The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) seeks a collaborative and mission-aligned professional to serve as Program Officer for its Michigan Programs. This is a unique opportunity to join one of the nation’s largest philanthropic foundations and contribute to advancing community-led systems change across Michigan. WKKF’s work is grounded in the organization’s DNA, which is focused on racial equity and healing, community engagement, and leadership.
The Program Officer-Michigan will play a critical role in supporting place-based strategies that improve outcomes for Michigan’s children and families. Working in close partnership with Michigan program colleagues, grantees, and community leaders, the Program Officer will manage a portfolio of work rooted in shared leadership, systems change, and cross-functional collaboration. The role involves strategic planning, grantmaking, and partnership development, with a focus on supporting community-led efforts and equitable systems transformation in the priority places of Battle Creek, Detroit, and Grand Rapids.
Founded in 1930 by breakfast cereal innovator Will Keith Kellogg, WKKF is a private, independent foundation. Grounded in the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, the foundation invests nearly $300 million annually through strategic grantmaking and leadership development. WKKF’s work centers around three core priorities: thriving children, working families, and equitable communities—always with racial equity at the heart of its mission.
Michigan holds special significance for WKKF as its home state, with deep roots in Battle Creek and strong, sustained partnerships across the state. In 2024 alone, the foundation committed $72.8 million to Michigan, the largest investment among all its priority places. These resources support locally driven efforts to promote early childhood education, public school transformation, health equity, economic mobility, leadership development, and career pathways.
WKKF operates as a networked organization—an intentional structure designed to promote agility, collaboration, and proximity to the community. Rather than a traditional hierarchy, staff are organized into cross-functional teams empowered to make decisions close to the work. The Program Officer will thrive in this environment by contributing to a culture of shared learning, distributed leadership, and team-based decision-making. WKKF is powered by a diverse and mission-driven team, united by a shared commitment to children, families, and equity.
Strong candidates for this position will bring at least five years of related work experience and a demonstrated record of success in at least one of the fields relevant to the programmatic priorities of the foundation: Early care and education; jobs and family economic security; promise of an equitable future; health and health equity; food, strong and equitable food systems. The ideal candidate will possess deep experience with community organizing, coalition building, and policy advocacy at the Michigan state and local levels of Battle Creek, Detroit, and/or Grand Rapids on issues affecting working families with children. Success in this role requires a background in project management, stakeholder engagement, and policy or program development. Candidates should be knowledgeable about pressing issues, emerging opportunities, leaders, and communities across Michigan, including the three priority places, and have existing strong Michigan networks and contacts. A bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the assigned program area is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
The Program Officer will model WKKF’s values and leadership principles, bringing cultural humility, emotional intelligence, and a spirit of collaboration to their work. They will be highly responsive and community-centered, with the ability to navigate complexity and adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining clarity of purpose and commitment to equity.
This hybrid position is based in Michigan, with an assigned office in Battle Creek, Detroit, or Grand Rapids. While flexible scheduling is supported, the Program Officer will need to be accessible to their team and travel regularly within the state for relationship-building, community engagement, and collaborative work.
Please submit all applications (which should include a current résumé and thoughtful cover letter) through the candidate portal using the buttons below. For fullest consideration, candidates are recommended to apply by the priority deadline of May 26, 2025.
Inquires and nominations can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search, Ashley Buderus, Julie Rosen, and Jess Cummings, via email at: [email protected].
Compensation and Benefits: The salary range for this position is mid $100k range, based on market data, experience, and internal equity. WKKF offers a competitive Total Rewards package, including generous paid leave, comprehensive health benefits, retirement contributions, paid parental leave, and professional development. To learn more, visit: https://www.wkkf.org/careers/.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.