Associate Program Director, Conservation

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7 days ago Requisition

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

The Fidelity Foundations are a group of private foundations committed to building the capacity of leaders and organizations tackling important societal challenges and promoting thriving communities. The Foundations partner with nonprofits working across arts and culture, conservation, economic opportunity, education, and medical science to strengthen long-term effectiveness. We have a deep 60-year history of funding organizations in Boston, New England, and select metropolitan regions across the United States.

Today, the Foundations are at an important and exciting stage in our organizational history, having grown and evolved in recent years. As our strategies and organization continue to develop, we are seeking individuals with skills and expertise that support the advancement and execution of a long‑term portfolio of significant and strategic philanthropic investments.

The Foundations grants program is designed to strengthen the sustainability and impact of nonprofit organizations. We take a consultative approach in our grantmaking and collaborate with leaders to help them address organizational development needs so they can achieve their strategic priorities. Our grantmaking is guided by our values of excellence, integrity, respect, and collaboration. Rooted in humility, we execute our grantmaking quietly and most grants carry external anonymity.

The Foundations’ Conservation Program is dedicated to restoring and conserving the natural world, with a focus on New England, to ensure that both people and wildlife can thrive. Our work is composed of two portfolios that aim to:
1) increase the resilience of natural systems in the face of a changing climate by protecting thriving habitats and restoring those that have been threatened or degraded by unsustainable human practices; and
2) preserve people’s access to nature as part of thriving communities and urban ecosystems. We invest in direct conservation and restoration projects as well as capacity‑building for nonprofits to expand their project‑management and stewardship capabilities.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Reporting to the Conservation Program Director and partnering closely with both the Director and the Conservation Team, the Associate Director uses sector expertise, project management, and problem‑solving skills to oversee and grow strategic grantmaking across multiple portfolios to advance the impact of Foundations’ Conservation program. The Associate Director’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Oversee and manage execution of strategic grantmaking across a range of portfolios.

• Directly manage, partner with, and support program officers to ensure high‑quality grant‑making closely aligned with select conservation portfolio impact goals, including:
  • Overseeing the grant development process (e.g., cultivation, pipeline management, Trustee communications, stewardship)
  • Ensuring that written summaries for senior management and Trustees are accurate, clear and compelling
  • Monitoring and evaluating grant effectiveness against stated and overall portfolio objectives and ensuring that data and information are up to date in the grants management system
  • Partnering with colleagues to identify opportunities that deepen or expand existing areas of focus
• Provide expertise in support of other program areas and projects, as needed

(2) Support Program Director in annual planning, goal‑setting, and team building.

Provide expertise and thought partnership to the Director on goal setting and continuously improving the impact of the conservation program and special initiatives.

• Develop deep understanding of the conservation program’s multi‑year pipeline, including tracking progress against goals and working with the team to mitigate any gaps to achieving targets
• Contribute to and advance key foundation‑wide, cross‑cutting priorities, including research, learning, and impact measurement efforts
• Provide…