Program Associate, Climate

The Barr Foundation is seeking a full-time program associate to provide administrative and programmatic support to the Climate team. The Climate team collectively manages grantmaking to over 150 organizations, administers contracts with approximately 40 entities, and facilitates external relationships, research and convening essential to advancing the program’s strategic goals. The Program Associate plays a key role in collaborating with the team to implement processes, manage tasks, and maintain datasets critical to executing the team’s work, as well as collaborating across the foundation.

The ideal candidate is highly organized and self-motivated, with strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and manage workloads across multiple workstreams and team members. Essential qualifications include proven project management skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, willingness to learn Asana and Salesforce, and strong written communication and interpersonal skills for effectively managing relationships with a diverse range of individuals and organizations.

Implement processes that advance grants and contracts from concept to approval; this includes generating task lists for program officers, tracking grantee and contractor documentation, following up with grantees and contractors and supporting the submission of grants and contracts, and liaising with Barr Foundation’s Grants Management Team.

Maintain and strengthen processes to monitor and track contract invoices, grant payments, and grant reports to ensure accurate and timely delivery of information from grantees and contractors, and accurate record keeping in the Foundation’s systems

Support the team to track and meet all internal deadlines and manage workloads related to grantmaking, budgeting, program planning, and foundation-wide cycles, including annual workplans

Support team members in designing, planning, and implementing meetings, convenings, learning activities, and special projects that support Climate Program strategic priorities and “beyond-the-grant" support, by conducting research and data analysis, developing agendas, taking notes, synthesizing information, and coordinating catering and other accommodations; this work includes working with consultants who may provide event management or facilitation support

Facilitate Climate team engagements with the Communications and Learning and Evaluation teams by coordinating activities and projects and engaging in initiatives

Prioritize and participate in bi-weekly Climate team meetings

Serve as point person and coordinate with the Grants Management, Finance, and Information Technology teams on matters related to grants, contract management systems and Climate Program needs

Manage data and conduct analyses related to grants, contracts, and grantee and contractor contacts and organization information

Support high-quality relationship management with grantees and external consultants

While no single candidate may embody all the qualifications listed, an ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences.

A commitment to advancing racial equity and inclusion in your work and in our workplace

An interest in reducing and further preventing climate change and prioritizing the experience of communities that are experiencing the impacts of climate change first and worst

Demonstrated proactive project management experience

Self-motivated with strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and ability to track and meet multiple deadlines

Comfort working with different types of quantitative data and budgeting tools

Demonstrated ability to identify, collect, organize, and synthesize information from various data sources

Effective communication and presentation skills

Strong interpersonal skills to manage relationships with a broad range of people (internal and external) and organizations

Knowledge of and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office and Google applications

Experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana); and database systems (e.g., Access, Salesforce) is a plus

Experience with nonprofit or philanthropic organizations is a plus

Academic coursework or professional/volunteer experience in either clean energy, transportation, resilience, environmental justice, or public policy is a plus

The Barr Foundation embraces a hybrid workplace with the current expectation that staff in-office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and working remotely on Mondays and Fridays, with the understanding that some weeks may require an additional in-office day(s) for specific needs.

Located along the waterfront in Boston’s North End, Barr’s offices are in the historic Pilot House and adjacent Two Atlantic Avenue building. Our walls and halls feature the work of contemporary artists, and the office space is designed to provide bright, open, flexible spaces for collaboration and independent work, and to host meetings and events. With expansive views of Boston Harbor, Barr is steps away from Boston’s “Freedom Trail” and bike share and near to restaurants, shops, museums, and parks.

The Barr Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees feel their experiences, perspectives, and ideas are valued. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), sex, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or other protected characteristics in its hiring, compensation, promotion, or other employment activities.