Program Officer, The Monuments Project, Presidential Initiatives

Position Summary

The Mellon Foundation seeks a Program Officer for the Presidential Initiatives Monuments Project team. Reporting to the Program Directors for Presidential Initiatives and Humanities in Place, and working closely with the Monuments Project team, the Program Officer will play a leadership role in advancing the Foundation's Monuments Project. The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience in commemorative landscapes, memorialization, public history, public art, cultural heritage, design, planning, or related fields.

Position Description

• Serve as a key leader in advancing the Monuments Project, helping to implement the Foundation’s strategy and steward and refine the initiative's grantmaking priorities.
• Lead the development and management of a portfolio of grants and special initiatives that strengthen the nation's commemorative landscape and advance the goals of the Monuments Project.
• Identify, assess, and cultivate prospective grantees and strategic partners whose work aligns with Foundation priorities.
• Evaluate grant proposals and organizational readiness, including organizational capacity, governance, financial health, project feasibility, and potential for impact.
• Prepare funding recommendations, strategy memoranda, Board materials, presentations, and other analyses to support decision-making by Foundation leadership and Trustees.
• Provide strategic guidance and technical assistance to grantees and oversee post-award engagement, monitoring project progress, organizational health, financial stewardship, and outcomes.
• Design and execute strategic initiatives that advance program goals, strengthen the commemorative field, and deepen the impact of Monuments Project grantmaking.
• Cultivate relationships across the commemorative ecosystem, including government agencies, community organizations, cultural institutions, historians, artists, designers, planners, developers, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the Foundation in meetings, convenings, conferences, and public forums, serving as an ambassador for the Monuments Project.
• Serve as a thought partner to colleagues across programs and departments and contribute to Foundation-wide learning and collaboration.
• Attend Board of Trustees meetings and deliver presentations and briefings as needed.
• Supervise assigned staff and provide mentorship, guidance, and subject-matter expertise to program colleagues.
• Stay informed about developments across the fields of commemoration, public history, public art, cultural heritage, planning, and design.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in philanthropy, public administration, cultural institutions, public history, public art, memorialization, planning, design, or related fields, including leadership of complex programs, initiatives, or partnerships.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Deep knowledge of the commemorative, memorial, public art, public history, or cultural heritage sectors, and the policies, processes, and stakeholders that shape public-facing projects.
• Understanding of the intersections among culture, history, the humanities, civic engagement, and social justice.
• Experience working across diverse stakeholder groups, including government agencies, community organizations, cultural institutions, developers, planners, designers, historians, and other partners.
• Significant experience in grantmaking, program design, or public funding, including assessing organizational capacity, financial health, and project feasibility.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-year initiatives and balancing strategic vision with effective implementation.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor colleagues, work collaboratively, and contribute to a collegial team environment.
• Willingness to travel domestically as required.