Program Director - The Families & Workers Fund

The Families and Workers Fund (FWF) seeks a Program Director to join our team. This role is part of our Program Team and reports to the Executive Director.

The Program Director will serve as the lead grantmaker and thought leader for the Families and Workers Fund’s Powering Good Climate and Infrastructure Careers Funding Initiative, which aims to deliver on the promise of trillions of dollars in recent federal investments in the clean energy transition and U.S. infrastructure and its potential to deliver millions of economic mobility-boosting jobs. The Program Director will possess deep strategic expertise in the clean energy, infrastructure development, and/or other climate-related sectors and ideally also bring familiarity with workforce development/career training. The Program Director will work collaboratively to design and fund strategies that advance the ambitious impact goals of our Powering Good Climate and Infrastructure Careers Initiative, and they will adeptly navigate stakeholder dynamics in the clean energy and/or other climate-related sectors and work effectively with ideologically diverse partners.

Application Deadline & Requirements

As a start-up, FWF is growing quickly and seeking to staff the team quickly and thoughtfully. Deadline for applications is June 26th with an anticipated start date of July 31st.

About the Families and Workers Fund

The Families and Workers Fund (FWF) is a platform for collaborative action and a pooled $65 million+ fund supported by 25 diverse funders working together to build a more equitable economy that uplifts all. FWF was founded on the belief that the United States is experiencing a once-in-a-generation opening to advance economic security, opportunity, and mobility—especially for those who have been most locked out of the country’s prosperity. FWF deploys strategic and nimble grants, as well as targeted programs, community engagement, and partnerships, to leverage the possibility of this moment toward three longer-term impact goals:

• 21st Century Benefits: Reimagine and repair the public benefits systems—in particular, unemployment insurance and other benefits that help to propel economic security and mobility—by supporting the introduction of new technologies, delivery models, and policies to improve efficacy and access, and end racial, gender, and other disparities.
• Recover Up: Leverage new federal and employer investments and momentum to accelerate the delivery of career pathways and quality jobs to struggling workers.
• Activate Philanthropy: Catalyze strategic collaboration in philanthropy to advance a more equitable economy and grow the total amount of resources committed to good jobs and economic opportunity.

Across all of FWF’s work, the team prioritizes equity and dignity—i.e., ensuring an approach is designed for and with the most impacted communities and centers their voices and leadership—as well as implementation excellence and potential for scale. This enables FWF to work in ways that are both people-driven and data-driven and to break down silos. FWF supports grantees that share its values of equity and are also relentlessly focused on scale, such as by investing in strong tech systems, sustainable financial models, and healthy teams.

Key Responsibilities (include but not limited to):

