Senior Program Officer, Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems

McKnight Foundation; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The McKnight Foundation seeks a Senior Program Officer for Global Collaboration in Resilient Food Systems. The role leads program strategy, grantmaking, and stakeholder engagement to advance global food systems transformation.

It encompasses evaluating program impact, learning cycles, and DEI commitments across a multi-region focus. Ideal candidates bring deep agroecology and regenerative agriculture expertise, strong research credentials, and experience in global funding contexts.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of agroecology and regenerative agriculture.
• Strong research credentials and ability to influence research norms.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for program activities and organizational operations.
• Develop and implement grantmaking efforts and manage a portfolio of grants.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and represent the foundation in meetings.
• Contribute to program evaluation and learning cycles.
• Stand in for the program director when needed and support diversity, equity, and belonging commitments.

Skills

Grantmaking

Stakeholder collaboration

Program evaluation

Agroecology knowledge

Regenerative agriculture

Job description

Senior Program Officer, Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems

The senior program officer reports directly to the program director and works closely with one or more of the Foundation's programs. In addition to being responsible for strategic leadership for program, operational, team, and organizational activities, this position is responsible for developing and implementing grantmaking efforts, managing a portfolio of grants, collaborating with key stakeholders, contributing to program evaluation and learning cycles, and standing in for the program director when needed. Key to this work is maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders, representing the foundation in various meetings and events, and supporting diversity, equity, and belonging commitments.

The senior program officer will bring deep knowledge of agroecology and regenerative agriculture and regene, with strong research credentials and an appreciation of the critical levers for influencing research norms, policy agendas and systems change in global food systems transformation. With a global program focus spanning 10 countries in the Andes and across Africa, it will be valuable for the senior program officer to bring some direct lived experience of this funding geography or similar contexts. A relevant additional language would also be advantageous.