Program Associate, Environment and Science; Climate

Position: Program Associate, Environment and Science (Climate)
Overview

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation was founded in 1964 by David and Lucile Packard. We work with people and communities to create enduring solutions for just societies and a healthy, resilient natural world. We advance progress in science, ocean and land conservation, climate change, women’s reproductive health and rights, and the well-being of children, families, and communities. Our vision is a just and equitable world where both people and nature flourish, and our mission is to address root causes of challenges by mobilizing people for collective action, building on long-term approaches, and grounding work in science, knowledge, and data.

We are committed to equity and inclusive processes and to funding people who have been historically excluded to spur progress for all.

Our values are Equity, Integrity, Belief in Individual Leadership, Thinking Big, Respect, and Effectiveness. For more information, including our definitions of key concepts, please visit our website.

Position Summary

The Program Associate (PA) is the lead contact for our grantees when it comes to ensuring the grantmaking cycle and process is understood, effective, and streamlined. Through partnership with grantees, an understanding of their needs, and strong knowledge of internal processes, the Program Associate works with internal and external partners to contribute to Initiative and Foundation goals.

This role will be responsible for leading, developing, and implementing the operations for our Global Climate Initiative (GCI) in collaboration with other Program Associates. They will partner closely with multiple local and international Environment and Science (E&S) teammates including an Associate Program Officer (APO), a Director, and regional advisors, to ensure effective implementation of our climate strategies, with our work centered around grantees.

Environment and Science supports work to achieve the Foundation’s goals, focusing on protecting and restoring the natural world. We champion bold climate solutions, an ocean that sustains us, and scientific innovation to secure the health and future of people and planet. Within E&S, GCI contributes to a collaborative program of donors, NGOs, and civil society organizations, bringing to bear the ambition, knowledge, and partnerships required to halt and reverse tropical deforestation while delivering sustainable development and promoting inclusive rural transformation.

An interest or lived experience in tropical forest countries, and Indonesian Bahasa or French language skills, would be an asset in this role.

This position reports to the Program Operations Manager and joins a team committed to developing effective operational processes for grantmaking and strong, trust-based relationships that support the needs and aspirations of our grantees.

Responsibilities

• Lead contact for grantees to ensure understanding, effectiveness, and streamlining of the grantmaking cycle.

• Collaborate with internal and external partners to support Initiative and Foundation goals.

• Develop and implement operational processes for the Global Climate Initiative (GCI) in coordination with E&S teammates.

• Support climate strategies aligned with the Foundation’s goals of protecting and restoring the natural world.

• Engage with donors, NGOs, and civil society organizations to advance tropical forest conservation and inclusive rural transformation.

Qualifications

• Experience in grantmaking operations or program administration, with strong project coordination skills.

• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across local and international contexts.

• Interest or lived experience in tropical forest countries; proficiency in Indonesian Bahasa or French is a plus.

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills to support grantees and internal partners.

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