion.

Competencies:

· Customer Service - Providing timely, attentive, upbeat service to an internal or external colleague and making sure their needs are met in a manner that reflects positively on Interfaith America.

· Project Support – Assisting with planning and executing projects or pieces of a project.

· Results oriented – Ability to complete multiple assigned tasks across multiple program and project areas with a high level of excellence, attention to detail and within assigned deadlines.

· Adaptability - Adapting to change within the organization, programs and projects with grace and a positive attitude.

· Time Management - Ability to use one's time effectively or productively.

· DEI Cultural Competency - Ability to understand, appreciate and interact effectively with people from all cultures, identities, lived experiences or belief systems different from one's own.

Leadership Level: Assistant

Compensation: $26 per hour

Hours: 40 hours per week, 9am – 5pm CST

Location: This position will work 2-3 days per week from our Chicago Loop office and 2-3 days per week from home.

The application will be open from August 12, 2024, until September 3, 2024.

Other Requirements:

The Program Assistant position requires the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to: maintain regular attendance; travel across this US; work cooperatively with others; adhere to Interfaith America personnel policies and safety rules; sit and/or stand for extended periods of time; operate standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, photocopiers, and projectors; communicate orally, in writing, and via computers and digital devices; and requires close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, view a computer terminal and other office equipment.

Interfaith America is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodation will be provided as needed to enable qualified applicants with a disability to participate in pre-employment procedures.