Program Officer Connected Grid Initiative

San Francisco, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 160000 - 175000

Posted on: 9 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

About the Organization

The Connected Grid Initiative (CGI) is a multi-funder collaborative and field catalyst working to advance electric transmission solutions for the future. CGI exists to unlock U.S. grid capacity and enable the deployment of clean power at scale for a stronger more reliable and more affordable grid for all Americans.

CGIs theory of change focuses on overcoming critical barriers to transmission development by supporting transmission advocates at the federal level and across all regions of the country to accelerate transmission planning paying permitting and less than 3 years since CGIs inception CGI has built a substantial grantee network consisting of more than 90 partners including both national and local organizations with varying specializations. CGI is supported by more than a dozen key philanthropies and individuals with a shared mission: to unlock U.S. electric transmission solutions and expand grid capacity for the benefit of all Americans.

Position Summary

CGI Program Officers play a lead role in developing and executing grantmaking strategies to advance CGIs goal of expanding electric transmission infrastructure at the scale and pace to service pressing national needs. They also serve as ambassadors for CGI in building and resourcing a network of philanthropic partners advocates and policy leaders who advocate for solutions to transmission challenges. Key responsibilities include strategy development grant sourcing and diligence grantee relationship management and supporting impact evaluation and reporting.

The Program Officer will join a program team consisting of the CGI Deputy Director and two other Program Officers. The position will report to CGIs Deputy Director and work closely with the entire CGI team. The program officer will lead the management of an existing initial portfolio of 25-30 grantees across targeted geographic regions with particular focus in southern U.S. regions. The Program Officer will monitor engage and evaluate their grantee portfolio against organizational priorities and adjust funding and strategies as needed to maximize outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Grantmaking Portfolio Management and Relationship Development
Develop implement and manage grantmaking strategies to advance transmission solutions across the country. This includes:

Ownership of strategy grantmaking and grantee engagement for select geographic based transmission planning region(s): MISO SPP ERCOT and Southeast (note potential to shift some regional focus over time and based on particular experience relative to other Program Officers).
Ownership of topical specialization(s) including coordination with and informing strategic implementation in other Program Officers regions.
Identify and address emerging needs and gaps in the field and source best-fit opportunities for CGIs portfolio through consistent engagement with peer funders partners and grantees including understanding the ecosystem of actors and advocates.
Develop quarterly funding recommendations that are supported by thorough vetting and due diligence analyses for grantmaking opportunities that advance CGIs goals.
Management of portfolio strategies that align with CGIs grantmaking budget.
Prepare materials for and make presentations to CGIs Grants Committee to secure approvals for funding recommendations in accordance with CGI grantmaking processes.
Align grantmaking with CGI metrics and goals and demonstrate progress towards meeting goals.
Build and actively manage relationships with CGI current and prospective grantees to provide guidance thought partnership and connections across the transmission advocacy space.
Bring big ideas that challenge the status quo and advance CGIs mission.
Maintain a high level of transmission expertise by staying up to date on recent transmission developments; be able to share insights perspective and thought leadership.

Collaboration Reporting and Team Engagement

Provide strategic input to development and implementation of program measurement and evaluation to inform CGIs grantmaking strategies. Provide inputs into CGI reporting and evaluate performance of grantees to inform opportunities for further development and grantmaking and to deepen programmatic impact.
Participate in quarterly in-person team meetings annual grantee conferences and funder gatherings.
Propose and support network education through development of topics and materials for monthly Transmission Taskforce webinars quarterly Funder Learning Calls and regular CGI communications.
Utilization of organizational system tools such as Salesforce Zoom and OneDrive to enable coordinated timely and transparent sharing of information.
Willingness to travel up to 20%.

