US Program Manager

The Plastic Solutions Fund collaborative is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help donors create thoughtful and effective philanthropy throughout the world.

Overview

The Plastic Solutions Fund (PSF) is seeking a US Program Manager to complement the work of its Asia-and Europe-based team members.

The successful candidate will be motivated by the PSF’s vision of a world with a regenerative and distributive economy where the production and consumption of products and packaging lies within planetary and social boundaries. They will support the PSF’s mission to resource transformational projects that build movement power and take a preventative approach to SUP production and use. And they will be committed to the principle that real partnerships between philanthropy and civil society will increase the impact of all our work.

They will have experience in social and political change making and specifically the role that grassroots environmental & climate justice principles and organizations must play in that change. They will either have, or be able to demonstrate the ability to develop, relationships of trust with both civil society and philanthropic partners.

The PSF currently has two Program Managers and two Operational staff, as well as the Executive Director. Each program manager is based in a region of high priority for the PSF - currently the US, Europe and Asia. It is anticipated that this might expand to other regions in the future.

Each regional Program Manager acts as the first point of contact for PSF grant making in their home region, building relationships, gathering intelligence and acting as a representative of the PSF within civil society and philanthropy.

Recognizing that the plastic crisis is a global problem with global solutions, Program Managers work together across geographies to support grant making that helps achieve the PSF’s long term objectives and thus whilst the roles are regionally based, Program Managers have responsibility for grants across all regions.

Over the last two years a single Program Manager has been responsible for both Europe and the US. This new position will allow PSF to better support work in each of those regions with two full time positions. All three Program Managers work closely with the Executive Director who is based in the US. Program Managers also work closely with the Managing Director who is based in Mexico, the Systems Manager who, along with our fiscal sponsor Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), is based in the US.

More About Plastic Solutions Fund

The Plastic Solutions Fund is an international funder collaborative dedicated to tackling the crisis of plastic pollution, which impacts the health of people and ecosystems all over the planet.

Established in 2017, PSF’s giving focuses on systems transforming interventions with a prevention is better than cure mindset, making grants across the plastic supply chain from extraction to disposal. Recognizing that the plastics economy is driven by (and benefits) some of the most powerful vested interests around the world, the PSF is dedicated to building grassroots movement power to catalyze change now and in the future.

The PSF believes that greater impact will be achieved if civil society and philanthropy work together in partnership. PSF is proud to have helped establish, and continue to fund the global grassroots movement Break Free From Plastic (BFFP). Over the next five years we seek to work with BFFP to help extend its reach, power and capacity. We also seek to broaden the diversity of civil society organizations and movements that we work with, supporting them to build their power in support of the transformational change we all seek.

Core Responsibilities: 

Strategic Planning

• Contribute to, and in some cases lead the development of PSF programmatic and grant making strategies, in conjunction with participating foundations and civil society partners.
• Support the development of collaborative strategies and change making projects led by civil society partners
• Act as a thought partner in or mentor to movement power building and change making processes
• Keep ahead of developments in the field, support PSF and movement systems scanning and encourage philanthropic and civil society partners to take a forward looking view in project planning

Grant Making

• Identify, encourage & help build grants or programs of grants that help implement the PSF Strategic Framework 2021-2026
• Act as principal point of contact with prospective and existing grantees over projects and funding, help develop and in some cases draft proposals, build strategic collaborations and support grant administration and reporting.
• Undertake programmatic and financial due diligence for grants, identifying and helping remove potential barriers to funding
• Support PSF grant management processes and procedures, including oversight of grant application and reporting systems, maintenance of grant and client relationship databases and financial monitoring

Trusted Partnerships

• Maintain and enhance the trust relationships that PSF holds with its grantees, with the Break Free From Plastic Movement and other civil society actors
• Build relationships and form strategic partnerships with a wide circle of civil society organizations and movements, as well as other stakeholders
• Expand the range and diversity of PSF relationships in and with philanthropic organizations interested in and aligned with PSF strategies

PSF Participating Foundations

• Support PSF Board decision-making by preparing and providing advice and reports on grants and programs of grants for Board meetings and other decision making moments
• Facilitate learning for PSF Board Members and Participating Foundations including monthly news analysis, strategic briefings on grant impact and learning, direct contact between grantees and board members, regular webinars on subjects relevant to PSF Strategic Framework implementation
• Build strong relationships with PSF Board Members and Participating Foundations, enhancing PSF working relationships with those foundations and building bridges to PSF grantees and other civil society organizations
• Potential to participant in fundraising efforts both internal and external to the PSF Participating Foundations, as needed

Evaluation and Learning

• Help build a more systematic evaluation and learning culture within the PSF by supporting the implementation of the PSF Monitoring, Evaluation, Impact & Learning (MIEL) Framework
• Ensure that civil society organizations and movements leading the SUP fight are supported to learn, adapt and respond to change in the external world

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Extensive experience working in or with environmental or climate justice organizations and issues in the US 
• Experience with developing and implementing grassroots strategies for social and/or political change is required  
• A record of successful project implementation 
• Written and spoken fluency in English

Preferred:

• Experience with grassroots philanthropic giving 
• Experience working with communities on the fencelines/frontlines of environmental injustices. 
• A global perspective
• Spanish 

Location: This is a full-time remote position located in the USA working closely with an international team spread across time zones and will require regular travel within the US, and at times, globally. 

Compensation

Salary range starts at $90,000 + benefits and will vary widely based on where you live. Please contact us if you have any questions about the salary. The PSF is committed to providing equivalency of salary & benefits across its global team and maintaining a sustainable and positive working environment for all team members. Staff in the US are employed by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; benefits include healthcare, access to a 401(k), and paid time off.

Note: This search is being run by NRG Consulting Group.  Please feel free to share with your networks. Reach out to us with any questions.

PSF is committed to equal employment opportunity principles and to providing all employees with a safe and sustainable work environment free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome and value your race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, age, physical ability, nationality, and any other status unrelated to the performance of the job and protected by law. Candidates from historically disadvantaged or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.