Program Manager - Food & Agriculture; HP

Posted on April 08, 2020

The 11th Hour Project, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation, seeks a collaborative, inspiring, organized, and self-motivated Program Manager to be part of a small, supportive, and audacious team leading the Food & Agriculture Program designed to support a transition of food and agriculture systems from consolidated, fossil-fuel intensive industries toward regenerative, regionalized food economies that provide compounding ecological, social, and health benefits to all communities.

Established in 2006 by Wendy and Eric Schmidt, The Schmidt Family Foundation (TSFF) supports efforts worldwide that uplift communities to build resilient systems for food, water, and human health. Through community-, market- and technology-based approaches, TSFF promotes an intelligent relationship between human activity and the planet’s natural resources. TSFF pursues its mission through three, innovative and thoughtful strategies:
1) The 11th Hour Project ;
2) the Mission Investment Program; and
3) Schmidt Marine Technology Partners.

As a program of TSFF, the 11th Hour Project provides grants to qualified 501(c)3 organizations that are committed to promoting a responsible relationship with the planet’s food, water and energy resources. Our team works at the nexus of energy, food and agriculture, and human rights. For us, growing beyond a linear economy based on extraction and waste towards a regenerative economy means advancing frameworks that value healthy ecosystems, active civic engagement, and social fairness.

The 11 th Hour Project is looking for an exceptional person to join our two-person Food & Agriculture team. The Program Manager – Food & Agriculture will help refine and implement our strategies for working at the intersection of healthy soil and healthy communities while executing all aspects related to grant-making subject to all existing policies and procedures of the Foundation.

A high degree of flexibility and willingness to roll up one’s sleeves in a dynamic, small-team environment are essential. The Program Manager will primarily focus on our portfolio in California.

The Program Manager must have an excellent work ethic, be highly skilled at setting priorities, and possess a willingness to jump in with both feet. The successful candidate will be confident, smart, and highly productive quick study who thrives in a high-performing organization.

This position reports to the Program Director for the Food & Agriculture Program.

Program Strategy & Grants Management

• Participate actively in supporting a program-wide strategy that aligns with the organizational mission of The 11th Hour Project
• In collaboration with team members, manage and refine the California program strategy
• Engage in ongoing research in a defined area, identify potential opportunities for transformational change, and develop grant recommendations to achieve program objectives
• Gather and analyze monitoring and evaluation data to assess program impacts, gaps, and challenges in the program’s strategy, and generate learning that informs future grant-making
• Maintain/share knowledge of current events in our strategic areas as it relates to programmatic outcomes
• Manage and execute site visits to regions of geographic focus across California
• Solicit, review and analyze grant proposals
• Prepare and complete grant documentation for approval by the Program Director
• In collaboration with the Program Director, periodically present grant strategy and recommendations to Executive Director and Board
• Maintain grant files, including contact management, evaluations and metrics reporting
• Execute other projects and activities, as assigned

Network Building

• Maintain and expand upon an existing network of thought-partners and advisors
• Lead positive and productive partner and grantee relationships with a wide range of organizations and individuals
• Represent the Foundation at conferences and gatherings
• In partnership with Program Director, develop funding coalitions for strategic priorities

Organizational Management

• Work closely with grants administration…