Program Officer, Energy

Builders Vision; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 155,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and benefits

401k program with company match

Long-term incentive program

Health and wellness benefits

Training and development opportunities

Charitable match programs

Team events and retreats

Job summary

Builders Vision is seeking a Program Officer to join the Builders Vision Philanthropy (BVP) team, focusing on Energy. BVP leads market-building grantmaking and program-related investments across Oceans, Food & Agriculture, and Energy Transition.

This role designs and implements the Energy Transition program, setting goals, building a pipeline of aligned organizations, managing grants, partnering with funders and energy actors, and shaping strategy across Builders Vision to advance

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of philanthropic, consulting, investing, corporate sustainability, or other relevant experience.
• Experience in and knowledge of clean energy and/or industrial decarbonization strongly preferred.
• Relationships with energy sector stakeholders, including thought-leaders, utilities, companies, investors, government, NGOs, and other philanthropists.
• Ability to manage and lead complex projects.
• Experience developing strategies and their associated implementation plans and metrics.
• Energetic self-starter and problem solver, able to independently lead projects.
• Strong presentation and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Analytical thinker with the ability to quickly grasp complex industries and business concepts.
• Bachelor’s and advanced degree, or equivalent professional experience

Responsibilities

• Support new grant approval processes, including evaluating opportunities, collecting data, and assisting with written funding recommendations.
• Monitor and report on the performance of funded organizations, including reviewing and analyzing grantee reports.
• Serve as the primary contact with grantees, actively advising, listening, and encouraging grantee and program success.
• Conduct market analysis for grant opportunities and engage in cross-BV sector discussions.
• Represent philanthropy in cross-BV Energy discussions and help shape organization-wide strategic plans, in partnership with the Director.
• Participate in program or investment initiatives that cut across Builders Vision.
• Provide periodic reporting on grantee performance and program status.
• Identify opportunities to build, manage, and deepen relationships with grantees and help connect them to other influential leaders and partnerships within the field.
• Partner with the Impact Measurement and Management team to identify key lessons learned and apply the learnings to strengthen the strategy and future grantmaking.
• Partner with the Communications team to accurately and appropriately share the Energy program story and use the Communications tool to advance the area’s goals.
• Represent BV in relevant outside forums and networks

Skills

Philanthropy experience

Clean energy

Industrial decarbonization

Stakeholder relationships

Project management

Strategy development

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s and advanced degree

Job description

Builders Vision is a team of investors and philanthropists that deploys flexible capital and pursues innovative solutions to expedite the transition of the Oceans, Food and Agriculture, and Energy sectors.

We aim to build stronger, more resilient systems within these three sectors while remaining nimble and innovating within emerging solutions and community initiatives. Our coordinated solutions span market development, incentivizing innovation, and delivering market-rate investments. We help investors, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and frontline changemakers access the resources, insights, and expertise they need to succeed.

Notable accomplishments include helping mitigate, sequester, or avoid over 4 million metric tons of CO2e, generating 42,000 jobs, and supporting the development of more than 170 sustainable products, technologies, or solutions.

Who We Are

With more than 80 people driving our work forward, our teams include diverse and impassioned experts across investment, philanthropy, strategic communications, legal, and general operations.

Builders Vision’s commitment to people and the planet is rooted in our workplace and culture.

• We have best-in-class total rewards and benefits programs, including competitive compensation, a generous 401k program, and an industry-leading long-term incentive program that rewards our team for their performance, financial returns, and the impact we achieve in the world.
• We also offer generous health, wellness, employee training and development opportunities, and charitable match programs.
• We know how to have fun! We host enriching and inclusive team events and retreats to help our staff feel connected to nature, each other, and our mission.
• We were named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2023 and voted one of Chicago’s Best Places to Work by Crain’s Chicago Business in both 2023 and 2024.
• The company headquarters, located in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop, achieved Gold-level certifications from both the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the International WELL Building Institute.

A long-term and deep commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) is core to our mission and values. We recognize that a diverse workforce drives innovation, enhances collaboration, and strengthens the leadership needed to achieve meaningful impact and financial returns. That's why we are dedicated to proactively recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent from a broad and dynamic candidate pool. It’s with these goals in mind that we aspire for our team to reflect the diverse communities we serve.

