Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Hiring Program Director, Environment, US

The Sustainability Grid; Flint, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance and dental coverage

401(k) and pension plan

Life insurance

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is seeking a Program Director, Environment, to lead the implementation and stewardship of its 10-year environmental strategy. You will oversee grantmaking, coach a distributed team, and maintain relationships with grantees and partners, translating complex issues for leadership and trustees.

The role combines executive leadership with hands-on grantmaking, personally managing a portfolio while guiding program-wide impact and staff development.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in land, water, conservation or related environmental work.
• A strong record of advancing environmental strategy and achieving measurable results.
• Experience managing a portfolio of grants.
• Ability to understand complex environmental, policy and programmatic issues.
• Ability to learn across unfamiliar areas and oversee a broad domestic and international portfolio.
• Bachelor's degree required. An advanced degree in a related field is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the Environment program's 10-year strategy across One Water, Finance for Sustainability, and Land, Water and People of the Amazon Basin.
• Monitor developments across the environmental landscape and assess portfolio progress.
• Translate complex programmatic issues into clear recommendations for leadership and trustees.
• Lead, coach and support an experienced team across locations and cultures.
• Provide oversight of grantmaking and ensure alignment with policy and budgets.
• Build relationships with nonprofit leaders, funders, policymakers and community partners.
• Travel with program staff to understand portfolios and international work.

Skills

Environmental strategy

Grant portfolio management

Leadership

Stakeholder relations

Policy analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Hiring Program Director, Environment, US

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1926 by automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott. The Foundation works with organizations in Flint and communities around the world to promote a just, equitable and sustainable society.

By The Sustainability Grid Desk

Location Flint, Michigan, USA

Type Full-time, On-site

Salary Starting at $250,000 per year

Experience Executive / Senior Leadership

Deadline October 2, 2026, for priority consideration

About the Company

Its grantmaking focuses on four areas: the Flint area, youth engagement, environment and civil society. In 2025, the Foundation awarded 396 grants totaling more than $161 million.

About the Environment Program

The Mott Foundation's Environment program has spent four decades supporting initiatives that protect communities and the ecosystems on which they depend. In 2025, the program awarded 93 grants totaling more than $20 million.

The program is beginning implementation of a new 10-year strategy built around three major initiatives: One Water, Finance for Sustainability, and Land, Water and People of the Amazon Basin. The Foundation anticipates investing approximately $200 million across these initiatives during the strategy period.

The Opportunity

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is seeking a Program Director, Environment to lead the implementation and stewardship of its 10-year environmental strategy.

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Environment program, oversee grantmaking, coach an experienced geographically distributed team, maintain relationships with grantees and partners, and help translate complex environmental issues and program results for Foundation leadership and trustees.

The role combines executive leadership with direct involvement in grantmaking. The Program Director will personally manage a portfolio of grants while providing program-wide oversight and supporting the professional development of program staff.

What You'll Do

Program Strategy and Leadership

Lead implementation of the Environment program's 10-year strategy across One Water, Finance for Sustainability, and Land, Water and People of the Amazon Basin.

Monitor developments across the environmental landscape, assess portfolio progress and help the Foundation make informed adjustments as conditions and opportunities change.

Serve as a key bridge between the Environment team and Foundation leadership by translating complex programmatic issues into clear recommendations and updates.

Keep senior Foundation leadership informed about major developments, opportunities, risks and decisions.

Team Leadership and Development

Lead, coach and support an experienced team working across different locations, cultures and areas of expertise.

Build a collaborative environment based on trust, accountability and shared purpose.

Support staff in navigating complex decisions, strengthening their work and connecting individual portfolios to broader Foundation priorities.

Help manage staffing and portfolio transitions while maintaining strong performance and professional development.

Grantmaking and Portfolio Oversight

Provide overall oversight of Environment program grantmaking and ensure grants align with program strategy and Foundation policies.

Review grant recommendations and other program materials for quality, accuracy, clarity and timeliness.

Work with Grants Administration and other internal teams on due diligence, compliance, budgets, grant pipelines and related processes.

Personally manage a portfolio of grants and maintain relationships with grantees and partners.

External Leadership and Partnerships

Build relationships with nonprofit leaders, peer funders, policymakers, public-sector leaders, researchers, community partners and other stakeholders.

Represent the Mott Foundation with credibility, humility and discretion.

Convene stakeholders where collaboration, coordination and shared learning can advance environmental outcomes.

Travel with program staff to better understand portfolios and international work.

Participate as a member of the Foundation's program leadership team.

Support trustee meetings through the preparation and review of reports, grant materials, budgets and presentations.

Lead trustee discussions related to environmental strategy and emerging trends.

Collaborate with colleagues across Grants Administration, Communications, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology and other functions.

Requirements

Core Qualifications

Significant experience in land, water, conservation or related environmental work.

A strong record of advancing environmental strategy and achieving measurable results.

Experience managing a portfolio of grants.

Ability to understand complex environmental, policy and programmatic issues.

Ability to learn across unfamiliar areas and oversee a broad domestic and international portfolio.

Bachelor's degree required. An advanced degree in a related field is preferred but not required.

Technical and Professional Expertise

Experience in environmental strategy, conservation, water, sustainability or related fields.

Experience working across multiple geographic regions and stakeholder groups.

Strong understanding of grantmaking and portfolio management.

Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clear recommendations to senior leaders and trustees.

Experience developing partnerships with nonprofit organizations, funders, policymakers, researchers and community stakeholders.

Leadership Strengths

Demonstrated experience managing and developing staff through a collaborative and coaching-oriented approach.

Strong relationship-building and convening skills.

Exceptional judgment, communication and organizational skills.

Strong attention to quality, deadlines and internal processes.

Ability to balance strategic leadership with detailed program execution.

A collaborative, low-ego approach with strong follow-through and discretion.

The position starts at a salary of $250,000 per year. The Mott Foundation provides a comprehensive benefits package beginning on the first day of employment.

Medical and dental premiums are fully covered for employees and dependents. Additional benefits include life insurance, a 401(k), pension plan and other employee benefits.

Location and Work Arrangement

This position is based in Flint, Michigan. The Foundation currently operates an in-person work culture, with employees expected to work from the Flint office four days per week. Remote work is available on Fridays, along with an additional bank of remote days during the year.

The successful candidate must be prepared to establish a home in Michigan and travel regulary within the United States and internationally.

Why This Role Matters

The Environment program is entering a new 10-year strategy with an anticipated investment of approximately $200 million. The Program Director will therefore play a central role in shaping how major philanthropic resources are deployed toward water access, sustainable finance, ecosystem protection, land rights and sustainable livelihoods.

The position offers an opportunity to influence environmental outcomes across the Great Lakes region, the wider United States and the Amazon Basin while working directly with nonprofit organizations, funders, policymakers, researchers and community partners.

Application

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by October 2, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.