Program Director, Inclusive Communities; PF

Posted on January 21, 2019

Prudential was founded on the belief that financial security should be within reach for everyone. It’s a challenge we’ve embraced for more than one hundred and forty years. A strong sense of social responsibility has remained embedded in the company, guiding our efforts to help people now and in future generations achieve peace of mind and a more secure future.

In keeping with that tradition, Prudential strives to be a catalyst for meaningful, authentic and positive change to achieve shared prosperity for vulnerable and underserved individuals and communities in the United States and around the world. Prudential annually invests more than $300 million in impact investments, strategic grants and contributions to develop long-term partnerships strengthening communities and creating pathways for all to achieve financial and social mobility.

Prudential’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) group oversees partnerships to nonprofit organizations and is responsible for the development and implementation of its philanthropic strategy through grants and corporate contributions to drive social impact that complement business objectives in the following areas:

• Improving workforce and employer systems to better prepare and connect financially vulnerable people to quality jobs.
• Increasing the availability and utilization of wealth-building and protection products and services for underserved and financially vulnerable populations.
• Transforming urban systems to drive inclusive economic growth to ensure economic development practices produce equitable outcomes and opportunities for mobility for underserved populations.

Prudential CSR seeks a Program Director, Inclusive Communities, to lead the company’s strategy on driving inclusive economic growth through place-based strategies and a portfolio of strategic partnerships. The $10- 13M portfolio seeks to improve the effectiveness of public systems and coordinates key stakeholders to increase economic opportunities for the most vulnerable and underserved in communities, particularly in Newark. The Program Director will be responsible for the following programmatic objectives:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for a portfolio of grants and contributions that advance placemaking strategies to support inclusive economic growth and Prudential’s role as an anchor institution in its headquarter city of Newark, NJ.
• Develop and cultivate partnerships with public and private stakeholders to extend the impact of the program area and company’s grantmaking.
• Establish funding priorities, program goals & objectives and manage program budget allocations. Maintain strong working relationships with grantees through regular communications, anticipating challenges in meeting deliverables and providing technical assistance in execution of their grant deliverables.
• Cultivate strong working relationships with internal stakeholders to help drive more inclusive business practices in Newark, NJ.
• Serve as subject matter expert maintaining a breadth of knowledge, including research, about current trends, emerging issues, policy interventions, and innovations in the program’s areas of focus to enhance the effectiveness of program strategy and the engagement of senior leadership.
• Build and lead networks/coalitions with nonprofit partners, field experts, policymakers and other funders when necessary to accomplish the program objectives.
• Manage a Program Manager dedicated to the execution of the program portfolio.
• Research, develop and present new ideas for strategic initiatives to have broader impact on the Prudential’s social impact strategies.
• Support the evaluation of the Prudential’s grantmaking strategy.
• Participate in the preparation of internal and external communication materials including but not limited to board materials, issue briefs, the annual report, website content, speaking engagements, proposal guidelines and press releases.
• Represent Prudential’s CSR team at both internal and external events and stakeholder convenings.

The experience and qualities of an ideal candidate…