Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning at Mellon Foundation
Mellon Foundation · New York, United States Of America · Hybrid
- Professional
- Office in New York
Mellon Foundation
Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning
Please note that interviews for this position will take place in January 2026.
The Mellon Foundation (“Foundation”) is a not-for-profit, grant making organization that believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks a Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning for the Higher Learning program.
About the Higher Learning Program
Working with colleges, universities, and other organizations that expand understanding and appreciation of the humanities, Mellon makes grants through its Higher Learning program that foster our understanding of American history and culture; develop the interpretive tools and methods scholars use to create meaning; support faculty and students whose work exemplifies a drive toward greater equity in their fields and institutions; and promote pathways for scholars and academic leaders.
Position Summary:
The Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning (MSIP) plays a key role in ensuring the effective coordination, documentation, and implementation of program grantmaking and activities. Working closely with the Program Director and the Higher Learning team, the MSIP manages strategic initiatives, grantmaking operations, and field engagement efforts. The position blends strategic and administrative functions, providing operational leadership, supporting program planning, and contributing analysis and insights that inform program direction and learning.
This role requires both project management rigor and familiarity with the higher education and humanities sectors, ensuring that administrative systems, communications, and assessment processes reflect the program’s goals and values.
Program Operations and Coordination
- Manage timelines, workflows, and internal coordination for grantmaking and strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with program goals and deadlines.
- Track and maintain program documentation, grant records, and initiative milestones within internal systems and tools (e.g., Fluxx, PowerBI, Monday.com).
- Support development and monitoring of program and initiative budgets, coordinating with Finance and other internal teams.
- Prepare, review, and organize materials for Board meetings, planning sessions, and institutional partnerships.
- Assist in coordinating logistics for convenings, workshops, and learning sessions with grantees, consultants, and external partners.
- Track important internal program-related deadlines and manage recurring reporting cycles.
- Manage relationships with consultants providing services and support to Higher Learning program initiatives.
- Directly supervise at least one junior Higher Learning team member.
Strategic and Research Support
- Work closely with the Program Director and Leads on multi-year strategic planning, including assessment of grantmaking against goals and identification of emerging opportunities.
- Liaise with the Learning and Evaluation team on assessment of program initiatives and team education and training initiatives.
- Oversee Higher Learning’s research staff members to develop data-driven analyses, visualizations, and presentations using tools such as Power BI or Excel to support decision-making.
- Draft concise memos, summaries, and analytical documents that synthesize findings for internal and external audiences.
- Support the preparation of framing documents, presentations, and briefings for the Board of Trustees and internal leadership.
Grantmaking Administration
- Manage intake, review, and processing of proposals and reports in collaboration with Higher Learning team and Grants Management staff.
- Assist in drafting grant recommendations and related materials for internal and Board review.
- Oversee monitoring of active grants for progress, compliance, and reporting requirements, ensuring the maintenance of accurate documentation.
- Coordinate with Finance and Grants Management to ensure accuracy in budgeting, payments, and modifications.
- Support the Program Director and Leads in developing annual grantmaking priorities and tracking implementation progress.
Learning and Communications
- Summarize learning from program activities and maintain awareness of sector developments.
- Liaise with Communications colleagues in the creation of internal and public-facing materials that communicate program outcomes, insights, and learning.
- Oversee the creation of internal materials that communicate Higher Learning outcomes, insights, and learning
- Help organize reflective or evaluative sessions to inform program improvement as needed.
- Contribute to knowledge-sharing activities across the Foundation, serving as liaison with other program areas when appropriate.
Administrative and Cross-Foundation Engagement
- Serve as the Higher Learning team’s representative on cross-Foundation committees and task forces as assigned.
- Help maintain a collegial, outcomes-oriented, and efficient work environment.
- Coordinate with other program and administrative offices regarding internal communications, Town Hall updates, and year-end processes.
- Assist in planning and implementing annual retreats, strategic reflection sessions, or learning events.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience in higher education, humanities, public policy, or related field.
- Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in higher education administration, philanthropy, or related nonprofit settings.
- Demonstrated project leadership and management experience, with operational and budget management skills.
- Strong analytical and synthetic skills with ability to translate findings into actionable insights.
- Knowledge of U.S. higher education systems, including diverse institutional types (e.g., liberal arts colleges, community colleges, MSIs/HBCUs).
- Exceptional written, oral, and visual communication skills, including ability to prepare materials for senior leadership and Trustees.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy, discretion, and sound judgment.
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite; familiarity with Power BI, Fluxx, or other project and data management tools preferred.
Key Competencies
- Strategic and Analytical Thinking: Anticipates structural implications, identifies leverage points, and synthesizes complex information.
- Operational Excellence: Organizes complex workflows and ensures accuracy and efficiency in execution.
- Collaborative Communication: Works effectively with colleagues, grantees, and partners in a professional, service-oriented manner.
- Integrity and Discretion: Exercises sound judgment in managing sensitive information and institutional relationships.
- Adaptive Learning: Engages reflective practice and adapts processes to improve program effectiveness.
- Sector Awareness: Demonstrates understanding of the higher education and humanities landscape and its institutional dynamics.
The Mellon Foundation is committed to building an inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Employment opportunities are based on individual qualifications, merit, and organizational need, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds.
Mellon is committed to access and inclusion for our applicants. If you have accessibility requests to support your participation in the hiring process, please let us know at your earliest convenience.
Mellon offers a generous total reward package that includes base salary and a comprehensive benefits program, as well as an excellent working environment. Mellon is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated annual salary range for this role is $175,000 - $185,000. The amount of pay offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials, or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework.
Please note that Mellon maintains a hybrid work schedule, with three days per week in person at the Foundation’s Manhattan offices.
Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter describing fit for the position and a resume by December 19th, 2025. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Foundation will consider each complete application carefully but only contact those individuals it believes are most qualified for the position.
