Program Associate

The Opportunity

In this position, you will have an opportunity to engage in philanthropy to advance water solutions for the benefit of people and nature. We are committed to both moving resources quickly as opportunities arise and investing to sustain and grow the capacity of the water field over time. Where field partners seek our assistance, and we are uniquely positioned to help, the Water Foundation team enhances our primary funder role by:

• Bolstering the capacity of our partners to build their networks, strengthen their institutions, and access new leadership opportunities.
• Convening diverse leaders to solve difficult challenges, facilitate negotiations, and share expertise and resources.
• Partnering with funders, grantees, researchers, and other experts to design and execute compelling policy campaigns.

The Program Associate will have the opportunity to partner with a Senior Program Officer to co-create and administer a new, two-year, publicly funded, $8.5 million grantmaking program to support community engagement in multi-benefit, green infrastructure investments. After that period, the role might be extended, funding permitting, and the specific focus of the work could shift as Water Foundation budgets and program priorities evolve, so we are seeking quick learners curious about a range of topics and places. 

The Program Associate will provide support for grants management, handle both internal and external communications, coordinate and facilitate meetings, and contribute to and oversee the development of a range of written materials. The ideal candidate will be a skilled project manager with an interest in the role of philanthropy in environmental protection and social justice. They will be an excellent communicator—interpersonally and in writing—and will have experience with traditional written and oral presentations as well as social media. They will be a strong team player and will place a high value on building relationships and collaborating with a diverse group of colleagues, grantees, and other partners. The new Program Associate will report to a Senior Program Officer and will be a member of a nine-person program team. 

About the Organization

The Water Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropy working to support lasting water solutions for communities, economies, and the environment. The Foundation complements strategic grantmaking with creative field building and engagement with high-level decision makers and community leaders, and helps funders identify and act on opportunities to better manage water. 

As a singularly focused water funder, we serve the entire water field, deploying staff expertise to move resources to the groups that can most effectively improve water systems that affect people and nature. The Water Foundation’s partners span a broad spectrum: conservation organizations, agricultural associations, water providers, environmental justice groups, business groups and local, state, and federal agencies. We prioritize securing safe, clean water for people, restoring and sustaining freshwater environments, and building resilience to a changing climate. These three goals are critical to the future of water. In pursuing these goals, the Foundation supports the field in tackling immediate water problems, including polluted drinking water and collapsing ecosystems, in ways that alter system drivers, such as social inequality and outmoded infrastructure. 

More information about the Water Foundation can be found at www.waterfdn.org.

Key Responsibilities

The Program Associate will perform the following duties and others as assigned:

Grantmaking and Monitoring (40%)

Coordinate with the program team to: 

• Respond to grant seeker inquiries;
• Cultivate relationships with partners, including grantees, funders, and government agencies;
• Review and contribute to grant proposals and reports for both grantee partners and funders, and consultant scopes of work;
• Schedule meetings, particularly mid-term grant reviews; and
• Attend relevant online and in-person meetings and conferences.

Program Implementation (40%)

Help the program team ensure effective implementation of key priorities by:

• Supporting outreach and communications;
• Coordinating meetings, including developing agendas and meeting materials;
• Providing logistical support for convenings, workshops, tours, and other program-related special events;
• Researching opportunities for innovative policies or practices;
• Reaching out to grantees to help pull together materials for proposals and reports;
• Conducting analysis of reports and other grantee updates and producing summaries of aggregate highlights and key learnings;
• Documenting internal and external meetings and sharing notes, learnings, and next steps; and
• Participating in regular program team meetings and in-person all-staff  retreats.

General Administration (20%)

• Serve as point of contact for calls, emails and as a general information resource for the program team.

Qualifications

We are seeking individuals with the following qualifications, all required unless otherwise noted:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant work experience (required).
• Minimum of three years of work experience.
• Understanding of issues related to water, health, and equity.
• Familiarity with Los Angeles County political and community landscape.
• Organizing and/or outreach experience (desirable).
• Spoken proficiency in Spanish (desirable)
• Excellent project management, writing, and editing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• High standards for quality, presentation, and confidentiality.
• Patience, grace, flexibility, and humor under pressure.

Location and Travel

This is a work-from-home position; all staff work remotely. However, the candidate must be based in Los Angeles County and be able to attend in-person meetings in the greater Los Angeles area on a regular basis. Up to four times per year, the Water Foundation requires all staff to attend all-expense-paid multi-day retreats primarily (but not exclusively) in California. Candidates must be available during normal business hours, must participate in online meetings that may require participation via video. Candidates must be able to sit or stand at and work at a computer for most of the workday.

Compensation and Benefits

The Water Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. The starting salary for this position is $70,000-$85,000 depending on experience. The Water Foundation is fully remote, with required in-person staff retreats up to four times a year. Regular travel to meetings should be anticipated. 

The Water Foundation provides equal opportunity to all applicants, without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, disability, and other demographics in accordance with state and federal laws. We encourage people of color, individuals from under-resourced communities, immigrants, ESL, LGBTQ+, and others with diverse perspectives and experiences to apply.

Water Foundation follows public health agency guidelines with respect to Covid-19 and requires testing for in-person events. 

To Apply

This position will remain open until filled, and is being supported by NRG Consulting Group. Please fill out our online application form here in order to apply. If you have any questions, please contact jobs@nrgconsultinggroup.org.