Position Summary

Builders Vision is seeking a Program Officer to join the Builders Vision Philanthropy (BVP) team, with a focus on Energy. BVP is the philanthropic arm of Builders Vision, leading market-building grantmaking and program-related investments across three key themes (Oceans, Food & Agriculture, and the Energy Transition).

This person will help design and implement the newly approved Energy Transition program focused on clean energy and industrial decarbonization. Reporting to and partnering with the Director for Clean Energy Philanthropy, this person will define BVP’s clean energy goals and strategies, build a robust pipeline of organizations and programs that align to those priorities, make and manage grants, partner with other funders, investors, technologies and organizations in the energy sector, serve as a thought leader on clean energy topics, and collaborate across Builders Vision in support of its energy priorities, and much more. We strongly believe that philanthropy can help build markets, technologies, and partnerships capable of scaling projects and capital towards climate-aligned solutions. This person will help steward resources towards that end.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to combine strategy and operational responsibilities in support of critically important climate priorities in the energy and industrial sectors. Given Builders Vision’s mission to shift markets and minds for good, new ideas, new structures, and new partnerships are often created through our work to offer new solutions to the world’s pressing climate problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5-8 years of philanthropic, consulting, investing, corporate sustainability, or other relevant experience
• Experience in and knowledge of clean energy and/or industrial decarbonization strongly preferred.
• Relationships with energy sector stakeholders, including thought-leaders, utilities, companies, investors, government, NGOs, and other philanthropists
• Ability to manage and lead complex projects.
• Experience developing strategies and their associated implementation plans and metrics
• Energetic self-starter and problem solver, able to independently lead projects.
• Strong presentation and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Analytical thinker with the ability to quickly grasp complex industries and business concepts.
• Bachelor’s and advanced degree, or equivalent professional experience

Primary Responsibilities

• Support new grant approval processes, including evaluating opportunities, collecting data, and assisting with written funding recommendations
• Monitor and report on the performance of funded organizations, including reviewing and analyzing grantee reports
• Serve as the primary contact with grantees, actively advising, listening, and encouraging grantee and program success
• Conduct market analysis for grant opportunities and engage in cross-BV sector discussions
• Represent philanthropy in cross-BV Energy discussions and help shape organization-wide strategic plans, in partnership with the Director
• Participate in program or investment initiatives that cut across Builders Vision
• Provide periodic reporting on grantee performance and program status
• Identify opportunities to build, manage, and deepen relationships with grantees and help connect them to other influential leaders and partnerships within the field
• Partner with the Impact Measurement and Management team to identify key lessons learned and apply the learnings to strengthen the strategy and future grantmaking
• Partner with the Communications team to accurately and appropriately share the Energy program story and use the Communications tool to advance the area’s goals
• Represent BV in relevant outside forums and networks

Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the associate in this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may evolve or change over time.

Personal Attributes that Support your Success

• You are a caring and conscientious team player who develops strong relationships and loves to collaborate; You adapt your behaviors to work effectively with a range of people and situations
• You bring positive energy to your work and workplace; you care to show up as your authentic self and measure your personal success as the success of those around you.
• You are a lifelong learner; you are inquisitive and like to solve problems with bold thinking and innovation; you view “feedback” as an opportunity for growth
• You are results and detail oriented and take pride in striving for excellence; you design and execute with the “why” and what success looks like in mind; you also understand when “perfect” can be the enemy of “good enough”
• You display flexibility and openness in daily work and encourage others to stay open to change and improvement; You accept and readily adapt to changing priorities, new ideas, strategies and methods.

Compensation

There are several factors taken into consideration in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; specific job-related experience and training; job location, licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At Builders Vision, we apply a total rewards philosophy where all aspects of compensation and benefits are taken into consideration in determining compensation terms. Expected annual base salary range for this role is $155,000-$197,000 plus this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary long-term incentive award, and benefits.

Builders Vision is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply, including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status under applicable laws and regulations.