Program Director | Job Description

Pillars Fund • Full-time • United States • from $140k / year • 8h ago

Last Updated: December 10, 2025

PILLARSFUND.ORG

About Pillars

Pillars Fund amplifies the leadership, narratives, and talents of Muslims in the United States to advance opportunity and justice for all. Since 2010, Pillars has invested and leveraged more than $30 million to create opportunities for Muslims to tell their own stories, build community, and shape public life.

We are in a new chapter of our work, grounded in the conviction that narrative and cultural power are essential levers for societal transformation. Pillars draws on a deep inheritance of Muslim storytelling—an enduring legacy of memory, resistance, imagination, and truth-telling—and channels it toward systems change. Across our programs, we equip leaders and communities with the tools, space, and resources to reclaim stories that have been erased or distorted, and to generate new narratives that reflect the full dignity and complexity of our communities. Pillars exists to support that work, in partnership with the people already leading it.

The Role

Pillars is entering an ambitious era that invests deeply in narrative power and creative leadership. The Program Director will be at the center of this transformation. This role offers a rare opportunity to build a suite of programs that influence how Muslims are seen, supported, and celebrated on an international scale.

This role will report to the Vice President of Programs and serve as their senior strategic partner. The Program Director will steward and evolve our core creative initiatives, design and launch new program verticals (including the Digital Creator Fellowship and future offerings), and strengthen the systems that ensure all Pillars programs operate with clarity, impact, and excellence.

This is a role for a builder and strategist who will shine as the VP's deputy. We are seeking someone who can translate bold vision into strong, innovative programs, forge trusted relationships, and help uphold the quality Pillars has become known for during a dynamic period of growth.

This position reports to the Vice President of Programs and collaborates closely with colleagues across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Strategy

● Serve as a strategic partner to the VP, Programs, by leading major workstreams across the Programs portfolio.

● Design, launch, and refine new program verticals, including the Digital Creator Fellowship and programming initiatives in literature, journalism, culinary arts, athletics, and more.

● Ensure alignment across Communications, Operations, Development, and Event Production to deliver high-quality community gatherings, workshops, retreats, and digital experiences.

Community, Fellow, and Partner Engagement

● Maintain relationships with fellows and alumni across all creative programs to support belonging and creative growth.

● Cultivate relationships with artistic advisors, mentors, cultural institutions, and industry partners.

● Represent Pillars at selected events, panels, and convenings, often as a trusted delegate of the Vice President of Programs.

● Collaborate with the Communications team on program messaging and storytelling.

Learning, Evaluation, and Organizational Collaboration

● Spearhead evaluation efforts, including data collection, analysis, and synthesis.

● Track progress toward program goals and key performance indicators.

● Surface insights that inform program evolution and organizational strategy.

● Help cultivate a creative, collaborative, mission-aligned team culture.

Ideal Attributes of the Program Director

● Deep alignment with Pillars' mission and an intimate knowledge of the Muslim narrative landscape.

● 5–7 years of experience in program development, creative leadership, fellowships, arts & culture, or narrative change.

● Strong communication skills, including writing, editing, and public representation.

● Comfort navigating high-profile, evolving environments with clarity and emotional intelligence.

Compensation and Benefits

Pillars Fund offers a competitive total compensation package including health, employer-subsidized dental and vision, basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability, parental leave, and unlimited time off. Pillars believes in investing in talent and providing opportunities for professional growth. We offer professional development such as training, conferences, and other opportunities to grow one's leadership.

The salary for this position begins at $140,000.

Location and Travel

Los Angeles is preferred.

The Pillars team is fully remote, with the majority of our team residing in New York City. This role requires travel for core responsibilities and partner events, including some out-of-state travel and potential international travel, and attendance at events on nights and weekends.

How To Apply

Those wishing to be considered should submit a cover letter and resume to careers@pillarsfund.org by Friday, January 9 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. In your cover letter, please explain why you are interested in this role and how your experience and skills are relevant to the responsibilities and attributes outlined above. While not required, you may also submit an optional work sample that speaks to the skills, experience, and leadership qualities that make you an excellent fit.

Pillars will keep all inquiries and submissions confidential. Candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

This position was originally posted by Pillars Fund and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.

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