Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Program Director, Environment

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Hiring Program Director, Environment, US

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1926 by automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott. The Foundation works with organizations in Flint and communities around the world to promote a just, equitable and sustainable society.

By The Sustainability Grid Desk

Location Flint, Michigan, USA

Type Full-time, On-site

Salary Starting at $250,000 per year

Experience Executive / Senior Leadership

, for priority consideration

Its grantmaking focuses on four areas: the Flint area, youth engagement, environment and civil society. In 2025, the Foundation awarded 396 grants totaling more than $161 million.

The Mott Foundation's Environment program has spent four decades supporting initiatives that protect communities and the ecosystems on which they depend. In 2025, the program awarded 93 grants totaling more than $20 million.

The program is beginning implementation of a new 10-year strategy built around three major initiatives:
One Water, Finance for Sustainability, and Land, Water and People of the Amazon Basin. The Foundation anticipates investing approximately $200 million across these initiatives during the strategy period.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is seeking a Program Director, Environment to lead the implementation and stewardship of its 10-year environmental strategy.

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Environment program, oversee grantmaking, coach an experienced geographically distributed team, maintain relationships with grantees and partners, and help translate complex environmental issues and program results for Foundation leadership and trustees.

The role combines executive leadership with direct involvement in grantmaking. The Program Director will personally manage a portfolio of grants while providing program-wide oversight and supporting the professional development of program staff.

Lead implementation of the Environment program's 10-year strategy across One Water, Finance for Sustainability, and Land, Water and People of the Amazon Basin.

Monitor developments across the environmental landscape, assess portfolio progress and help the Foundation make informed adjustments as conditions and opportunities change.

Serve as a key bridge between the Environment team and Foundation leadership by translating complex programmatic issues into clear recommendations and updates.

Keep senior Foundation leadership informed about major developments, opportunities, risks and decisions.

Lead, coach and support an experienced team working across different locations, cultures and areas of expertise.

Build a collaborative environment based on trust, accountability and shared purpose.

Support staff in navigating complex decisions, strengthening their work and connecting individual portfolios to broader Foundation priorities.

Help manage staffing and portfolio transitions while maintaining strong performance and professional development.

Provide overall oversight of Environment program grantmaking and ensure grants align with program strategy and Foundation policies.

Review grant recommendations and other program materials for quality, accuracy, clarity and timeliness.

Work with Grants Administration and other internal teams on due diligence, compliance, budgets, grant pipelines and related processes.

Personally manage a portfolio of grants and maintain relationships with grantees and partners.

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