Project Manager, Philanthropy

Background

Climate Lead is a unique organization dedicated to mobilizing philanthropic resources to combat climate change. Climate Lead acts as a guide for philanthropists on a diverse array of climate-focused initiatives, connecting donors with projects ranging from early-stage ideas to proven opportunities ready for scale. Through tailored support and connections to peers, experts, and leading funders, CIimate Lead empowers donors to make informed decisions and collaborate effectively, ultimately accelerating the transition to a more sustainable and resilient future. We are currently seeking three Project Managers in Philanthropy, one based in London and 2 others in the USA (San Francisco and Washington DC).

Purpose of role

We are currently seeking a Project Manager in Philanthropy, whose primary objective is to assist the Senior Philanthropy Advisors (SPA) in securing essential funding to combat global climate change. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in philanthropic activities and proficiency in managing multiple high-priority tasks autonomously, which are crucial for effectively managing various project management responsibilities essential to fulfilling the objectives of the Philanthropy Team. Through collaboration with various teams such as Philanthropy, Global Climate Strategies, Communications, and Operations, the ideal candidates will ensure seamless coordination and delivery of donor-related initiatives and projects. Leveraging their strong project management capabilities, exceptional communication skills, and dedication to environmental causes, the Project Manager, Philanthropy will make a significant contribution to the organization's mission of fostering climate leadership worldwide.

Primary responsibilities

Strategic support of primary donor portfolio (70%)

Donor deliverables (50%)

• Project manage donor deliverables and other donor-related work streams as defined by strategies set by SPAs, including but not limited to developing and managing or leading work plans, timelines, and tracking status of all the moving parts to meet internal and external deadlines.
• Negotiate project timelines and gather input from colleagues to design project plans.
• Serve as a thought partner to SPAs on donor strategies.
• Liaise with members of the Global Climate Strategies, Communications, and Operations teams to ensure effective collaboration on donor deliverables and products.
• Tap the Knowledge Management System to field simple donor-related SPA needs (e.g., pulling final donor products by theme).
• Prepare high-quality, strategic briefs and support preparation of other donor materials (including decks, advisory materials, funding opportunities, etc.) for meetings with donors, ambassadors, volunteers, and partners.
• Responsible for detailed briefings to prepare for donor meetings, events etc. drawing from research and background information from the Senior Research Analyst.

Administration and workflow (20%)

• Summarize and take responsibility for key action items from internal and external meetings, distribute information to teammates and manage follow-up with appropriate internal and external staff.
• Coordinate complex external meetings with the appropriate administrative assistant(s) as necessary across the organization for the Senior Philanthropy Advisors.
• Responsible for timely Salesforce data entry and management including donor activities (emails, meeting notes, etc.), updating and maintaining giving opportunities, projections, invite lists, prospect lists, and monthly portfolio reviews.

Special projects that scale our donor work and advance team goals (30%)

• Contribute to special projects as assigned including but not limited to project management support for Ambassadors, select events, proactive products, and priority big bets; building and maintaining the Philanthropy Team strategic playbook and cascading learnings in partnership with the Deputy Managing Director, and supporting pipeline development in key regions.

Success criteria

• Implementation of complex projects: You’re a confident Project Manager, leading and executing a portfolio of interconnected projects with close attention to detail across multiple stakeholders. This requires you to be highly organized and attentive to detail.
• Written and verbal communications: Your written and verbal communication skills are excellent, with an ability to deliver verbal presentations in multiple settings.
• Self-motivation: You are solutions-oriented, proactively taking initiative, identifying problems and opportunities across your assignments, and developing recommendations and acting on those recommendations.
• Learning mindset: You desire continuous improvement, have an innate sense of curiosity, are grounded by a foundation of self-awareness that provides space for learning and growth, and are highly adaptable.
• Strategic thinking: You’re a strong conceptual thinker who can quickly grasp and navigate a range of abstract concepts, relate them to one another, and translate those concepts into strategies and practical actions.

Experience

• Project management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree, course work in business management or environmental policy preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of relevant work experience (in or with nonprofit, foundation, or other mission-focused organizations preferred) in a program support role.
• Fundraising experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience working in service to a broad range of clients and stakeholders preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with proven ability to translate complex concepts into succinct, clear, accessible language for multiple audiences.
• Highly proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Box.
• Knowledge of Asana, Google systems (Drive and Sites) as well as Salesforce.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work individually, as part of a team, and with individuals of diverse backgrounds who are part of the climate change conversation.
• Ability to make decisions independently and work effectively and efficiently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and work under pressure in a high-performing team is a must.
• Comfort with flexible, dynamic, and multi-cultural teams across global time zones.
• Passion for environmental issues.
• Business fluency in Portuguese a plus for London-based Project Manager.

At the Climate Leadership Initiative, we value diversity and always treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of or traits historically associated with race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

To apply for the post

To apply for this role, please follow the apply link below to submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement.

In addition, we request a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to research and communicate complex concepts in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. Any relevant piece of writing where you have distilled complex information would suffice. The sample should not exceed 1,500 words.

Please contact Karem Armstrong at karem@darylupsall.com for any queries you may have.

The deadline for application is Wednesday 17th April 2024

Daryl Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required; irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability or sexual orientation.