Senior Program & Strategy Officer at Dogwood Health Trust

About Dogwood Health Trust

Founded in 2018, Dogwood Health Trust (Dogwood) is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina. Its sole purpose is to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of the 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina.

As a funder, Dogwood invests in collaborative, innovative and equitable efforts that address the many factors contributing to overall wellbeing, especially in the areas of housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Ultimately, Dogwood seeks to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions.

Our Values

• Compassion with Courage. We will be bold in pursuing our commitment to the people and communities of Western North Carolina by taking smart risks and investing in opportunities for profound impact.
• Sustainability with Integrity. We will bring transparency and humility in stewarding resources to support and strengthen Western North Carolina for generations to come.
• Partnering with Purpose. We will foster collective impact by promoting collaboration and advancing shared learning.

Summary

The Senior Program & Strategy Officer (SPSO) serves as a senior leader within the Community Investment team and plays a critical role in shaping, executing, and continuously refining Dogwood Health Trust’s grantmaking and strategic initiatives. Building on deep content expertise and experience in complex systems change, the SPSO leads high-impact efforts, models best practices, and contributes thought leadership across portfolios.

With a commitment to equity, collaboration, and learning, the SPSO manages a portfolio of grants and also leads assigned strategies, special initiatives, and/or targeted investments. This role is distinguished by a higher level of strategic responsibility, initiative, and innovation, and may be called upon to lead time-sensitive, high-priority, or exploratory efforts on behalf of the organization. The SPSO works in close partnership with Community Investment Vice Presidents—sometimes in the role of direct report and sometimes as a strategic peer—and is entrusted with confidential information requiring a high degree of discretion, relational intelligence, and organizational awareness. The SPSO is a trusted advisor internally and externally, operating with foresight, humility, and purpose to advance Dogwood’s mission in transformative ways.

Responsibilities And Duties

Relationship Development & Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent Dogwood’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities with professionalism, authenticity, and strategic insight.
• Serve as an advisor and strategic partner to grantee organizations, coalitions, and community leaders, modeling integrity, empathy, and responsiveness.
• Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with grantees and partners that are grounded in mutual respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to impact, field capacity, and strategic alignment.
• Leverage deep understanding of grantees’ context and capacity, providing thought partnership that helps navigate complexity and advance outcomes.
• Demonstrate responsiveness and sound judgment in managing competing priorities, balancing the urgency of internal workflows with the importance of relational work, community engagement, and grantee learning.
• Prioritize meaningful, consistent engagement with nonprofit partners as essential to strategic execution, shared outcomes, and alignment with Dogwood’s evolving strategies.
• Collaborate with Network Officers to integrate community voice, lived experience, and local knowledge into strategic decisions.
• Navigate sensitive issues and complex dynamics with skill, using diplomacy and influence to strengthen relationships and foster alignment.
• Serve as a senior ambassador for Dogwood in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors through field-building, public speaking, and collaborative leadership.
• Lead strategic convenings and learning cohorts, designing experiences that promote alignment, shared learning, and actionable insights.
• Build strong internal relationships, mentoring peers and modeling cross-functional collaboration to support organizational learning and integration.

Strategic Grantmaking Leadership & Execution

• Lead the design, implementation, and refinement of grantmaking strategies and approaches that are responsive to community context, informed by data and learning, and aligned with Dogwood’s strategic framework.
• Manage a dynamic portfolio of grants, including general operating, project-based, capacity-building, and impact investments, ensuring each aligns with strategic goals and community priorities.
• Conduct advanced due diligence that balances data, context, and equity in evaluating alignment, readiness, and impact potential.
• Synthesize complex, sometimes conflicting information from diverse sources—including community input, data, research, and organizational context—to develop clear, well-reasoned recommendations that guide strategic decision-making and drive impact.
• Develop compelling written grant recommendations grounded in rigorous analysis, strategic fit, and mission alignment.
• Partner with Community Investment leadership to facilitate the grant review process and support team-wide decision-making with clarity and perspective.
• Identify and lead exploratory and cross-cutting initiatives, integrating research, stakeholder feedback, and internal alignment to shape future strategies and investments.
• Take initiative in proposing new approaches and strategic directions that anticipate emerging needs and opportunities within Dogwood’s framework.
• Use systems thinking and root-cause analysis to inform grantmaking strategies and guide strategic shifts across portfolios.
• Exercise discernment and critical thinking in the development of funding strategies and identification of new opportunities, ensuring alignment with Dogwood’s mission, capacity, and evolving priorities.
• Apply strategic judgment in grant decision-making, recognizing that not all compelling ideas can be funded and prioritizing those with the greatest potential for impact and alignment.
• Communicate decisions and boundaries with clarity and respect, supporting nonprofit partners in navigating funding realities with transparency and mutual understanding.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to Program & Strategy Officers, Program Associates, and others, supporting team development, strategic alignment, and execution.
• Bring a confident, grounded presence to internal and external settings, modeling professionalism, strategic insight, and relational intelligence in high-stakes conversations, decision-making spaces, and community engagements.

