Program Associate or Manager, Minerals + Materials

The 11th Hour Project, a program of The Schmidt Family
Foundation, seeks a passionate, collaborative, and self-motivated
Program Associate or Program Manager to be part of a small,
supportive, and innovative team leading the new Minerals +
Materials program area designed to ensure a just transition to a
clean energy economy through a focus on the minerals needed for
electrification. 

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION 

Established in 2006 by Wendy and
Eric Schmidt, The Schmidt
Family Foundation (TSFF) works to restore a balanced
relationship between people and planet. TSFF pursues its mission
through three innovative and thoughtful strategies: 1) The 11th Hour Project, 2) the
Impact
Investment Program, and 3) Schmidt Marine Technology
Partners. The Schmidt Family Foundation is a private foundation
with growing assets of over $2 billion and an impact investment
portfolio of approximately $160M of AUM. 

For more information on The Schmidt
Family Foundation, visit: www.tsffoundation.org. 

The Minerals & Materials team
member will have a unique opportunity to contribute to the
development of a  dynamic and growing body of grantmaking that
ensures a just transition to a clean energy economy through a focus
on the minerals needed for electrification. This position reports
into and works closely with the Vice President of Programs &
Emerging Strategies who oversees the Minerals & Materials
program. Depending upon the level of experience, TSFF / 11th Hour
Project may bring the selected candidate onboard as a Program
Associate or Program Manager. 

The global
transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and electrified
transportation has led to a growing demand for minerals necessary
to the production of energy storage/EV batteries, solar panels, and
wind turbines. Outsized demand for minerals such as lithium,
manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper has precipitated a boom in
mining and concern about destructive mining practices with negative
impacts including violation of Indigenous and local community
rights, water depletion, environmental degradation, and loss of
biodiversity. While some new primary mining will likely be needed
and the urgency of the transition from fossil fuels is
indisputable, the Minerals + Materials program prioritizes
initiatives and efforts that center the self-determination of
Indigenous communities and the rights of local, mining-affected
communities.  The program’s grantmaking further supports
pushing for ethical and transparent mineral supply chains and
visioning of a less resource-intensive future. 

In close
coordination with the rest of the Minerals + Materials team and
other programs of the foundation, the Program Associate or Program
Manager will build upon and implement a strategic vision that
centers the rights of communities affected by the mining of
transition minerals while ensuring that critical climate milestones
can still be achieved.

Specifically, the Minerals +
Materials Program Associate or Program Manager will focus
on:  

• Development of and
  accessibility to community resources that ensure that
  mining-affected communities have the tools they need for advocacy,
  informing environmental and public health assessments, and, where
  prioritized by the local communities, negotiating benefits and
  revenue-sharing; and

• Building upon an
  exploratory approach to geographic scope primarily within North
  America (with possibility in South America) that emphasizes equity
  across frontline communities.

Depending upon interest, experience, and capacity, there will be
opportunities to incorporate or contribute to other aspects of the
Minerals + Materials supply side strategy including deep sea
mining; supply chain transparency and accountability; and advocacy
to improve mining practices / operations. 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

  Grantmaking 

• Focus on place-based
  support of mining-affected communities in the US, Canada, and
  potentially other geographies such as the Atacama Salt Flats of
  Latin America; this includes supporting the self-determination of
  Indigenous communities, the rights of other environmental justice
  communities, protection of sacred places, water resources,
  wetlands, and biodiversity

• Develop landscape
  assessments of new geographic areas of focus for potential
  grantmaking opportunities
• Support the building of
  a cohesive narrative for just transition that achieves climate
  goals while respecting Indigenous and local community rights
  through such efforts as spearheading convening planning for
  grantees and other funders on the topic of transition
  minerals
• In partnership with the
  VP of Programs & Emerging Strategies, build out and refine the
  foundation’s overall transition minerals strategy and corresponding
  grantmaking
• Present grant strategy
  and recommendations to TSFF leadership
• Maintain and share
  knowledge of current events in the assigned strategic areas to
  inform programmatic outcomes

