Program Officer for Environment (Allen Family Philanthropies)

About Allen FamilyPhilanthropies

In 1988 the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation was founded by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen co-founder of Microsoft. Known today as Allen Family Philanthropies the foundation invests in communities across the Pacific Northwest to strengthen arts and culture empower the next generation of changemakers and support a global network of partners working to advance biodiversity and human well-being. The foundations Environment Program focuses on applying a science and technology lens to drive environmental goals and has recently adopted its community-focused environmental actions strategy that elevates communities as a lever for change via community-based conservation human-wildlife coexistence and natural climate solutions. It works to advance environmental outcomes via partnerships with funders nonprofits and other organizations in the US and Africa for terrestrial conservation efforts and ocean health globally.

Position Summary

The foundation is seeking two Program Officers to increase the Environment Programs capacity and refine and implement its strategic grantmaking activities to advance its environmental goals. The Program Officers will help shape and guide the trajectory of the foundations Environment Program with a primary focus on its new community-focused environmental actions strategy. The foundation is particularly interested in candidates who will help shape and guide the trajectory of two of the foundations three strategic pillars: community-based conservation human-wildlife co-existence and natural climate solutions.

Reporting to the Director of Science of the Environment Program the Program Officers will work closely with the Environment team to refine its strategy develop a grant pipeline work on research and analyses to support the program contribute to board communications and provide general support as needed. The Program Officers will build and manage a strategic portfolio of grants strengthen partnerships with peer funders and stakeholders become a thought leader in areas relevant to the foundations Environment Program support its learning agenda and collaboratively support the foundations environmental goals. The Program Officer will also work collaboratively across the foundation team and organization.

The foundation seeks candidates who have demonstrated experience and passion for advancing environmental agendas such as the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement. The ideal candidate will be humble demonstrate emotional intelligence and be nimble and diplomatic. The candidate will be an active contributor sharing information on responsibilities with the team aiding in project management and being a creative partner in problem-solving and generating ideas for advancing the foundations interests. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of environmental policy and practice as well as technical fluency needed to cultivate science and technology-focused grants. Strong analytical skills a strategic mindset and the ability to translate broad visions to tangible actions and outcomes are critical. The candidate must be organized and have the ability to prioritize work independently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. In addition to a strong technical background in environmental science and practice the candidate must possess strong writing and communications skills. He or she should demonstrate the ability to be a topic expert but also be comfortable expanding beyond their area of expertise to other areas.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

• Programmatic strategy development
  1. Collaborate with leadership to develop and evolve the Environment Programs strategic framework goals and objectives.
  2. Conduct research and analysis to refine the programs strategy which may involve desktop research pulling external datasets primary data collection analyzing and visualizing data and drafting memos and presentations.
  3. Support team members in preparing materials for workshops meetings and other engagements.
  4. Support team members on cultivating and engaging with the Environment Program Advisory Council.
  5. Partner with the Senior Measurement Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer to design develop and manage standard and ad-hoc reports for leadership that demonstrate partnership/project/program outcomes and learnings across the foundations philanthropic portfolio.
• Pipeline & program development
  1. Cultivate pipeline aligned with the Environment teams portfolio framework focusing on strategy-aligned off-strategy and responsive grants.
  2. Conduct thorough due diligence and research when assessing potential partners projects and opportunities.
  3. Shepherd prospective grant proposals selected by the Environment team working with prospective grantees from concept note proposal and budget draft external review and revisions to board recommendation.
  4. Support administrative and other tasks for multiple RFPs such as aiding in research and memo drafting.
  5. Develop a framework and approach for cultivating and administering a responsive grant portfolio that will be approved by the foundations board.
  6. Support new business development initiatives as needed
• Grants management
  1. Manage a portfolio of grants including tracking milestones reviewing reports and authorizing grant payments. Work with grantees to identify and resolve challenges to ensure grantees can make progress on objectives and outcomes.
  2. Collaborate with grants management staff to effectively steward proposals and grants through the grantmaking cycle and provide support as needed.
  3. Handle administrative tasks such as no-cost extensions amendments and other backend grants management activities as needed.
  4. Pull and analyze grant and grantee data to inform grants management portfolio assessment external presentations and board communications.
• Partner development and communications
  1. Develop and maintain partnerships with prospective and existing grantees peer funders and key stakeholders to learn about opportunities trends and other factors relevant to the foundations interests.
  2. Working with the Environment team and foundations Communications team ensure strategic communications about the Environment Programs and grantees reach relevant audiences in the media conferences or other venues.
  3. Effectively represent the foundation when meeting with current and potential grantees giving presentations and attending public forums and conferences on topics of relevance and when interacting with nonprofit intergovernmental and private sector leaders elected officials academics collaboratives and journalists.
  4. Demonstrate thought leadership in the field through writing and collaboration.

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education

• Advanced degree in environmental science conservation biology climate science public policy or other quantitative social sciences or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in environmental policy and practice program management grantmaking or a related field.

Knowledge experience skill and/or ability:

• Familiarity and experience with biodiversity conservation and climate change policies science and ongoing contemporary trends and issues in the environmental sector.
• Track record as a results-oriented program or project manager within a philanthropic nonprofit management consulting academic or government context
• Proven ability to build effective partnerships and networks and sustain collaborative relationships at multiple levels both internally and externally.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills demonstrating a high level of independent judgment tact and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage simultaneous project streams and meet deadlines managing multiple priorities in a dynamic and changing environment.
• Demonstrates honesty responsibility integrity and fulfillment of commitments.
• Flexible creative solution-oriented approach to problem-solving.
• An ability to listen to others and a desire to learn demonstrating intellectual curiosity flexibility entrepreneurial spirit and openness to input and feedback.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills to lead or assist in project management and analysis.

Required computer skills:

• MS Office (Word Excel Outlook PowerPoint)
• FLUXX Grants management platform knowledge helpful but not required

Special remarks regarding work environment:

• Ability to travel and work outside of typical work hours (i.e. early mornings and/or late evenings) when required to accommodate various time zones.
• This role requires Monday-Thursday in the office and Friday are remote days each week. The hybrid work environment is an organizational decision that benefits employees may differ from job to job and is subject to change as needed.

Compensation:

The compensation range for this role is $130900 - $177100 annually. The upper portion of the salary range is typically reserved for existing employees who demonstrate strong performance over time or candidates who exceed our experience and skill set expectations.

We personalize offers for each chosen future employee carefully considering various factors when reviewing each candidate. These factors include experience professional achievements education and individual backgrounds along with internal equity any of which could affect your compensation offer.

In addition to your base compensation all employees are eligible to participate in our discretionary bonus program. We also offer medical dental vision wellness and 401k benefits. More information about our benefits can be found at our career center by clicking here: Career Center.

Were committed to inclusion and equal opportunity.

Vale Group LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. We do not discriminate based on race color religion gender sexual orientation age national origin religion marital status sex disability political ideology veteran status or other protected class.

If you need accommodation during the application or hiring process please contact Human Resources at or your recruiter.