Program Associate

Position Summary

The Program Associate leads efforts to build and sustain trusted relationships with bereaved families and survivor communities. This role serves as a primary bridge between the organization and the communities it supports, ensuring services are accessible, responsive, and shaped by the lived experiences of those impacted by loss and trauma.

The ideal candidate brings deep empathy, cultural humility, and experience working with grief-affected populations, along with strong organizational and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• • Build and maintain long-term, trust-based relationships with the 9/11 community, Gold Star Families, and survivor groups (ex: military SOS) in the Northeast Region
  • Serve as a consistent, compassionate point of contact for families seeking information, support, or connection to services through regular communication with families
  • Facilitate individual listening sessions, support gatherings, commemorative events, and community forums in a trauma-informed manner

Outreach & Program Support

• • Develop and implement outreach strategies to connect bereaved families with organizational programs and resources in the Northeast Region
  • Partner with leadership to ensure outreach efforts align with service delivery and family needs
  • Work closely with the program team to find external organizations that serve demographics like those of Tuesday's Children. Build partnerships with these organizations to invite their members to join our Family Engagement events.
  • Coordinate with partner organizations, government agencies, and advocacy groups serving 9/11 families and families of the fallen
  • Support the planning and execution of memorial, remembrance, and anniversary events
  • Plan and execute regional Family Engagements, leveraging partnerships, corporate partners, and local businesses
  • Collaborate closely with Program Director, Finance Director and grant writers to ensure grant-funded Family Engagement events meet all deliverables and stay within budget
• Attend program and fundraising events in the Northeast Region.

Advocacy & Feedback Integration

• • Gather community feedback through outreach efforts and translate insights into actionable recommendations for leadership
  • Assist in advocacy and awareness efforts related to benefits, services, and long-term support for bereaved populations

Communications & Reporting

• • Work with marketing team to ensure culturally sensitive outreach materials and messaging through various channels
  • After Action Reviews: Track engagement efforts, partnerships, and outcomes; prepare reports for leadership and funders, including areas of improvement
  • Maintain accurate records of community interactions in coordination with data or CRM systems

Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, public health, communications, nonprofit management, or a related field (or equivalent lived/professional experience)
  • 1–3 years of experience in community engagement, outreach, grief support, advocacy, or human services
  • Strong interpersonal, listening, and facilitation skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work with discretion, sensitivity, and confidentiality
  • Team Player

Preferred Experience & Skills

• • Experience working with bereaved, trauma-impacted, military and/or 9/11 families or survivor communities
  • Training in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, or crisis response
  • Experience coordinating memorial or commemorative events
  • Familiarity with benefits systems, victim compensation, or survivor services

Core Competencies

• • Deep empathy and emotional intelligence
  • Cultural humility and respect for diverse grieving practices
  • Relationship-centered and trust-building approach
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills
  • Resilience and self-awareness when working with emotionally demanding content

Health insurance, 403b, life insurance.