Foundation Operations & Research Manager

Millbor Foundation; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

3 weeks paid time off

Expense reimbursement

Job summary

Millbor Foundation seeks a remote Foundation Operations & Research Manager to build the infrastructure, oversee grants administration, portfolio monitoring, and day-to-day operations. You will work directly with the Founder to scale the Foundation's research programs and impact investments in climate-related initiatives.

You will design systems, manage due diligence, coordinate with advisers, and help deploy AI-enabled tools to enhance research, analysis, and operational effectiveness, while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• Experience in investment analysis, venture capital, or related fields preferred.
• Strong research, analytical, and information-gathering capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Establish operational systems, workflows, and procedures.
• Coordinate information, schedules, and follow-up for leadership.
• Conduct landscape research on environmental impact opportunities.
• Monitor grants, loans, program-related investments, and Foundation activities.
• Support investment sourcing, diligence, and portfolio monitoring.
• Coordinate with legal, accounting, and other advisers.
• Maintain records related to grants, investments, expenses, and compliance.
• Assist with financial administration and external coordination.
• Manage technology-related admin functions and information management.
• Oversee social media and external communications as assigned.

Skills

Research skills

Project management

Analytical thinking

Operational excellence

Communication skills

AI tools development

Autonomy

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

AI tools & agents

Job description

The Millbor Foundation is a young, entrepreneurial organization focused on addressing climate change through innovative environmental solutions. The Foundation's work centers on issues related to carbon's impact on the environment through research initiatives, incubator-style investments, subsidized loans, grants, and other creative funding approaches to support emerging technologies and organizations working in areas such as marine CO2 removal, methane mitigation, seagrass restoration, that address carbon-related climate challenges. Rather than operating as a traditional grantmaking foundation, Millbor utilizes a variety of methods, helping promising organizations and ideas scale their impact.

Founded approximately three years ago, the Foundation remains in an early stage of development and is building the infrastructure, systems, and partnerships necessary to support its long-term vision and growth. Millbor was launched with significant philanthropic backing and remains entirely self-funded.

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

The Foundation is led by Gina Miller, an entrepreneur and philanthropist with a deep commitment to creating lasting environmental impact. Following a successful career building and leading businesses, she established the Millbor Foundation to accelerate innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing climate and environmental challenges. Through Millbor, she is focused on identifying and supporting scalable approaches that can drive meaningful, measurable impact on carbon-related climate challenges.

As a leader, Gina is highly results-oriented and values honesty, transparency, initiative, and follow-through. She is energized by new ideas and thoughtful problem solving, while also expecting a high degree of accountability, sound judgment, and ownership from those around her.

The culture is entrepreneurial, fast-moving, and highly autonomous. Team members are encouraged to take ownership of their work, proactively solve problems, and execute reliably in an environment where priorities may evolve quickly. This is an ideal opportunity for someone energized by innovation and the opportunity to help create the operational framework that supports the Foundation's long-term growth, impact, and investment activities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Medical benefits in addition to three weeks paid time off
• Authorized business expenses reimbursed in accordance with Foundation policy

LOCATION

Given the global nature of Millbor’s work, this is a fully remote position but does require maintaining a standardized work schedule to provide consistent support to the Foundation and leadership. Regular domestic and international travel should be expected, including occasional travel within the United States and Europe.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting directly to Founder Gina Miller, the Foundation Operations & Research Manager will serve as a trusted operational partner responsible for helping build and scale the Foundation's infrastructure while supporting research, grants administration, portfolio monitoring, and day-to-day business operations. The role combines operational leadership, research, project management, investment due diligence, administration, executive support, and cross-functional collaboration in a highly entrepreneurial environment.

The Foundation Operations & Research Manager will help establish systems, processes, policies, and reporting mechanisms; evaluate mission-aligned investment opportunities; track grants and foundation activities; oversee administrative and finance-related functions; and conduct research that informs future investments, funding opportunities, and organizational decision-making. The role will also collaborate closely with the Foundation's leadership team on identifying and assessing environmental impact opportunities across climate and other carbon-related environmental impact opportunities.

This is a rare opportunity to join an early-stage philanthropic organization at a formative moment in its evolution. The successful candidate will work directly with an entrepreneurial founder, gain exposure to innovative environmental technologies and impact-focused investments and play a key role in building the operational capabilities that enable the Foundation's mission and continued growth. For someone who thrives in highly autonomous environments and wants to see the direct impact of their work, the role offers an uncommon combination of mission, flexibility, and growth.

Year One Priorities

• Design and implement operational systems, policies, procedures, and infrastructure to support the Foundation's continued growth.
• Develop processes for grant tracking, investment monitoring, document management, and organizational recordkeeping.
• Conduct research to identify high-impact environmental investment and funding opportunities.
• Develop, deploy, manage, and continuously improve AI-enabled tools and agents that enhance research, analysis, information gathering, and operational effectiveness.
• Support due diligence, relationship development, and evaluation of mission-aligned investment opportunities.
• Build trusted working relationships with leadership and key external partners while demonstrating reliable, independent execution.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and maintain operational systems, workflows, and organizational procedures.
• Coordinate information, communications, schedules, and follow-up activities to support Foundation leadership and ensure timely execution of key initiatives.
• Conduct landscape research to identify emerging organizations, technologies, and environmental impact opportunities.
• Monitor and track grants, loans, program-related investments, and other Foundation activities.
• Support investment sourcing, screening, outreach, diligence, documentation, and portfolio monitoring processes.
• Coordinate with legal, accounting, and other professional advisors as needed.
• Maintain accurate records related to grants, investments, expenses, reporting, and compliance activities.
• Assist with financial administration, expense tracking, reporting, and coordination with external accountants.
• Manage technology-related administrative functions, including systems, accounts, and information management.
• Oversee social media administration and other organizational communications as assigned.
• Additional responsibilities and special projects will evolve over time as the Foundation continues to grow and refine its operations, investments, and impact initiatives.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of analytical rigor, operational excellence, intellectual curiosity, and entrepreneurial drive. Preferred qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in investment analysis, venture capital, private equity, financial services, banking, startup environments, technology organizations, climate-related enterprises, research institutions, strategy consulting, or similarly rigorous environments.
• Experience supporting founders, senior executives, or organizational leaders in a fast-paced environment preferred.
• Strong research, analytical, and information-gathering capabilities.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Comfort working independently in a highly autonomous environment.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving organization.
• Interest in climate, environmental sustainability, carbon reduction, or related impact sectors.
• Demonstrated experience developing, deploying, and managing AI tools, agents, and workflow automations to improve research, analysis, and operational effectiveness is required.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, and personal integrity, with the ability to manage confidential information and financial resources responsibly.
• Strong communication skills and confidence to interact with executives, founders, investors, advisors, and external partners.
• Flexibility to travel domestically and internationally.