Network Building 

• Develop/lead positive
  and productive partner and grantee relationships with a wide range
  of organizations and individuals

• Manage and execute site
  visits to regions of geographic focus, cultivating thoughtful
  relationships with grantees

• Build, maintain and
  expand upon an existing network of thought-partners and
  advisors

• Represent the
  Foundation at conferences and gatherings

• Actively participate in
  team meetings, affinity groups, including webinar coordination, and
  conference planning

• Contribute to a healthy
  workplace culture at the Foundation collaborating closely with
  other programs of the Foundation on aligned grantmaking

Organizational
Management/Administration 

• Solicit, review, and
  analyze grant proposals

• Prepare and complete
  required grant documentation for approval

• Maintain grant files,
  including contact management, budget spreadsheets and planning,
  evaluations, and metrics reporting

• Contribute to annual
  budget planning and re-forecasting processes

• Work closely with the
  Minerals + Materials (M+M) Program Assistant, grants
  administration, legal and finance teams to ensure grants are
  processed in a timely, accurate and compliant manner as well as
  contribute to the administrative needs of the M+M program more
  broadly

Other projects, as assigned 

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE 

• ~3-5 years of experience
  related to climate and clean energy; specific knowledge of and
  experience with the issues of just transition and transition
  minerals and/or with mining-affected communities preferred – To be
  considered for Program Manager, candidates must have at least 5-8
  years of progressively responsible work experience with substantive
  depth on the issues of transition minerals, mining, and resourcing
  communities that are dealing with extractive industries
• Passion for the mission
  of the Minerals + Materials program and the Schmidt Family
  Foundation with understanding of systemic inequities,
  intersectionality, and/or environmental justice issues
• Comfort moving from
  community organizing contexts to international regulatory bodies
  and everything in between
• Ability to work
  effectively in a small organization with an emphasis on
  teamwork
• Proven oral and written
  communication and presentation skills, with the ability to actively
  participate in group meetings
• High emotional
  intelligence and/or relationship-oriented skills such as critical
  thinking, conflict resolution, and creative problem-solving to
  interface and coordinate professionally with a number of diverse
  internal and external stakeholders
• Flexibility to work
  simultaneously on a wide range of projects and ability to
  prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and meet
  deadlines
• Ability to work both as
  a team member and individually, with a high level of
  self-motivation and positive attitude
• Ability to travel for
  site visits as much as needed and able
• Experience with
  convening planning and/or facilitation a plus

Don’t exactly fit the description? Research shows that certain
demographics, especially women and other marginalized groups, tend
to only apply for a job when they meet all the criteria. If this
role sounds like a great fit for you but you don’t meet every item
on the checklist, we encourage you to apply anyway! 

COMPENSATION AND LOCATION 

The Schmidt Family Foundation offers
a competitive salary of $120,000 at the Program Associate level and
$150,000 at the Program Manager level and a best-in-class benefits
package, which will be shared during the process. The position is
based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a hybrid in office/remote
model. The ideal candidate will be already located in the Bay Area
or willing to relocate.  

 

HOW TO APPLY 

To apply, email a cover letter that
expresses both your passion for the mission and fit for the role;
resume; and list of three references (candidates will be notified
in advance of any outreach to your references) to tsffoundation@walkeraac.com
on or before 5:00 PM PT on May 31, 2024. Use the subject line:
Minerals + Materials Application. Submit Microsoft Word or PDF
files only (one combined PDF file is preferred). Resume review
begins immediately. Questions? Contact our recruiting
partner for the position: Jeannine N. Walker, Walker and Associates Consulting,
at jwalker@walkeraac.com. 

 

The Schmidt Family Foundation is an
equal opportunity employer who values and supports diverse
identities, experiences, and backgrounds. We encourage people from
all backgrounds and industries to apply. We believe that diversity
fosters greater social, operational, and programmatic
sustainability. Through our grant-making and related investments,
we’re committed to expanding and deepening our relationships with
organizations led by BIPOC leaders in our community.