Associate Program Director, Conservation

FIDELITY FOUNDATIONS; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual performance-based bonus

Comprehensive benefits package

Hybrid schedule (in-person 3 days/week

Job summary

The Fidelity Foundations in Boston, MA seek an Associate Director, Conservation to oversee strategic grantmaking across portfolios, manage program staff, and advance impact through rigorous due diligence and data-driven stewardship.

Reporting to the Conservation Program Director, you will partner with the Director and team to plan, build relationships with practitioners and funders, and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of conservation-related work aligned with Foundations’ strategies.
• Experience in philanthropy, preferably with family foundations and strategic grantmaking.
• Proven track record in leading teams and fostering positive organizational culture.
• Strong relationship-building with long-term professional partners.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear written previews and recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for internal and external audiences.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-moving, complex environment.
• Sound judgement, integrity, and respect for confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and grow strategic grantmaking across multiple portfolios.
• Manage program officers, ensure high-quality grant-making aligned with portfolio goals.
• Monitor grant effectiveness and maintain data in the grants management system.
• Develop annual planning, goal-setting, and team-building with the Director.
• Build relationships with practitioners, funders, and conservation experts.
• Directly manage team members and support professional development.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive team culture.

Job description

The Fidelity Foundations are a group of private foundations committed to building the capacity of leaders and organizations tackling important societal challenges and promoting thriving communities. The Foundations partner with nonprofits working across arts and culture, conservation, economic opportunity, education, and medical science to strengthen long-term effectiveness. We have a deep 60-year history of funding organizations in Boston, New England, and select metropolitan regions across the United States.

Today, the Foundations are at an important and exciting stage in our organizational history, having grown and evolved in recent years. As our strategies and organization continue to develop, we are seeking individuals with skills and expertise that support the advancement and execution of a long‑term portfolio of significant and strategic philanthropic investments.

The Foundations grants program is designed to strengthen the sustainability and impact of nonprofit organizations. We take a consultative approach in our grantmaking and collaborate with leaders to help them address organizational development needs so they can achieve their strategic priorities. Our grantmaking is guided by our values of excellence, integrity, respect, and collaboration. Rooted in humility, we execute our grantmaking quietly and most grants carry external anonymity.

The Foundations’ Conservation Program is dedicated to restoring and conserving the natural world, with a focus on New England, to ensure that both people and wildlife can thrive. Our work is composed of two portfolios that aim to: 1) increase the resilience of natural systems in the face of a changing climate by protecting thriving habitats and restoring those that have been threatened or degraded by unsustainable human practices; and 2) preserve people’s access to nature as part of thriving communities and urban ecosystems. We invest in direct conservation and restoration projects as well as capacity‑building for nonprofits to expand their project management and stewardship capabilities.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Reporting to the Conservation Program Director and partnering closely with both the Director and the Conservation Team, the Associate Director uses sector expertise, project management, and problem‑solving skills to oversee and grow strategic grantmaking across multiple portfolios to advance the impact of Foundations’ Conservation program. The Associate Director’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Oversee and manage execution of strategic grantmaking across a range of portfolios.

• Directly manage, partner with, and support program officers to ensure high‑quality grant‑making closely aligned with select conservation portfolio impact goals, including:
• Overseeing the grant development process (e.g., cultivation, pipeline management, Trustee communications, stewardship)
• Ensuring that written summaries for senior management and Trustees are accurate, clear and compelling
• Monitoring and evaluating grant effectiveness against stated and overall portfolio objectives and ensuring that data and information are up to date in the grants management system
• Partnering with colleagues to identify opportunities that deepen or expand existing areas of focus
• Provide expertise in support of other program areas and projects, as needed

(2) Support Program Director in annual planning, goal‑setting, and team building.

Provide expertise and thought partnership to the Director on goal setting and continuously improving the impact of the conservation program and special initiatives

• Develop deep understanding of the conservation program’s multi‑year pipeline, including tracking progress against goals and work with the team to mitigate any gaps to achieving targets
• Contribute to and advance key foundation‑wide, cross‑cutting priorities, including research, learning, and impact measurement efforts
• Provide thought partnership on overall Conservation team growth, structure and portfolio assignments
• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with practitioners, partners, funders, and experts in the conservation field to understand opportunities and challenges

As a senior member of the team, the Associate Program Director will directly manage several team members, support continued professional development, and work with the Director and other team members to foster a collaborative and supportive team culture.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

It is critically important that the Associate Program Director, Conservation be a highly collaborative and collegial team player who listens and communicates well.

To be considered, candidates will possess a majority of the following professional and personal attributes and competencies:

• A minimum of 15 years of conservation‑related work experience, which is aligned with the Foundations’ strategies; experience as a nonprofit practitioner in this work is ideal
• Experience in philanthropy is required, preferably working with or as part of a family foundation, and preferably with direct experience with strategic grantmaking and strategy/portfolio development
• Demonstrated prior success in leading, managing, and developing teams and driving a strong, positive culture in alignment with an organization’s values and goals
• Exceptional relationship‑building and management skills with demonstrated prior success at creating meaningful long‑term professional relationships
• The ability to translate complex and voluminous information into clear, concise written project previews, descriptions, and recommendations
• Analytical skills and experience, particularly in conducting due diligence for organizations and projects; ability to assess information to draw sound conclusions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, suitable for internal and external audiences
• Ability to multi‑task and work flexibly and creatively within a fast‑moving, changing, and complex environment
• Sound judgment, integrity, humility, and respect for confidentiality
• Strong service orientation

This position is based in Boston, MA and follows a hybrid schedule requiring in‑person collaboration at least three days per week. Successful candidates must undergo a comprehensive background check.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The Fidelity Foundations offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, an annual performance‑based bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package.

The Fidelity Foundations are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive professional environment. We encourage applications from candidates with a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives