Foundation Program Manager (JRS)

The JRS Biodiversity Foundation; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The JRS Biodiversity Foundation in Seattle seeks a Foundation Program Manager to oversee grantmaking, grants administration, and program evaluation while handling administrative, financial, and governance tasks.

You will work closely with the Executive Director in our Seattle office, contributing across operations and strategic philanthropy for biodiversity data initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa.

Qualifications

• MA or PhD in fields related to operations and strategy.
• 3-5 years of post-university work or education experience.
• Significantly meet 3 of the 5 experience Qualifications above.
• Successful applicants must be able to legally work in the US.

Responsibilities

• Financial Administration: assist with budget management, accounting, bill payments, and audits with accuracy.
• Strategic Communications: manage content for website and social media to support grantees and promote open biodiversity data.
• Board of Trustees Support: assist with communications, planning, travel, and meeting materials.
• Operations: ensure policies are current and compliant with State and Federal regulations; support board directions and annual goals.
• Grant-making: manage proposals, review applications, identify opportunities, monitor trends.
• Grants management: support progress reporting, payments, and budget adaptation to help grantees.
• Grant and program evaluation: monitor performance with focus on learning and continual improvement.

Education

MA or PhD in related field

Job description

The JRS Biodiversity Foundation is hiring a Foundation Program Manager to manage vital elements of the foundation’s administration and grantmaking programs. The JRS Biodiversity Foundation’s mission is to increase access to and use of information that will lead to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. We are the only funder focused on improving access to biodiversity data and on the information technologies (IT) behind conservation decisions. With assets of $45M, we invest about $2.5M per year in eight to ten, multi-year grants.

Perfect Job for a Professional Seeking a Unique Opportunity in Biodiversity Conservation

The Foundation Program Manager is a dual role that combines technical areas of grantmaking, grants management, and evaluation with operational areas of administration, finance, and governance. This role is a unique chance for a professional to learn about and to contribute to every aspect of a small, high-performing strategic philanthropy. The Program Manager will report to and work in close partnership with, the Executive Director in the foundation’s Seattle office.

Experience and high levels of interest in most or all of these areas of Qualifications will make for a great fit:

• Financial management or strategic communications.
• Project management in international development, research, or the private sector.
• Grantmaking, program evaluation, or operations in strategic philanthropy.
• A degree related to environmental science that preferably includes knowledge of data science and biodiversity informatics.
• Experience with staffing or managing projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

You Will Make Everything We Do Even Better

As the second full-time staff-person, you will impact everything we do to keep improving as a highly effective grant-maker. You will welcome the challenge to work on the toughest questions or the most mundane details in these areas:

• Financial Administration: Assist in budget management, accounting, bill payment, and audits with a zeal for accuracy and rigor and dogged patience for getting the numbers right.
• Strategic Communications: Manage and create content for our website and social media to advance the work of our grantees and partners and promote open access to biodiversity data.
• Board of Trustees Support: Assist with communications and planning to support Board Committees, plan and administer Trustee travel, and prepare materials for meetings.
• Operations: Ensure JRS policies are cutting-edge and that we comply with State and Federal regulations, follow foundation policy and Board direction, and achieve annual goals.
• Grant-making: Manage requests for proposals and review proposals to help our applicants win JRS grants and to succeed. Research new areas, monitor trends, and seek opportunities.
• Grants management: Support progress reporting, payments, and adaptation of plans and budgets, to support grantees to pursue their goals and get the most “bang for the buck.”
• Grant and program evaluation: Monitor and evaluate grant performance with enthusiasm for learning, data, and continual improvement.

Is this you?

The ideal candidate is passionate about environmental conservation and sustainable development in Africa and is happiest when helping others to succeed. You are fascinated by organizational development, how to catalyze change, the motivation of teams and leaders, and the potential of philanthropy to support African change-makers. You are interested in how grantmaking can support a community’s success. You love science, data, and analysis. Though you think like a scientist, you know the laboratory or the field is not quite the place for your talents. You are detail-oriented, believe that rigorous plans are the key to adaptation, and can manage multiple projects with grace and humor. You are curious, question assumptions, and always seek a better way. You ultimately imagine yourself in an organizational or program leadership position. You think a job at a foundation would be cool – even at a small one.

Minimum Qualifications

• M.A. or Ph.D. in fields related to JRS’ operations and strategy.
• 3-5 years of post-university work or education experience.
• Significantly meet 3 of the 5 experience Qualifications above.
• Successful applicants will be asked to show proof that they can legally work in the US.

Location, Benefits, and Compensation

The foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with education and related work experience. The position is full-time, exempt, and located in Seattle, WA. You can expect occasional early or late calls, overtime, and travel in the U.S. and abroad.

Applications are due no later than May 15, 2019, or as specified on the online application portal.