Program Manager, Programs Operations/

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $1.3 billion in grants to more than 600 organizations advancing climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.

Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world.

Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org.

 

Programs Department Summary

The ClimateWorks Programs Team drives innovation and climate solutions that scale. Through our portfolio of global and transnational climate mitigation strategies and grantmaking, we help funders maximize their philanthropic impact. ClimateWorks supports climate change mitigation efforts from early explorations to scaled initiatives. We help develop innovative and high-impact solutions, fund their implementation, and scale up those that show the greatest promise.

The ClimateWorks Programs Team is nearly 60 strong and growing. It includes 12 senior experts (Program Directors and Strategists), each of whom engages partners in many countries to advance climate solutions globally. Senior Programs staff are sought after international experts, authors, speakers, and network-builders. Information on ClimateWorks’ Global Programs can be found here: https://www.climateworks.org/programs.

 

Job Summary

ClimateWorks is experiencing rapid growth in a highly dynamic, evolving environment. This is a newly created position that reports to the Associate Director, Programs Operations and will work across programs to manage both programmatic and operational needs.

This job will include managing projects and processes on an ongoing basis, as well as being responsive to short- and long-term needs and opportunities in the Programs department as they arise. The specific projects will evolve depending on changes in the climate landscape, emerging opportunities in the field of climate philanthropy, and capacity needs of the program team. A willingness to be flexible and responsive is critical for this position.

 

Essential Tasks

The Program Manager will work closely with the Associate Director of Programs Operations to ensure that the Programs Team operates at its fullest potential by providing management for a variety of needs, including operational needs, project management (potentially across programs or within specific programs), and surge capacity as needed. Examples include:

• Managing unrestricted and core funding requests and requests requiring approval from the Board of Directors, including compiling and tracking requests, communicating internally about requirements, working with program staff to strengthen applications and ensuring efficient internal approval processes.
• Partnering with the Associate Director in serving as a liaison between the Programs team and other departments, including engaging in and/or managing ongoing and ad hoc working groups and ensuring that key updates and considerations are communicated to the larger programs team at key moments.
• Ensuring consistent flow of communications on organizational needs, decisions and deadlines to the Programs team.
• Supporting special projects, for example, supporting the Associate Director in developing high-quality capacity building and programmatic learning opportunities for the programs team and, occasionally, across the organization or ensuring program team members are resources to engage in the planning process.
• Partnering with the Associate Director to identify opportunities to improve program operations. This will include both being responsive to the needs identified by program team members, as well as anticipating needs.
• Providing research, planning, and general support to programs as needed.
• Develop visual aides, slides or other materials to represent program updates.
• Working on other tasks as needed as they arise.

 

Required Qualifications

The strongest candidates will be people who understand that addressing the climate crisis requires flexibility, appreciate teamwork, and see problems as opportunities. The successful applicant will have the following minimum qualifications:

• Strong program and project management skills based on 5 to 7 years’ experience in a relevant role.
• A strong foundation of understanding of climate change, including technical, political, and economic drivers.
• Deep grounding in racial and social justice, understanding of disproportionate impacts of climate change on different communities and global climate justice movement building.
• Excellent relationship management and collaboration skills.
• Excellent facilitation skills.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including writing for general audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Resourcefulness, good judgment, and a commitment to excellence and integrity.
• Commitment to the mission and values of ClimateWorks Foundation.
• Caring and generous attitude toward colleagues, grantees, and partners.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently (both virtually and in-person) with minimal supervision.
• A commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment.

 

Compensation

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location).

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible, with a preference for someone working in Pacific time. Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

 

Commitment to Racial and Social Justice

At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. We aim to foster an inclusive workplace that values diverse lived experiences and emphasizes the voices of marginalized people — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and whose voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial to winning the climate fight.

To ensure that we are making meaningful progress, we have made a set of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across all dimensions of our work to further our mission and realize our vision. For more information, please visit: Fostering Racial and Social Justice in Pursuit of our Mission

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at ClimateWorks Foundation and as such we are committed to creating a diverse and multi-cultural work environment. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to complying with all laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities, as well as employees’ religious beliefs and practices. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment. ClimateWorks Foundation will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual and/or employees’ religious beliefs and practices, as required by law.

If you require an accommodation, please notify Human Resources. Once ClimateWorks Foundation is aware of the need for an accommodation, it will engage in an interactive process to identify possible accommodations.

 

Application Process

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must submit a resume and cover letter. This position will remain open until filled.

Employment at the ClimateWorks Foundation is at-will.