Programs & Operations Director

Whom We’re Looking For

The Matthew Shepard Foundation is looking for an experienced programs officer with solid supervisory skills to be our next Programs & Operations Director. You’ll be putting your strong passion for civil rights and social change to work for an organization that seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion and Acceptance.” Working from and fine-tuning our strategic plan, you will oversee our communication and programmatic team and our Controller; lead our support programs for “The Laramie Project” and other legacy multimedia works, MatthewsPlace.com, and Foundation speaking engagements; and support the Executive Director’s lead advocacy role in hate crime prevention, reporting and enforcement. You will see and seize strategic opportunities to fulfill the Foundation’s mission and vision through programmatic work. You’ll be assisting the Executive Director in representing the Foundation to partners, peers and the public, and joining a three-member management team in planning and budgeting to meet our goals.

What It’s All About

• Ensuring the Foundation delivers high-quality, measurable and strategically targeted programmatic efforts.
• Directly supervising and periodically evaluating programmatic and operations activities and personnel.

• Being the primary programs officer for support of legacy media works, public speaking and other outreach and resources outside the Hate Crimes Prevention and Reporting Initiative.
• Assisting the Executive Director in his lead advocacy role for the hate crimes program.
• Participating in management team collaborative processes including annual work plan creation and budget drafting.
• Ensuring day-to-day operations are efficient, accurate, well supervised, and legally and ethically compliant.

What We Need From You

• A bachelor’s degree and minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit programmatic management, education or a similar field. Supervisory or management experience is highly desirable.
• A cover letter describing why this position interests you and how the Foundation would benefit from your skills and experience.
• Your resume or CV.
• Ability to work in our Denver office.
• An open and collaborative work style that fosters both structured and spontaneous team member collaboration.
• Passion for civil and human rights and LGBTQ+ community issues specifically.
• A commitment to rigorously evaluating and improving program delivery.
• Comfort with the sometimes unpredictable nature of small organizations doing social-change work.
• An understanding, compassionate and accepting outlook on life.
• Preferred but not required: master’s degree; advanced public speaking experience; program evaluation expertise; law-enforcement experience.

What You Can Expect From Us

• Market-based competitive salary and better-than-average benefits.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.
• A dedicated and experienced team conducting excellent program work, creative fundraising and inspiring board leadership.
• A place your work will truly make a difference.

More About Us

The Matthew Shepard Foundation is an LGBT- and Ally-focused 501(c)(3) charitable organization which empowers the individual to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach, advocacy, and resources.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.  Applicants are considered for employment based on qualifications and experience without regard to sex, national origin, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, or any other category protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

Please send your CV and cover letter to employment@matthewshepard.org. Thank you!