Program Manager, California

ABOUT U.S. ENERGY FOUNDATION

U.S. Energy Foundation's (EF) mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. We envision a healthy, safe, equitable economy powered by clean energy. We believe a thriving clean energy economy can create sustainable opportunities, spur innovation, and protect our climate-for today and future generations.

EF supports education and analysis to promote non-partisan policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency while opening doors to greater innovation and productivity-growing the economy with dramatically less pollution. For more than 30 years, EF has supported grantees to help educate policymakers and the general public about the benefits of a clean energy economy. Our grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, community, faith, and consumer groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, universities, and more.

At EF, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are top organizational commitments. We are working daily to uproot racism and other forms of oppression and create equitable systems that support people to flourish. We aim to bring humility, transparency, respect, and an appreciation for others' lived experiences to our interactions with colleagues, grantees, and partners.

EF's Fundraising Philosophy

As EF's primary clients/partners are our funders and grantees, EF commits to acting as a strategic partner and thought leader for our current and prospective funding partners and the field by:

1. Collaborating-and co-creating, where feasible and desired-on strategy development, including the hosting and/or managing of funder collaboratives
2. Highlighting the opportunity for climate philanthropy to maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities and those most impacted by climate change
3. Offering excellent, responsive service by providing proactive, compelling, and timely updates and information

EF is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and our more than 100 staff members are based in locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions, where they can best serve our programs, partners, operations, and other functions.

POSITION SUMMARY

Over the past two decades, the EF team has supported and coordinated sophisticated and effective networks of grantees and allies who share the vision of a prosperous and healthy future powered by clean, reliable, affordable, and safe sources of energy. Through these deep-rooted partnerships, EF has made progress in the largest and fastest-growing energy markets in the world.

The primary responsibilities of the Program Manager, California (CA PM), include managing the day-to-day execution of our CA grantmaking and projects, while ensuring alignment with overall program strategy and goals. Using strong organizational, analytical, and communications skills, the person in this position is expected to manage the workflow of the CA grantmaking program and to improve collaboration within the region.

Embodying EF's values of community, equity, learning, service, and transformational impact, the CA PM also will help strengthen the West team. This involves generating and implementing ideas for systems, program, and operational improvement; collaborating closely with peers and colleagues; and contributing to a positive working environment.

EF actively prioritizes and seeks to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and through our work. We encourage people of color and candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND 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.

Project Management

• 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.

Program Development and Alignment

• 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.

Support West Team Partner Relations Work

• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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.

SUPERVISION

Reports to the Senior Regional Director, West.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position. The target salary for this position is $144,000 for a candidate based in the metro areas of San Francisco, New York City, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Boston, or Sacramento, and $129,600 for candidates in other areas of the U.S. EF provides a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive salary, medical, dental, vision, disability, and retirement benefits and paid time off.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel three to four times a year for three to four business days at a time.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to spend extended hours at the computer. This position requires moderate levels of domestic travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

EF is a remote-first work environment. This position may be based in the EF San Francisco office or work remotely from anywhere in California.

The office environment includes some shared workspaces, some individual offices, and shared kitchen facilities, with moderate noise levels and a collegial atmosphere. On occasion, there are activities or events after work hours.