Strategic Learning, Evaluation & Equity Leadership

• Partner with Community Investment leadership and the Learning, Evaluation, and Data (LED) team to define learning goals and indicators of success.
• Co-develop and manage contracts with external evaluation partners, including scoping work, developing shared learning questions, and ensuring alignment with strategic and equity objectives.
• Collaborate with LED to manage evaluation budgets and ensure resource allocation supports meaningful learning, accountability, and strategic adaptation.
• Champion a culture of learning by modeling reflection, adaptation, and strategic iteration across initiatives.
• Lead efforts to integrate equity and inclusion in program strategy, grantmaking, and evaluation practices.
• Contribute to organization-wide equity efforts by sharing insights, elevating community assets, and challenging assumptions.
• Ensure learning loops between grantees, partners, and internal stakeholders are consistent, actionable, and contribute to continuous improvement.

Knowledge Development and Management

• Serve as a sector leader and thought partner, staying current on emerging trends, research, and innovations across Dogwood’s strategic priorities.
• Produce and disseminate insights that inform internal strategy and external influence, including memos, presentations, and publications.
• Share expertise in ways that build capacity and drive impact, both within Dogwood and across the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors.
• Ensure timely, accurate use of internal systems (e.g., SharePoint, GMS) to document knowledge, decisions, and learning.
• Note: This position description reflects core responsibilities but is not intended to be all-inclusive. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may shift based on organizational priorities and evolving needs. While the current assignment may be focused on a specific issue area, Senior Program & Strategy Officers may be asked to contribute across multiple portfolios or strategic initiatives over time. Assignments will vary based on strategic priorities, organizational needs, and team capacity; not all Senior Officers will perform identical functions at all times.

Qualifications And Skills

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree in fields of study connected to social determinants of health (e.g., social work, public administration, nonprofit management, public health, education, etc.).

Work Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic philanthropy, grantmaking, nonprofit leadership, public sector, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex grantmaking portfolios and/or leading multi-faceted initiatives that require sound judgment, prioritization, and strategic discernment.
• Proven ability to build, steward, and lead coalitions and partnerships with diverse community stakeholders across sectors.
• Strong experience in program strategy, relationship management, and navigating complex organizational and community dynamics.
• Evidence of exercising discernment in ambiguous or resource-constrained environments, including the ability to set boundaries, prioritize effectively, and make difficult decisions with clarity and integrity.
• High degree of adaptability and initiative, with the ability to manage competing demands while maintaining strategic focus.
• Experience with, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn, grant management systems and client relationship management tools.

