About Tepper Philanthropies and the Tepper Foundation
The Tepper Foundation was founded by David Tepper based on his vision that everyone should have equal opportunity to be successful. The Tepper Foundation supports organizations in New Jersey and across the country on the frontlines of protecting and expanding opportunity for all. Our work spans six portfolios: Food, Housing & Health; Community Impact; Crisis Response & Climate Resilience; Pro-Democracy & Anti-Hate Initiatives; Strengthening the Nonprofit Sector; and additional Board Initiatives.
Our work is grounded in the commitment of The Tepper Foundation and our grantee partners to help families find economic prosperity and stability. Our approach includes investing directly in nonprofits, strengthening the resiliency of networks, and fostering deeper community ties.
This role is part of TTF, LLC, a family office that manages both the philanthropic and personal interests of David Tepper and his family. Tepper Philanthropies oversees the family’s charitable initiatives, which are carried out through several organizations.
Tepper Philanthropies is in the office every Tuesday and Thursday.
Learn more about The Tepper Foundation at https://tepperfoundation.org/.
The Opportunity
The Tepper Foundation is seeking a highly organized and strategic Director of Grantmaking Operations to join our philanthropic investing team. This is a newly created role that offers a unique opportunity to shape and optimize the Foundation’s grantmaking processes.
The Director will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence across all grantmaking activities, including building efficient workflows, tracking and supporting project execution, and consultant oversight. This individual will bring both a deep understanding of grant management systems (GMS) and the ability to support the evolution of the Foundation’s due‑diligence and grant execution processes.
This role blends strategic thinking with technical expertise, acting as a project manager to integrate diverse inputs, maintain a holistic view of the field, and ensure alignment across multiple initiatives. The ideal candidate will thrive in collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, streamlining processes, and advancing the Foundation’s work in a fast-paced, high-impact environment.
As the Foundation shifts toward fewer, larger investments, the Director will play a central role in executing multi-million-dollar commitments, driving impact at scale and supporting the Foundation’s grantmaking capability.
The Portfolio Manager will report directly to the Chief Portfolio Officer with a dotted line to the Director of Operations.
Candidate Profile
With the understanding that no person will offer every characteristic outlined below, compelling candidates will offer the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
Operational Excellence & Systems Leadership
- Leading the team and critical stakeholders to design, implement, and manage workflows, templates, and tools to streamline grantmaking processes and support the portfolio team.
- Ensure integration across grants management systems, project management platforms, and measurement and evaluation practices.
- Maintain alignment between operational processes, timelines, and reporting requirements to drive efficiency and consistency across the Foundation’s work.
- Lead discrete projects and initiatives at the direction of the Chief Program Officer, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic priorities.
- Develop and manage grant processes for investments that fall outside standard approval pathways.
Strategic Project Management
- Lead and coordinate projects that advance organizational priorities, including multi-year program goals, budgeting, and the evolution of the grantmaking operating model.
- Partner with senior leadership to structure large-scale investments and ensure strategic alignment.
- Oversee consultants and contracts, managing scopes of work in alignment with program and organizational needs.
- Manage cross-functional initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and measurable impact.
Strong Communication and Relationship Builder
- Facilitate clear, consistent communication across the portfolio team and broader Foundation, including board-related deliverables and staff-wide meetings.
- Serve as a central point of coordination, fostering collaboration among internal teams, external partners, and consultants.
- Build processes that reinforce alignment with strategic priorities, promote learning, and strengthen organizational culture.
- Coordinate preparation of program related deliverables for board meetings.
- Serve as a responsive and accessible partner throughout the grantmaking process.
- Lead a three‑person grantmaking team, serving as a collaborative partner and supportive leader who coaches, develops, and supports staff in their professional development.
Analytical and Adaptive Thinking
- Create timelines and structures for integrating Measurement & Evaluation (M&E) work into the Foundation’s grantmaking.
- Coordinate with Impact and portfolio staff to ensure learning questions, reporting requirements, and evaluation activities are operationally feasible and well sequenced.
- Help codify learnings from completed grants and initiatives into improved templates, guidance, and workflows.
- Synthesize complex information into clear, actionable recommendations for decision-makers.
- Demonstrate flexibility in shifting priorities and adapting to evolving needs.
- Bring curiosity and intellectual rigor to exploring new issue areas and opportunities.
In addition, strong candidates will offer:
- At least seven years of progressive experience in philanthropy, nonprofits, or other social impact organizations, with a track record of driving measurable impact.
- Experience in grantmaking management and applying project management methodologies.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex information, facilitate decision-making, and translate big ideas into actionable plans.
- Flexibility and resilience in navigating ambiguity, with the creativity and problem-solving skills to build and lead in fluid circumstances.
- Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage and influence without direct authority.
- Proven ability to translate processes into actionable implementation for staff and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience leading change management and process improvement initiatives.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-directed.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with adaptability in dynamic environments.
- High emotional intelligence (EQ), humility, and a collaborative mindset.
- Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously with competing priorities.
Compensation and Benefits
The Foundation provides compensation commensurate with experience and equitable with others on the team, plus a full benefits package. The salary range for this position is $230,000- $250,000, and the final offer will be based on the candidate’s qualifications.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Alicia Salerno and Malissa Brennan. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
TTF, LLC is an equal opportunity employer.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.