Program Director, Marine Conservation Initiative

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Program Director, Marine Conservation Initiative

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a non-profit, philanthropic organization based in Palo Alto, California has launched a search to recruit a Program Director for the Marine Conservation Initiative.

About the Foundation

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation works to find and support the bold ideas that will create an enduring impact in environmental conservation, patient care and science. They focus on work in these three areas that their founders are committed to improving. In addition, they support land conservation and science learning in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has provided for the quality of life that Gordon and Betty have enjoyed with their family.

Their approach

The opportunity to create lasting, meaningful change drives their team members and their approach to the work: they establish specific strategies based on input from experts in the sectors where they work, identify partners who share their goals and measure results along the way–all while making adjustments as needed. They build relationships and fund work in areas where they hope to make a significant impact, build and leverage knowledge within key fields and create networks intended to drive collaboration, learning and adaptation. They’re OK with failing, as long as they learn from their mistakes. And they know that working together expands their ability to drive meaningful change.

Foundation facts

• Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA

• $6 billion in assets

• Annual Foundation budget of nearly $300 million

• About 100 employees

• Three program areas

  • Environmental Conservation

  • Patient Care

  • Science

• A San Francisco Bay Area Portfolio that focuses on these same issues locally

For more information, please visit www.moore.org.

About the Department

The Marine Conservation Initiative (MCI) currently works to support healthy ocean ecosystems in the U.S. and Canada that can sustain food, jobs and recreation over the long term by focusing on two of the largest, yet most solvable, threats to the oceans: overfishing—including bycatch and discards—and habitat degradation. MCI’s work is built on the premise that aligning incentives (economic, legal, policy and social) with conservation goals will achieve lasting benefits for ocean ecosystems and the people who depend on them. MCI uses two primary strategies to achieve its objectives: ocean planning and reforming fisheries management in North America.

MCI’s first strategy, ocean planning, allows communities, industry and governments to design a future for their coastal economies. Ocean planning’s strength is that it addresses the impacts of the entire suite of activities occurring in a specific place and balances human needs with ecosystem conservation to facilitate smart use of the ocean. Through analysis of ocean planning activities around the world and support for public-private partnerships, MCI has helped launch innovative planning processes and develop tools that enable transparent and scientifically-based ocean planning.

MCI’s second strategy, reforming fisheries management, seeks to align economic and social incentives with conservation outcomes in the U.S., with a focus on groundfish catch shares systems in New England and the West Coast. Well-designed catch share programs can ensure that both jobs and fisheries are sustainable. We also understand that fishery management policies are only as good as the science that supports them. We promote scientifically-based annual catch limits; improve monitoring, observing, and data management systems; promote more sustainable harvesting gears and practices, and help end overfishing and rebuild depleted stocks, while supporting fishing communities for the long term.

For more information on the Marine Conservation Initiative, its grants, and the Moore Foundation, please consult their website, www.moore.org. 

The Position

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer for Environmental Conservation, the Program Director will lead the Marine Conservation Initiative (MCI) in its effort to support healthy ocean ecosystems in the U.S. and Canada that can sustain food, jobs and recreation over the long term.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement the strategic vision for the foundation’s Marine Conservation Initiative

• Oversee and execute a 5-year initiative strategic plan

• Manage an approximately $20 million annual grant budget

• Oversee grantmaking processes, including management in support of grant and MCI strategies. In many cases, this means oversight of Program Officers and approval of grants; in others, direct grantmaking by the PD

• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of MCI

• Collaborate with grantees and partners to achieve collective goals

• Manage and develop MCI staff and manage administrative budgets for the team

• Stay current with science, policy, and political developments relevant to MCI

• Test and adaptively manage alternative approaches to large scale marine conservation

• Engage in the management and leadership of the Foundation

• Coordinate with related initiatives at the Foundation

• Implement the vision and operating model of the Foundation

• Represent the Initiative at meetings and symposia

• Reinforce the values of the Foundation internally and externally

Education and Experience

• PhD or equivalent experience related to ocean conservation and management

• 10+ years of relevant experience with on-the-ground conservation efforts

• Deep knowledge of relevant concepts, trends and issues in: ocean planning and fisheries management; and an understanding of these issues in the U.S. and Canadian contexts

• Ability to balance innovation and measured risk-taking with a strategic, thoughtful, and outcomes-based approach

• Ability to effectively manage and motivate others

• Ability to work collaboratively with individuals from different sectors and backgrounds to achieve collective goals

• Ability to make decisions on the basis of knowledge, analysis, external input and objective due diligence

• Demonstrated track-record of success in managing complex, multi-year projects

• Strong communication skills, critical thinking skills and financial analysis skills

• Ability to represent the foundation and MCI to a variety of audiences

• Proficiency in teamwork, inviting different perspectives to build a stronger outcome, and delegation of program responsibilities

• Flexibility and willingness to travel in the United States and abroad

• Continued enthusiasm to make a significant and lasting impact in the field

• Commitment to work toward pragmatic environmental solutions

Competencies and Attributes

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 to staff, grantees and partners, while balancing the need to adhere to legal requirements and Foundation policy

• Solicits feedback from internal staff and external partners and synthesizes to make the most effective decisions

• Develops departmental 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, including staff skillsets and strengths, to develop and implement work plan to achieve goals

• Brings and incorporates the best current thinking within an individual’s functional area to the foundation

• Maintains awareness of current standards and processes

• Employs speaking, writing, listening and critical reading skills

• Shares relevant information with direct reports, leadership team and Board, grantees and partners in a timely, structured and synthesized manner

• Contributes to the MCI team and to the Foundation (includes administrative skills, coaching, managerial / leadership skills)

Leading and Inspiring

• Creates a clear and compelling vision for achievement and leads efforts that positively impact the Foundation

• Empowers others to use their talent and capabilities to take thoughtful risks with the intent to drive impact and make change

Demonstrating Integrity and Fairness

• Serves as a role model to others and acts in accordance with the Foundation’s values

• Fosters a work environment that promotes the highest levels of integrity, honesty, and teamwork; is able to work through and resolve complex ethical issues

Managing Talent and Performance

• Provides consistent direction and feedback to develop staff, and appropriately identifies and coaches individuals towards achieving their potential

• Implements the Foundation’s Performance Management Process, ensuring that each team member has clear and timely objectives; regularly meets with direct reports to monitor and coach performance; appropriately addresses performance deficiencies

• Coaches team to achieve “stretch” performance under difficult and challenging conditions

Desired Behavioral Characteristics

The following behaviors are the hallmarks of our culture and characterize how we strive to do our work with each other and our partners:

• Practice courageous conversations

• Build trusted relationships

• Move with speed

• Build high-performing teams

• Focus on what matters

• Take smart risks

• Plan outcomes, learn and adapt

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation includes a competitive base salary and an excellent package of health, retirement savings and other benefits.

Application Process

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume by email to: Daniel Sherman, President, at resumes@explorecompany.com. Refer to Moore Foundation/MC-PD in the subject line. No phone inquiries please.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
All correspondence will remain confidential.

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