How To Become A Program Officer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a program officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Tamara Tranter,

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

A program officer works for a foundation or non-profit organization. He/She oversees program development, seeks grants and proposals, manages projects, and drafts budgets. He/She ensures an organization's activities and programs align with its vision and mission statements. Also, he/she reviews and approves the final evaluation plan for funding a program.

Additionally, he/she develops and implements program monitoring methods for special projects and negotiations for specific objectives to be included in grant contracts. The administrative duties he/she performs are database management, website maintenance, and newsletter development.

Furthermore, he/she collaborates with community leaders, engages donors, and reviews program performance. The minimum educational requirement for this role is a bachelor's degree in a related field. The core skills for this role include leadership, organization, communication, multitasking, teamwork, accuracy, and self-motivation. You must be able to use Microsoft Office. On average, the program officer earns $69,811 per annum. Their salary ranges from $46,000 and $106,000.

What general advice would you give to a program officer?

Tamara Tranter

Senior Director, The USA Hockey Foundation

Take risks, go outside of your comfort zone, and don't go into interviews with big expectations. Many qualified people have been impacted and are going to get many of the jobs because they have past experience. So be realistic, be positive, and be a team player.

ScoreProgram OfficerUS Average

Salary

6.2

Avg. Salary $79,553

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.7

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 4.97%

Black or African American 14.78%

Hispanic or Latino 13.37%

Unknown 5.29%

White 60.72%

Gender

female 52.92%

male 47.08%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

9.7

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a program officer

Explore program officer education requirements

Most common program officer degrees

Bachelor's

61.7 %

Master's

26.0 %

Associate

4.5 %

Start to develop specific program officer skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	9.05%
Program Management	6.62%
Excellent Interpersonal	5.32%
PowerPoint	5.04%
Public Health	5.03%

Complete relevant program officer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New program officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a program officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real program officer resumes.

Research program officer duties and responsibilities

Manage request for proposals (RFP) processes, and oversee contractors/vendors for research-relate activities.
Manage a political party strengthening program in Colombia and a civil society strengthening program in Peru from NDI's main office.
Lead the introduction and upgrade of wireless infrastructure at remote locations to ensure adherence with internal and international wireless standards.
Follow privacy guidelines (HIPAA).

Prepare your program officer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your program officer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a program officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable program officer resume templates

Build a professional program officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your program officer resume.