The John T. Gorman Foundation
The John T. Gorman Foundation advances ideas and opportunities that can improve the lives of people in Maine, particularly those experiencing poverty.
To achieve the greatest impact, the Foundation has a special interest in strengthening families and helping communities provide them with the supports and opportunities they need to thrive. This focus on strengthening families reflects our founder, Tom Gorman's recognition that his personal success and achievement were largely derived from the support provided to him by his family and community, as well as his desire to help those with fewer advantages and opportunities to succeed.
The Position
The Program Associate reports to the Chief Program Officer and is a full-time professional position at the Foundation. The Program Associate will work with other Foundation staff, helping to craft and implement investment strategies that can advance the Foundation’s goal of ensuring Maine children are resilient and successful and their families have the resources and tools they need to support them.
Responsibilities
· Identify key programmatic and policy opportunities across the State that would support the Foundation’s work
· Research and develop ideas for strategic investment and work with grantees and partners to translate these ideas into grants and initiatives
· Create and maintain strong grantee and partner relationships
· Maintain proactive communication with and serve as a technical resource to grantees in the implementation of the Foundation’s work to achieve measurable results and impact policy and practice across strategies
· Work with identified consultants to build grantee capacity to successfully advance Foundation initiatives
· Work as part of a team to coordinate efforts in ways that can maximize success across the Foundation’s grantmaking
· Review required grantee information and evaluate grantees in the areas of organizational capacity, efficiency, management, financial stability, leadership and governance
· Prepare written reports and program and policy analysis
· Represent the Foundation’s mission and values to public audiences
· Participate in meetings, public presentations, and the preparation of written materials
· Work with other staff members to ensure the maintenance of databases related to the work of our grantees
· Exhibit sensitivity to and respect for differences and demonstrate an ability to work with diverse audiences and constituencies
Qualifications and Experience
The ideal Program Associate candidate will be well-grounded in research and practice and demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the array of factors that lead to positive child outcomes, including family wellbeing. They will demonstrate expertise in social and emotional wellbeing, child welfare, mental health, and/or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and be comfortable designing and implementing strategies that are comprehensive and preventative. The Program Associate will be a skilled collaborator who can advance cross-sector approaches to tough problems and is someone who can work successfully with other partners to leverage public and private support. They will also have experience providing technical assistance to help build or enhance grantee capacity, be skilled in using data to drive decision-making, and be comfortable taking a results-orientation in their work. Finally, the Program Associate will be someone with a working knowledge of policy issues associated with the Foundation’s work.
As importantly, the ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to the success of the Foundation’s mission and goals versus individual accomplishment. They will be willing to work as part of a larger team to support all the Foundation’s strategies and will work closely with grantees to achieve these designated goals. They will also show a commitment to the values and principles of the Foundation and be able to demonstrate that commitment in their work.
Required Qualifications
· Masters Degree or comparable degree in a human service field and 6 years of work experience in the field and a demonstrated understanding of these issues in the context of Maine is desirable;
· Strong writing and oral communication skills;
· Ability to effectively receive and apply constructive feedback;
· Strong knowledge of local and national best practices related to child well-being;
· Demonstrated ability to provide hands-on technical assistance in the field and to supervise others who may do so on the Foundation’s behalf;
· Good judgment, instincts and excellent social skills;
· Ability to think strategically and critically;
· A natural curiosity and desire to learn new things;
· Knowledge of office practices, processes and computer software programs including Word, Outlook, Excel, and Powerpoint;
· Ability to work as an effective team member;
· Ability to produce timely and accurate reports;
· Ability to travel throughout the state and occasionally nationally; and
· Ability to work under tight deadlines.
Compensation & Other Considerations
Salary Range: $85K - $105K. Strong benefit package and great working conditions. The position is based in the Foundation’s Portland office.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] by August 17, 2026.
The John T. Gorman Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture and workforce reflective of our mission, values and communities we serve. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, familial status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. The Foundation encourages applications from diverse populations, persons with disabilities, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.
Pay: $85,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have a Masters Degree or comparable degree in a human service field and 6 years of work experience in the field and a demonstrated understanding of these issues in the context of Maine?
Work Location: In person
