$130,000 - $165,000
September 12, 2024
New York, NY
About the Robertson Foundation
The Robertson Foundation is a private, family-led foundation established in 1996 by Julian Robertson, the founder of Tiger Management LLC, and his wife Josie. By taking a targeted yet creative approach to philanthropy, the Robertson family seeks to have a positive social impact and create a legacy that reflects their values. The Robertson Foundation has three giving areas – medical research, environment, and education. They have recently clarified the priorities and strategies that will shape the Foundation’s next decade of giving across all areas.
The Foundation’s culture is collegial, smart, driven, and high performing. With a small team of 17, there is no opaque bureaucracy. All staff members at Robertson are given real responsibilities, real visibility into all aspects of the work, and real exposure to leaders in the field, fellow funders, and the board.
The Opportunity
The Robertson Foundation is seeking a Program Officer to join its small nimble team and help advance its bold, new environment portfolio strategy. Working in a complementary and collaborative way with other Environment Portfolio team members and reporting to the Program Director, Christy Loper, this new Program Officer will help shape, guide, and refine strategic priorities, conduct due diligence on potential grantmaking opportunities, and actively support grantees across the Environment Portfolio.
Every member of the Robertson team has the opportunity and expectation to:
The Environment Portfolio
Over the past two years, the Robertson Foundation has conducted a refresh of its environment strategy. The harms of unchecked climate change are well-known and devastating to humanity and the natural world. The goal of the Robertson Foundation’s Environment Portfolio strategy is to address the threat of global climate change by supporting efforts to cut emissions in half by 2030, and restricting warming to 1.5 degrees.
Energy use is the most significant contributor to global emissions, followed by agriculture. Over the next five years, the Foundation’s environment grantmaking will focus primarily on these issues, aiming to maximize impact by supporting work with the potential to make major progress against emissions this decade, in areas where philanthropic funding is currently limited.
The Foundation has identified two major pillars for the environment strategy where its investments can have the highest impact:
Energy Transition: Accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy, with a particular focus on minimizing new investment in oil and gas infrastructure.
Food Systems Transformation: Reducing the climate impact of food production, with a particular focus on boosting healthy, sustainable proteins and reducing food loss and waste.
Key Responsibilities
Grantee Support
Strategy Implementation and Learning
Portfolio Development
Field Engagement and Networking
Ideal Candidate
Strong candidates have a deep commitment to solving the climate crisis and an understanding of the role philanthropy can play. The Foundation seeks candidates with a broad generalist understanding of climate change and a desire to work across a range of topics; specific experience in the Global South (especially Latin America), energy transition, or U.S. food systems transformation is also valued.
Strategic thinkers who are excited to dig into multiple complex topics, seek out alternative viewpoints and learn from a wide range of sources will be ideally suited for this role. Candidates should be proactive and action-oriented, able to juggle competing priorities. They must be able to work independently to advance a range of projects and excel as good team players who enjoy working closely with colleagues on collaborative projects.
The Foundation seeks naturally inquisitive lifelong learners who are comfortable reaching beyond current areas of expertise, and have the intellectual agility to recognize connections, opportunities, and intersections across different aspects of the Environment Portfolio. Their innate interest in the field drives a proactive and forward-looking approach to following trends, anticipating changes, and predicting potential impacts for the Foundation.
The strongest candidates enjoy engaging with grantees; building supportive relationships, listening to needs, making connections, and identifying opportunities to help grantees grow and achieve greater impact. Operating from a place of respect and humility, the best candidates will be able to create an environment of continuous learning with grantees, other funders, sector experts, and lay audiences.
Sound judgment and a high degree of discretion and tact will be necessary for this role. The ability to organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines will be expected.
Desired Qualifications
While no one candidate will possess all the desired qualifications, strong candidates will offer a combination of the following:
Qualified candidates may have experience in and networks with advocacy organizations, think tanks, philanthropies, impact investing, development banks, and local or national governments in Latin America or the Global South more broadly.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $130,000-$165,000. Total compensation includes an excellent benefits package including, PPO healthcare, ample PTO, 401k contributions, a small personal discretionary grantmaking budget, and professional development opportunities.
Location
While the Foundation is based in New York, the culture is designed for remote operations with ample collaboration opportunities. Candidates not based in New York City must be prepared to travel to New York regularly, particularly in their first year in the role. Please note the Robertson Foundation is unable to provide a work visa for this position.
Robertson Foundation’s EEO Statement
The Robertson Foundation values diversity and is committed to recruiting and retaining individuals of diverse backgrounds, sex, race, religion, age, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Visit the website for more information: www.robertsonfounation.org.
To Be Considered
Please submit your resume and cover letter expressing your interest in the position and fit for the role via the “Become a Candidate” button.
Applicants applying by October 18, 2024, will be given priority consideration, with the position open until filled.
The recruitment process will involve the following:
Robertson Foundation hopes to welcome a new team member in late fall 2024.
$130,000 - $165,000
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New York, NY
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Nonprofit
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Full-time
All Categories:
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