Associate Director, Funder Collaborations

Scope of Work:

The Associate Director, Funder Collaborations will report to the Senior Advisor, Funder Collaborations and be based in the ClimateWorks San Francisco Office. The position requires excellent organizing, relationship, and communication skills; project management and event planning expertise; and the ability and demeanor to collaborate with varied stakeholders and decision-makers to create and execute effective, results-oriented projects and programs focused on shared visions. The Associate Director must possess an innate ability to anticipate needs as well as to create and manage smooth functioning operational systems that achieve agreed-upon outcomes, working with ClimateWorks internal stakeholders. S/he will also provide high caliber, high-touch, client-service-oriented leadership of external strategic partnerships, convenings, projects, and workstreams.  Organizing and relationship management background in related NGO, coalition, advocacy, legislative or philanthropic communities is strongly encouraged.

This role requires a team-oriented, confident, autonomous and savvy individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment with changing projects. S/he must enjoy precision as well as playing a facilitative role with multiple and diverse stakeholders, managing varied points of view to create successful collaboration and shared outcomes.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and mentoring staff and consultants in their execution of 2-3 complex international conferences annually, that drive varied and changing logistical and operational priorities. S/he will also lead Funder Collaborations Department operations including, but not limited to, contracts, CRM systems, and project plans, working in close partnership with the Senior Advisor and other organizational departments. This person will also provide facilitative leadership to several key established and emerging funder collaboration groups, helping climate leaders work together to identify and achieve shared goals.

This facilitative role is at the heart of ClimateWorks’ collabortive services, supporting shared learning, building and sustaining collaborative approaches and coalition efforts designed to tackle the challenges of climate funding strategies in a changing global environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Include the following and other duties as assigned:

• Build and maintain close working relationships with diverse staff at philanthropic partner organizations and within ClimateWorks’ global staff.
• Produce 2-3 successful international convenings annually:  This includes:
  • Lead, manage and implement all meeting logistics and operations, in partnership with staff, funder partners and a top-notch events management team.
  • Work with diverse strategy session planning groups to set clear goals and desired outcomes, then set and implement plans and timelines to accomplish those goals through sessions at the convening.
  • Curate, vet, and distribute appropriate briefing materials, including working with the Global Intelligence and other departments that develop briefing materials, infographics and other content that will be used prior to and during the meeting.
  • Conduct high-touch personal customer service to VIP attendees.
• Working closely with the Senior Advisor, achieve Funder Collaborations (FC) goals by managing and implementing internal systems and operations as needed to accomplish department goals, including but not limited to:
  • Partner with other ClimateWorks departments and stakeholders on cross-team work critical to funder collaborations’ success, including development, operations and planning, IT and programmatic teams.
  • Design, manage and lead key Funder Collaborations Department workstreams, processes, planning and systems, overseeing FC staff on those projects. Mentor staff,  nourishing the team and Funder Collaborations department goals.
  • Negotiate and oversee contracts with external partners, especially consultants and associated vendors as needed to fulfill the deparment’s responsibilities.
• Work closely with the Senior Advisor, other ClimateWorks leadership and philanthropic partners to co-design, organize, and staff a variety of short- or long-term collaborative projects, programs, meetings and/or discussion groups. This will include but not be limited to:
  • Develop, drive and/or support a variety of funder collaboration projects, including results-oriented start-up projects or evolving coalitions where we are “making the path as we walk it.” Create conversations and processes that support multiple stakeholders to build trust and find the common ground that enables coordination and new work. This will include but not be limited to:
    • Working with and/or coaching group leaders and participants to set clear project goals, desired outcomes, as well as plans and timelines on an ongoing basis for evolving projects.
    • Planning and organizing participants as well as implementing and overseeing work to keep projects on track to success: planning, advance work and materials, logistics; setting sharp meeting/call agendas, and organizing clear plans and timelines.

Requirements:

• 7-10 years of relevant professional experience, including: planning and executing successful conferences; prior experience facilitating and managing results-oriented coalitions and high impact, deadline-driven collaborative projects with diverse organizations; and proven leadership in managing high-functioning operations work including development, contracts and CRM systems.
• Experience and comfort getting results in a facilitative leadership role in a highly collaborative, fast-paced start-up environment.
• Proven diplomatic and problem-solving skills in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Meticulous attention to detail and strong organizational skills. Relevant experience staffing executives and designing or improving processes and initiatives to help departments or organizations excel.
• Excellent writing, editing and communications skills.
• Ability to work efficiently and successfully across multiple projects with minimal supervision.
• Ability to develop others’ skills and leadership, to build and sustain high performing teams and teamwork.
• Successful experience working with a broad range of clients and stakeholders.  Preference for experience with the philanthropic, NGO, coalition, legislative, or advocacy communities.
• Passion for environmental issues and willingness to travel.
• Commitment to ClimateWorks’ mission and values.

To Apply

ClimateWorks Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse candidate pool. The Foundation recognizes diversity as an asset essential to accomplishing its work and views diversity as encompassing differences in race and gender, as well as age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, job skills, education, and geographic location. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To be considered, please submit your resume and a cover letter expressing your passion for the mission and fit for the role to: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/223ab394162249de93e641cfda698915