Program Associate - Marine Microbiology Initiative

Established in September 2000, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation seeks to advance environmental conservation and scientific research around the world and improve the quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Foundation’s Marine Microbiology Initiative supports discovery and dissemination of scientific findings and technological developments in the fields of marine microbiology and microbial ecology, which contribute to ocean health and productivity. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is among the top ten largest foundations in the U.S. and one of the largest private funders of environmental conservation and non-biomedical science in the world. For more information, please visit www.moore.org.

The Foundation is devoted to the inspirational vision articulated by its founders: “creating positive outcomes for future generations.” This vision guides its mission: “to achieve significant, lasting and measurable results in environmental conservation, science and the San Francisco Bay Area.” A set of core values—impact, integrity, disciplined approach, and collaboration—directs the Foundation’s work.  The Foundation carries out its work through the following frameworks:

Initiatives: Initiatives are built around well-developed strategies for concentrated investments, focused on the long-term and achieving significant impact. Initiatives are characterized by a portfolio approach to grantmaking, and other engagements of the Foundation, to pursue ambitious, large-scale outcomes.   Initiatives constitute about 80% of the Foundation’s grantmaking.

Stand-alones: The Foundation devotes about 20% of its grantmaking to experimentation, focused innovation, and agile response to time-sensitive, high-impact opportunities in its three areas of focus.  

The Foundation provides significant funding for long-term commitments, which support organizations on multiple projects that will lead to large-scale outcomes within their respective programmatic priorities.  Within the Science Program, the Foundation has committed $300 million in potential grants over 10 years to the California Institute of Technology and $250 million to fund the design, development, and construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

• Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA
• Over $5 billion in assets
• Annual Foundation budget of ~$250 million
• ~80 employees
• Three program areas
  • Environmental Conservation
  • Science
  • San Francisco Bay Area 

Role Summary

The Program Associate is responsible for providing support to the Marine Microbiology Initiative by assisting the Program Officers in proposal review, the grants process and grants administration. This position will report to the Program Director for MMI. This position has a four-year term.

Typical Background

Accountabilities

Education

·   4- year degree

External contact

Moderate direct contact

Typical Experience

·   2 years experience post BA or BS preferred

Level of Accountability

Provides efficient and effective support for Program area to help achieve intended outcomes and impact

Knowledge

·   Undergraduate education in a science field preferred

·   Interest in science

Skills  

(in addition to the competencies listed in the last section)

·   Organizational skills

·   Excellent project management and analytical skills

·   Ability to develop solutions to address problems at hand

·   Willingness to ask for help and identify appropriate resources to accomplish tasks when necessary

·   Clear communication skills both orally and written

·   Ability to self-manage priorities and goals for projects

Autonomy of Decision Making

• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to       determine appropriate course of      action 

• Consults with Program Officers or         Program Director on majority of   issues. Works under moderate           supervision.

Responsibilities

Suggested

Time

Commitment

Strategic / research support

·   Researches issues

·   Helps develop grant documentation that fit strategy

·   Manages and synthesizes knowledge

·   Tracks trends

 Significant

Administrative / delegate duties

·   Performs analysis and tracking of initiative allocation

·   Supports Internal Strategic Review development

·   Compiles Board reports, track milestones, major developments etc.

·   Performs team coordination duties as required, such as convening/branding/team schedules

·   Tracks and manages operational budget developed by Program Director

·   Manages knowledge management processes (e.g., tracking media, journals, data in grantee reports).

·   Provides monthly funding and grant making projections that affect cash draws, grantee payment continuity, and the use of Foundation's staff resources

·   Analyzes and anticipate program cycles due to annual allocation, refunds/terminations

·   Maintains consistency with grant making impacted by new grant making approaches, policies, systems, and external developments (legal and best practices, etc)

·   Serves as information specialist/knowledge manager to program officers

 Significant

Change making

·   Provides support to team and participates in activities that enhance grant making

 Medium

Proactive Sourcing of Grants

·   Provides thoughtful and efficient support for grant sourcing activities including research and drafting communications

 Medium

External relationship management

·   Applies program knowledge to respond to inquiries in a courteous and timely manner—directs inquiries to appropriate staff

 Medium

Grant making and Monitoring

·   Supports internal team coordination with grant making process

·   Assists in financial and organizational due diligence

 Medium

Competencies: Definitions and Links to Our Values

Client Service & Support
Impact
Integrity
Disciplined Approach
Collaboration

Problem solving

·   Thinks critically and provides practical solutions based on thorough analysis in the face of real-time issues

Customer service

·   Provides courteous and responsive support, while balancing the requirements to adhere to legal requirements and Foundation policy

·   Participates in developing Initiative priorities aligned with program and organizational priorities and needs, with the goal of maximizing Foundation impact

Project management and quality of deliverables

·   Delivers high quality products in a timely and efficient manner

·   Mobilizes resources to develop and implement work plan to achieve goals

Knowledge
Impact
Disciplined Approach

·   Brings and incorporates the best current thinking within an individual’s functional area to the Foundation

·   Maintains awareness of current standards and processes

Communication & Teamwork
Integrity
Collaboration

·   Employs speaking, writing, listening and critical reading skills

·   Shares relevant information in a timely, structured and synthesized manner

·   Contributes to the team and to the Foundation