Program Manager

Summary

Join the U.S. Energy Foundation as a Program Manager, California! In this role, you will manage the day-to-day execution of California grantmaking and projects, ensuring alignment with overall program strategy. You will lead grantmaking, manage grants and contracts, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to a positive work environment. The position requires significant project management experience and knowledge of energy, climate, or public policy. You will supervise a Program Associate and work closely with funders and grantees. The position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, and retirement benefits, and paid time off. The position is remote-first and can be based in the San Francisco office or remotely from anywhere in California.

Requirements

• Significant experience in project management and coordinating teams
• Demonstrated knowledge and work experience in one or more of the following areas: energy, climate, environmental studies, public policy, and candidate or policy campaigns
• Hands-on experience in the non-profit advocacy community, ideally in relation to campaign or policy design, creation, and implementation; climate or clean energy expertise is preferred
• Technical skills: minimal intermediate skill level using Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, preferably in a Mac environment; willingness to engage in budget planning and management processes using Excel and internal systems; familiarity with Google Drive/Google Docs and project management software
• Project management: experience advancing multiple projects that involve various stakeholders and deadlines to successful completion
• Multitasking: experience supporting multiple priorities and juggling a variety of tasks for one or more individuals in a team environment
• Ability to travel three to four times a year for three to four business days at a time

Responsibilities

• Manage CA budget, projects, and plans, ensuring milestones are met and deadlines are reached
• Lead grantmaking for the CA portfolio to align with strategic plans, state priorities, and team values. Working with the CA State Director, design a portfolio of grantees to execute on the goals of the CA Program
• Manage and continually evaluate grants, contracts, and projects within CA
• Collaborate closely with the West Program Associates to offer the highest quality grantee engagement throughout the year, ensure timely responses and clear feedback on proposals, and develop a deep understanding of grantees’ own priorities, strengths, and weaknesses
• Work directly with West team leadership and CA consultants to develop and track program strategic objectives and activities for broader communication
• Synthesize and analyze CA strategies and activities for broader communication. This may include consolidating reports or preparing visual presentations on behalf of the team
• Draft funder communications and board dockets on behalf of the team, working with the EF Strategic Partnerships team and the West team
• Support the West team’s CA strategic funding-partner relations work, including reporting regularly on program activities and milestones and drafting funder communications on behalf of the team
• Participate actively in workstreams around budgeting and other organization- and team-wide systems and processes
• Provide ongoing support for program expansion and development
• Maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues. Contribute to a positive working environment
• With assistance from the supervisor and others, formulate your own learning and development plan. Identify and seek out professional development opportunities, including networking, information interviews, training, projects, etc
• Recognize that we are stronger when we are diverse and inclusive, and embody these values in internal and external EF work
• Supervise a Program Associate
• Convene and facilitate cohorts of grantees around shared projects and structures; where relevant, directly manage consultants leading specific projects
• Advise West team on budgeting and grantmaking related to new and ongoing campaign priorities throughout the region
• Maintain an awareness of budgets and shifting priorities to offer proactive and clear communications to grantees to avoid surprises and maintain trust throughout the network
• Actively track the implementation of states’ annual plans and proactively support grantees, consultants, and teammates in sharing updates and recommendations on necessary adjustments or feedback
• Develop and provide clear timelines, templates, and schedules for projects led by EF staff or consultants on relevant projects
• Support the West team in determining goals for the EF West team and CA Program
• Use project management and communications tools, such as Asana and Slack, to facilitate complex workflows
• Occasionally, EF hosts convenings with grantees and partners; the person in this position will be responsible for developing the content, identifying participants, and organizing an agenda for such an event,no more than once or twice a year
• Develop agendas, facilitate meetings, and track and manage action items across team meetings relevant to the CA Program, as requested
• Keep the West team informed of milestones and deadlines; track and streamline requests for feedback and information from EF national teams to regional teams
• Serve as a West team representative on cross-cutting initiatives; develop and implement processes and systems to streamline information flow and ensure alignment across programs
• Research, document, and disseminate best practices across states and regions, with EF national teams, and with grantees and advocates in the field to promote shared learning as the program expands
• Working closely with the Strategic Partnerships team and Senior Regional Director, West, design and manage reporting systems to ensure funders of the EF States and Regions Program are kept up to date on program activity, milestones reached, shifts in strategy, program expansion status, etc
• Assist in the production and delivery of West team products with the partner relations team
• Monitor and manage relevant deadlines for reports, proposals, and updates
• Draft or edit reports, proposals, and updates for funders
• Aid in the production and quality control of work products, including writing, editing, and formatting Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel spreadsheets that communicate public engagement strategies, activities, results, and assessments
• Research and prepare briefing materials and board docket materials
• Research specific topics and prepare reports and visual aids, as requested
• Perform other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications

Climate or clean energy expertise

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Disability
• Retirement benefits
• Paid time off