Job description
Based on the foundation’s evolving strategy, growing funder interest, and urgent need, ClimateWorks has been leading a coalition of philanthropic actors on climate change adaptation and resilience and now has an established grantmaking program. We are seeking a program manager to assist our team, in particular on the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC).
Job Summary
The ClimateWorks Foundation Program Manager, Adaptation and Resilience, will support the Adaptation and Resilience team in their efforts to build out global adaptation as a new focus area for the foundation and philanthropy writ large, ensuring the delivery of the work associated with the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC). The person will work in a small team dedicated to adaptation and resilience, with a strong culture of collaboration, communication, transparency, trust, humility, independence, encouragement and learning. The Program Manager will closely collaborate with other ClimateWorks programs and staff and work cross-functionally within ClimateWorks. This position reports to the Senior Director of Adaptation and Resilience.
About the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC)
At COP28 in Dubai, ClimateWorks Foundation partnered with other leading funders to launch a Call to Action to accelerate action on climate change adaptation. The Call to Action now has 21 signatories and growing. Building on this effort, ClimateWorks and other funders have been growing a coalition of philanthropic organizations interested in scaling action on adaptation, particularly in the Global South. ClimateWorks now runs ARC, a loose affiliation for ~60 foundations large and small, with different regional, thematic, and sectoral priorities, who are coming together to advance philanthropy’s role in addressing the risks and impacts of climate change through learning, dialogue, coordination, and action.
Essential duties and responsibilities
Working closely with the Senior Director and other team members, the Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing, managing, and coordinating all activities of ARC, and assisting on other aspects of the adaptation program where needed, including on grants management, external partnerships, and internal relationships and initiatives.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Managing all tasks, timelines, inputs and outputs associated with the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC) and associated funder learning series
- Working closely and liaising with Funder Collaborations, Operations, and IT teams at ClimateWorks to ensure successful task management and delivery of events and convenings.
- Leading all preparations for ARC meetings, including agenda, meeting materials, speakers, catering, and more
- Managing the budget for ARC
- Leading and organizing the funder learning series, which includes four learning sessions per year
- Preparing internal and external communications relevant to the work
- Conducting research on topics related to adaptation and resilience, including research on potential grantees, conferences, specific areas of topical interest, etc.
- Managing contracts and grants with recipients of funding, including maintaining regular communications with funding recipients, developing and tracking contracts and agreements, and ensuring reporting requirements are met.
- Writing initiative plans and assets
- Keeping close track of milestones and deliverables under the various adaptation workstreams
- Coordinating internal activities related to the initiative
- Preparing reporting outputs, including supporting key processes and maintaining and updating appropriate information, systems and databases
- Liaising closely with external partners as needed
Requirements
The most qualified candidates for this position will possess:
- Excellent project and program management skills with strong attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize working on multiple projects simultaneously while meeting internal and external deadlines.
- Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Must be able to interact effectively with donors, external partners, management, and colleagues at all levels. Ability to work successfully and contribute to the team while operating in a virtual or hybrid environment.
- Strong critical thinking, research, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Proficiency with project management tools, excel and Microsoft tools, and
- Salesforce / Fluxx is preferable.
- At least 7 years of work experience in a fast-paced environment.
- A commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment
- Ability to juggle numerous competing demands and priorities, respond quickly to management requests
- Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in climate change policy, preferably with a focus on and interest in
- adaptation preferred.
- Lived experience or work experience in the Global South strongly preferred
- Experience in meeting facilitation and/or event management
- Experience in non-profits or foundation, particularly international organizations is a plus