• Leads and manages grantmaking for the Powering Good Climate and Infrastructure Careers Funding Initiative: Leads grants program for the Powering Good Climate and Infrastructure Careers Funding Initiative in close partnership with the Executive Director and the Program Director leading the Fund’s “Recover Up: Jobs the Sustain and Uplift” portfolio. Sources and scopes potential grantee candidates, makes grants, and supports grantees to be successful and achieve their goals, including increasing their influence and resources. Helps grantees navigate complex policies or public funding opportunities, such as by matching them with appropriate technical assistance or advising them directly. Supported by the Program Associate who will handle grant administration/payments and the Program Manager who will handle targeted research, measurement, evaluation, and learning.
• Other duties as assigned: Contribute to the overall success and impact of the program team, including managing other projects or priorities as assigned. Lead, collaborate, and/or support internal projects and initiatives as a small and growing organization.
• Serves as a thought leader and relationship steward on climate and infrastructure issues: Scope, build, and manage partnerships and collaboration opportunities for the Powering Good Climate and Infrastructure Careers Funding Initiative, working closely with the Executive Director. Serves as a thought leader and relationship steward in the climate and infrastructure space, guiding continued strategy refinement and partnership development. Stays current on the latest developments including proactively monitoring policy and business developments related to FWF’s work and advises on potential impact, including risks or opportunities. Independently scopes, builds, and/or manages at least a few important, organizational relationships, partnerships, or collaboration opportunities for the assigned program area, such as with government partners. Successfully navigates frequent, high-stakes interaction with external stakeholders.
• Actively engages external audiences: Contributes to the Fund’s thought leadership and communications and funder learning efforts, such as by briefing our co-funders, grantees, and other key stakeholders. Maintains an external presence that helps to advance FWF’s voice and mission in the assigned program area. Represents the Families and Workers Fund at external events and meetings, including occasionally speaking on panels or making presentations. Proposes key moments when external communications are needed to deliver on programmatic goals and collaborates with the Executive Director and Communications Associate to deliver.
• Sets priorities and manages implementation for the Powering Good Climate and Infrastructure Careers Funding Initiative: Working closely with the Executive Director and in collaboration with a coalition of stakeholders from across climate, labor, business, workforce development, and policy, sets annual goals for the climate and infrastructure workforce initiative. Builds effective timelines/processes for implementation and identifies resources needed to deliver. Manages staff and/or project-based teams of consultants as assigned, large budgets, and large-scale initiatives largely independently with advice from the Executive Director. Effectively identifies when to tee up key decisions or escalate items to the Executive Director. When necessary, designs and implements strategic partnerships/programs that FWF operates in-house.
• Contributes to funder relationships: Presents program updates, grant docket, and results at Advisory Board and/or other funder meetings. Works closely with our co-funders and engages them in learning, strategy, and grantmaking, including by partnering with the Executive Director to help steward the Climate and Infrastructure Program Committee. Occasionally interacts with prospective funders or contributes to fundraising efforts as requested.

Minimum Requirements

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Proficiency writing high-quality memos, concept notes, and/or presentations for a variety of audiences.
• Shares FWF’s deep commitment to equity; values and seeks to advance equity in the workplace including racial and gender equity.
• Proficiency with data and evidence-based decision making and strategy, including synthesizing research, leading data collection, reviewing and reporting analysis.
• Comfort working in a startup environment with many competing priorities, deadlines, and workstreams.
• Subject matter expertise, in at least one of the following areas: clean energy; climate resilience; green jobs, training, and/or workforce development; state/local climate or clean energy policy implementation and/or technical assistance. Understanding or familiarity with economic opportunity, community economic development, and/or workforce development a plus.
• At least 7 years of progressively increasing responsibility in a relevant field, including a minimum of 3+ years leading a large-scale project or initiative and managing people (e.g., government, philanthropy, or nonprofit sector).
• Demonstrated experience and comfort with multi-stakeholder initiatives and working effectively across differences (i.e., working with large, diverse groups of partners whose perspectives may differ from each other and your own).

Desired Qualifications

• Experience or familiarity with grantmaking.
• Solutions and action-oriented, curious and enjoys learning new things.
• Strong skills in PowerPoint, Excel, and Word; knowledge of Google Apps and virtual meeting tools is also desirable.
• Team player, highly collaborative, and strong interpersonal skills.

Salary, Benefits, Location, and Eligibility

• $145,000-195,000 annually, commensurate to experience.
• Generous benefits, including 100% employer paid medical, vision, and dental insurance, vacation days, and a matching retirement plan. Start date in [Month following start date].
• Remote job open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States and able to operate within the Eastern Standard time zone.

Travel Requirements

This role will require domestic travel (approximately three to eight trips annually) as well as frequent, in-person meetings with co-funders and key partners.

This position will be formally housed at the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, which is the sister philanthropy to Amalgamated Bank. The Families & Workers Fund is a part of the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation and is headquartered in Washington, DC.

At Amalgamated Foundation and the Families and Workers Fund, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people from working-class backgrounds and/or with lived experiences that the Families and Workers Fund works on are strongly encouraged to apply.

This search is being led by NRG Consulting Group. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

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