The Ideal Candidate

You display a masterful talent for building and maintaining strong professional relationships and thrive in complex and distributed partner networks. You enjoy shaping strategy and driving alignment of shared goals across diverse networks to maximize ecosystem impact. You communicate with easewriting clearly listening actively and translating across audiences with varying levels of technical or subject matter fluency. You are proactive decisive and attentive to detail while staying flexible thoughtful and responsive in a fast-moving environment. You have demonstrated ability to impact policy in difficult political environments and have direct expertise in the energy space. You work collaboratively within a team and have the drive and discipline to take ownership of designated projects. You are motivated by supporting others and driving joint accountability helping partners grantees and internal teams succeed and understand the value of capturing incremental gains while building towards long term outcomes. You excel and are motivated to work behind the scenes in supporting the outward-facing activities and successes of grantees and partners.

Specific Experience Requested
We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills knowledge experiences and background to this position lending his/her/their flair to the trajectory of the Program Officer role. We welcome diverse experiences and perspectives in our applicant pool and will be looking for candidates who possess many but not necessarily all of the following qualifications and experience:

Key qualifications include:

Bachelors degree with a preference for candidates with a post-graduate degree.
7 years of experience working in energy non-profit energy advocacy or philanthropy consulting transmission planning/development or electricity policy with a preference for candidates with experience working in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and/or the Southeastern U.S. regions.
Demonstrated ability to develop present and execute a cogent strategy.
Strong research writing and analytical capabilities including the ability to communicate complex issues concisely.
Strategic and critical thinker who is comfortable working independently with minimal oversight.
Willingness to perform duties across all aspects of CGIs grantmaking operations as necessitated by a lean team; similarly excitement to collaborate with and mutually support other aspects of CGIs core mission including funder engagement.
Experience in grantmaking or grant management is desirable.
Experience with U.S. policy on electric power transmission and grid modernization is strongly desired.
Ability to manage multiple priorities campaigns and deadlines simultaneously strong project management organization and attention to detail.
Familiarity with remote work tools and platforms Teams Zoom social media platforms and basic office software.
Comfort working collaboratively across teams partners and external stakeholders including grantees funders program staff to align strategy and portfolio management efforts.
Flexibility adaptability and comfort working in a dynamic environment able to respond to emerging opportunities adjust priorities and adapt strategic intervention accordingly alongside colleagues and partners.
Strong ethical judgment discretion and commitment to consistency and brand integrity capable of representing the organization and managing sensitive relationships with care.

Workplace Compensation & Application

Workplace & Travel: This is a fully remote role. All team members work from home offices and typically travel up to 20% for in-person team meetings grantee events conferences and industry events.

Compensation: Multiplier provides a comprehensive compensation package including competitive salary ($160000 - $175000 starting salary based on experience and qualifications) excellent medical and dental benefits retirement savings and generous vacation and sick leave policy.

How to Apply: To apply please visit our Applicant Portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of February 22nd. We encourage early submissions. Please include a cover letter in your application materials describing your relevant experience and qualifications. We respectfully request no follow-up calls or emails.

Multiplier and Connected Grid Initiative are committed to creating an inclusive equitable and accessible application process for all candidates. We recognize that the traditional hiring process can create barriers. If we can support your participation in the job application or interview process by providing specific assistance or accommodation please reach out to Requests for accommodations are confidential and will not impact your candidacy.

About Multiplier
Multiplier accelerates impact for innovative projects focused on protecting and fostering a healthy sustainable resilient and equitable world. At Multiplier program teams can turn game-changing ideas into planet-saving impact and they can do it faster and better than they otherwise could.

Multiplier and Connected Grid Initiative celebrate diversity and is committed to building teams and partnerships that represent a variety of backgrounds perspectives and skills. Multiplier is also committed to providing an environment of mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment. Multiplier prohibits discrimination in its governance programs and activities on the basis of race color national origin age disability religion gender sexual orientation gender identity genetic information political beliefs reprisal marital status amnesty status as a covered veteran because all or part of an individuals income is derived from public assistance or for any other factor that is not based on merit.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority

About the OrganizationThe Connected Grid Initiative (CGI) is a multi-funder collaborative and field catalyst working to advance electric transmission solutions for the future. CGI exists to unlock U.S. grid capacity and enable the deployment of clean power at scale for a stronger more reliable and m...