Business Unit Description

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.

AARP Foundation is AARP's 501 c3 charitable affiliate. We are a public charity with revenue from federal agencies, corporations, foundations and individuals. AARP Foundation's vision is a country free of poverty where no older person feels vulnerable. Staff are located in Washington DC and throughout the US.

Every year, AARP Foundation helps millions of struggling older adults 50 and over win back opportunity by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face each day. Through the Foundation's many groundbreaking and innovative programs and services, we create and advance effective solutions to meet their basic needs for nutritious food, safe and affordable housing, adequate income and much-needed personal connections.

Summary

The Social Entrepreneur will pursue poverty and isolation alleviation goals with entrepreneurial zeal, business methods, and the courage to innovate and overcome traditional practices to scaling solutions. The Social Entrepreneur will provide daily operational support and be a strategic advisor on a portfolio of programs associated with the impact areas of Hunger, Income, Housing and Isolation. The Social Entrepreneur will work in concert with other Social Entrepreneurs and Analysts and across the AARP Foundation (including Development, Communications, Technology, Litigation and Innovation) to identify and integrate solutions to the biggest challenges facing the low income 50+ and their families.

Responsibilities

The Social Entrepreneur will be responsible for:

• Supporting the achievement of large scale, systemic and sustainable social change through new innovations, a different approach, a more rigorous application of known technologies or strategies, or a combination of these.
• Innovating by finding new products, new services, or new approaches to social problems - particularly focused isolation and social connection and the related negative health outcomes
• Continuously refining and adapting approaches in response to feedback, research and insights
• Contributing to ensuring sufficiency of new initiatives in the Foundation's innovation pipeline each year to meet the Foundation's annual innovation goals.

This position will manage a portfolio of work from new ideas and concepts in the innovation pipeline to programs in multiple states and involving multiple partners - including for-profit and non-profit stakeholders. This position requires a commitment to the Foundation's strategy of continuously developing social innovations that increase our ability to provide practical and scalable solutions to the needs of the low-income 50+.

This position will focus on the following areas:

• Serve as an key advisor on scaling effective solutions
• Exhibit a heightened sense of accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created.
• Mission-driven commitment to building food security for low income older adults and the power of innovation to drive social impact.
• Proven experience of managing relationships in and across complex organizations
• Knowledge of and experience in developing shared value and collective impact with multiple stakeholders
• Continually understanding the food insecurity and nutrition field to drive strategic differentiation and partnerships.
• The drive to work in cross functional teams and to engage different units across the Foundation and AARP enterprise to drive innovation to achieve AARP Foundation's mission.
• Focus on being an integral part of a high performing team

Requirements

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in business, science, technology, health or social entrepreneurship. Graduate degree preferred.
• 5+ years' experience in social entrepreneurship, social enterprise development - a focus on health outcomes strongly preferred. Evidence of building a social enterprise strongly preferred
• Experience in scaling solutions through various pathways
• Excellent business judgment, a familiarity with a wide variety of business models both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, and the ability to see the potential application of these models in the context of social innovation
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written; ability to produce high quality reports and presentations
• Well-networked in the entrepreneurial, social-entrepreneurship fields with an ability to engage these resources to assist the Foundation in its mission
• Strong familiarity with both quantitative and qualitative research and analysis as well as quantifying return on investment
• A preference to take responsibility, manage multiple projects at once, and deliver professional work-product promptly and on-deadline
• Highly self-motivated

The role requires a strong ability to work well at an inter-personal level in order to champion innovation and social entrepreneurship in the Foundation. The role also involves a strong analytical component, requiring the ability to repeatedly review, critique, upgrade and provide constructive feedback on new initiatives and opportunities. This position will have a very high impact on AARP Foundation's ability to execute its strategy and reach both its short and longer term goals.

Benefits Offered

AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.