Program Officer - Environment
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation seeks a Program Officer for its Environment program. The Foundation’s Environment program supports the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in two primary areas: conservation of freshwater ecosystems and international finance for sustainability. The program also has a grantmaking interest in growth management and urban revitalization, which is geographically limited to the state of Michigan. The Mott Foundation made 74 environmental grants in 2007, totaling more than $14 million.
The principal responsibility of the new program officer will be to co-manage the Foundation’s efforts addressing freshwater conservation in the Great Lakes basin and portions of the southeastern United States. The Foundation’s grantmaking under this program area emphasizes strengthening environmental NGOs dedicated to the long-term conservation of freshwater ecosystems, influencing the design and implementation of selected public policies, and conserving sites of exceptional ecological value.
Depending on interests and background, the successful candidate also will contribute to the Foundation’s growth management and urban revitalization efforts. The Foundation’s growth management grantmaking is a cross-program initiative aimed at enhancing economic opportunity and social equity for people living in Michigan’s urban and older suburban communities while also protecting the state’s rural landscapes.
The individual filling this position will work in close partnership with the program director and be part of a six-person Environment program team.
Primary responsibilities of the program officer will include: designing effective grantmaking strategies; investigating grant requests and developing funding recommendations; monitoring and evaluating individual grants and clusters of grants; preparing, individually and with other team members, reports and other documents for the Foundation's management and Board of Trustees; working with other environmental grantmakers active on issues of mutual interest; assisting with external communications; and, on occasion, supervising consultants.
The successful candidate will:
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have strong analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills;
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have at least five-years experience working on relevant issues;
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be committed to advancing the successful and strategic involvement of NGOs in environmental protection activities;
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have the desire and ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with established and emerging NGO leaders;
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demonstrated commitment to working with diverse communities that have shared interests in positive environmental outcomes;
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have prior experience in thinking creatively and strategically about how to direct limited resources to leverage change;
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have strong project, time, and budget management skills;
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be willing to conduct extensive travel (approximately 60 days per year); and
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be flexible and work well as a member of a team.
A bachelor’s degree is required; graduate training is preferred. Previous experience in the nonprofit sector is desirable as is experience in public policy reform and/or organizational capacity building. Previous grantmaking experience or experience with foundations is useful, but not necessary. The Foundation may consider candidates with fewer than five years of relevant work experience if such individuals have strong credentials on other criteria important to the position.
How to Apply for This Position
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, references, and one writing sample by September 12, 2008. Applications and inquiries should be directed to:
Sam Passmore, Program Director
c/o Judy Wallace
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
503 S. Saginaw Street, Suite 1200
Flint, MI 48502-1851
jwallace@mott.org
If submitting by email, please indicate “Environment Program Officer,” in the subject line.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity of thinking, background, and perspective among its staff. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. This position offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits. The person filling this position will work out of the Foundation’s headquarters in Flint, Michigan. Located in southeastern Michigan, Flint is within commuting distance of Ann Arbor, Lansing, and metropolitan Detroit.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private foundation providing grant support for programs throughout the U.S. and internationally. The Foundation’s work is focused in four programs: Environment, Civil Society, Pathways Out of Poverty, and the Flint Area. The Foundation awarded 525 grants totaling more than $107 million in 2007.