Knowledge, Skills, And Attributes

• Equity-Centered Leadership: Demonstrates a deep, sustained commitment to equity as a guiding value, strategic lens, and desired outcome. Actively identifies and addresses systemic barriers, models equitable practice, and advances opportunity, dignity, and well-being for all.
• Strategic Relationship Builder: Leads with curiosity and discernment, seeking to understand context, power dynamics, and perspectives before acting. Builds durable, values-aligned relationships with partners, peers, and communities that support long-term impact.
• Integrity, Accountability & Judgment: Operates with transparency, ethical rigor, and sound judgment. Welcomes feedback, reflects critically on practice, and takes initiative to strengthen outcomes, relationships, and organizational effectiveness.
• Comfort with Complexity & Ambiguity: Navigates uncertainty, competing priorities, and evolving strategies with confidence and resilience. Maintains strategic focus while adapting approach based on new information, learning, and context.
• Collaborative Leader & Thought Partner: Works across teams and functions to advance shared goals, model collaborative leadership, and contribute to a culture of learning, inquiry, and continuous improvement.
• Courageous, Strategic & Clarifying: Leads through change with clarity and purpose. Takes informed risks, surfaces difficult questions, and brings focus and alignment to complex challenges through thoughtful analysis and decisive action.
• Respectful, Grounded Presence: Engages others with respect, intentionality, and emotional intelligence. Listens deeply, communicates clearly, and navigates differences with openness, curiosity, and a commitment to shared understanding.
• Advanced Grantmaking & Portfolio Expertise: Demonstrates extensive knowledge of strategic grantmaking, portfolio management, and philanthropic tools, with the ability to shape approaches and guide others in complex funding environments.
• Exceptional Communication & Influence: Exhibits strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complexity, frame strategic recommendations, and communicate clearly across diverse audiences and settings.
• Highly Developed Interpersonal Skills: Brings strong people skills, active listening, and discernment to relationship management, mentorship, facilitation, and high-stakes conversations.
• Advanced Analytical & Strategic Thinking: Applies rigorous analysis, systems thinking, and inquiry to assess complex information, identify patterns, and inform strategic decisions and recommendations.
• Diplomatic & Persuasive: Navigates sensitive dynamics with tact and confidence; builds alignment, influences outcomes, and supports constructive problem-solving across internal and external stakeholders.
• Coalition & Initiative Leadership: Demonstrated ability to build and lead coalitions, partnerships, and cross-sector initiatives that advance strategic priorities and community impact.
• Strong Project & Initiative Management: Proven ability to lead complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, manage timelines and resources, and adapt plans in dynamic environments.
• Proactive Problem-Solver: Anticipates challenges, surfaces risks and tensions early, and facilitates shared problem-solving and resolution.
• High Degree of Initiative & Ownership: Operates with autonomy and accountability; identifies opportunities, takes responsibility for outcomes, and drives work forward with purpose.
• Effective Time & Priority Management: Balances multiple, competing demands while maintaining responsiveness, quality, and strategic focus.
• Confidentiality & Professional Judgment: Exercises discretion and maintains confidentiality in handling sensitive information and decision-making.
• Strong Organizational & Technical Skills: Demonstrates proficiency with data, reporting tools, and systems (e.g., databases, spreadsheets, grant management platforms) to support analysis, documentation, and learning.
• Knowledge Stewardship & Sensemaking: Develops, curates, and evolves a body of insights, concepts, and learnings that inform strategy and strengthen organizational knowledge.
• Operational & Process Acumen: Adept at designing and improving workflows; understands how to organize people, processes, and resources effectively, including identifying meaningful measures of success.
• Cultural Responsiveness & Inclusion: Demonstrates cultural self-awareness and humility; actively seeks to engage diverse perspectives, builds inclusive processes, and shows respect for differing lived experiences and viewpoints.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• We work in an office environment, both on-site and home offices that require operating standard office equipment. Office workspaces are designed to be accessible and inclusive, accommodating various physical needs and promoting a healthy work environment.
• Dogwood utilizes a hybrid work schedule requiring staff to be in the office twice or more each week. While there is some flexibility for hybrid work, this is not a remote position, and candidates should expect to work regularly from the office in Asheville, NC, or from home located in the region we serve.
• Actively engaged with assigned regions and/or grantees, which requires travel throughout Western North Carolina and occasional out-of-state travel for conferences, convenings, or learning opportunities as appropriate.
• This position is a full-time, salaried, exempt role.

What We Offer

Dogwood’s purpose of dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina is also evident within our doors. All full-time team members can take part in a broad range of competitive benefits, including:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Life and AD&D insurance.
• Competitive match for 403b retirement contributions.
• Annual PTO (4 weeks) & Sick (2 weeks).
• 10 paid holidays, 5 paid Winter Break days.

Dogwood Health Trust is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work and on our teams. We know that the rich diversity of perspectives and wisdom imperative to our purpose can only come from a wide variety of origins and life experiences. We strongly believe that creating a workplace where all team members thrive is critical to fulfilling our purpose in the communities we serve. We intentionally recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Qualified candidates are urged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

This position will close on Tuesday, June 30th 2026, at 8:00 AM. Applications must be submitted before the deadline, as late submissions will not be accepted.