JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Program Officer, Early Childhood
Employment Classification: Full-time exempt
Reports to: Vice President of Community Investments (VPCI)
Location: Allentown, PA
Date: March 2026
The Program Officer, Early Childhood advances the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s efforts to strengthen early childhood systems through partnership coordination, grantmaking, convening, and data-informed learning. This role serves as a central connector across funders, providers, and community stakeholders, supporting initiatives that increase childcare capacity, affordability, workforce pathways, and system effectiveness.
The Program Officer is a member of the Community Investments team and collaborates closely with colleagues across finance, communications, donor services, and administration.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Early Childhood Program Management:
- Serve as a central point of contact for early childhood partners and stakeholders, supporting shared understanding of goals, timelines, and outcomes across initiatives.
- Coordinate and manage early childhood grantmaking initiatives, including grant design, application, monitoring, and compliance, in collaboration with internal teams.
- Monitor progress across initiatives, identify risks and opportunities, and elevate insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Plan and facilitate partner convenings and collaborative forums, including agenda development, materials preparation, documentation, and synthesis of outcomes.
- Support outreach and community engagement by collaborating with partners to engage early childhood providers, families, and community stakeholders.
- Partner with the Marketing & Communications team to support announcements, website content, and consistent messaging related to early childhood initiatives.
- Provide additional grant cycle and program support to the VPCI as needed.
- Attend professional development opportunities (such as conferences) and participate in the Foundation’s own work related to inclusion and belonging.
- Undertake special projects as assigned or initiated.
Governance & Reporting
- Maintain accurate data in Foundation systems (currently Foundant GLM, SLM, CSuite, and MS Teams) related to grants, partners, and initiatives.
- Support data collection, learning, and continuous improvement efforts, including coordinating partner reporting, assisting with surveys and data requests, and identifying data gaps and opportunities.
- Prepare narrative and summary reports; coordinate required data submissions; manage invoice documentation and financial tracking; and support compliance with funder, regulatory, and organizational requirements.
Work Environment: This position offers a hybrid work model that combines remote flexibility with required in-person collaboration. Candidates must be able to commute regularly to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for meetings, partner convenings, and key deadlines, at least 3 days per week. Initial onboarding will require on-site presence 4 days per week, shifting to a flexible hybrid schedule after 90 days.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Professional experience working in or closely with the early childhood education or early childhood systems sector.
- Strong project management, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Experience coordinating across multiple partners and managing complex workflows.
- Experience in leading collaboratives in systems-change approaches
- Experience facilitating meetings or collaborative processes
- Experience working within nonprofit, philanthropic, or community foundation settings
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to surface risks, challenges, and recommendations to senior leadership.
Preferred:
- Demonstrated experience managing significant federal or public grants.
- Familiarity with data-informed program design, learning, and evaluation.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience working alongside development or donor services teams is a plus.
Salary: TBD
Benefits:
- Fully paid health insurance
- 401(k) with employer contribution
- Paid time off and holidays
- Life and disability insurance
- Hybrid work flexibility
- Ongoing professional development
How to Apply: If interested in applying for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter (highlighting relevant experience and interest in the position) to LVCFHR@lvcfoundation.org.
About the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation
At the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, we connect donors who care with causes that matter. A leader in charitable giving in the Lehigh Valley for almost 60 years, we receive support from donors, manage funds to grow over time, and make high-impact grants to strengthen local nonprofits. The Foundation manages more than 300 charitable funds, totaling over $125 million, and continues to grow—both in size and in the ways we fulfill our mission. We are evolving to engage more deeply with partners, serve as a thought leader on community issues, and explore innovative ways to make life better across the Lehigh Valley.
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with ADA regulations as applicable. All applicants are considered without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application or interview process should contact LVCFHR@lvcfoundation.org.
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