Program Officer, Healthy Environment Portfolio

~ Meyer Memorial Trust, established from the estate of Fred G. Meyer in 1982, is one of the largest private foundations in Oregon, with current assets of roughly $790 million. ~

Meyer’s founder was a man ahead of his time. The values that guided him — to innovate, take risks, embrace diversity, adapt to changing circumstances and contribute to economic development — continue to create and inform the culture of the trust he established, influencing what Meyer does and how Meyer does it.

Over its lifetime, Meyer has awarded grants and program-related investments in excess of $786 million to more than 3,380 organizations. Today, Meyer focuses on work in Oregon in four areas Oregonians have identified as crucial to making the state better for all its residents: housing, education, the environment and building stronger communities. Meyer also funds ongoing initiatives related to affordable housing and the Willamette River and to buttress education policy, research and engagement by the Chalkboard Project. Meyer is a founding member of the Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative, which addresses crucial and time-sensitive issues facing immigrants and refugees across the state. These efforts, and those on the horizon, support Meyer’s vision of a flourishing and equitable Oregon.

Learn more about Meyer at mmt.org.

Position Overview

The Program Officer is a part of Meyer’s Healthy Environment portfolio team and works to develop and implement grantmaking strategies that will advance the portfolio’s vision of nurturing a resilient natural environment, while supporting the well-being of Oregon’s diverse cultures and communities. The Program Officer will bring strong environmental movement experience and a strong equity analysis as it relates to the environment movement to this role. In this position, the Program Officer will contribute to building strong community relationships and advancing organizational development to support the success of Meyer’s Healthy Environment portfolio.

The Program Officer reports to the Portfolio Director. The position’s core responsibilities include developing and managing relationships with nonprofits, funders and other community partners; developing and implementing programmatic strategies to strengthen nonprofit organizational capacity for making positive environmental protection and social justice impact in Oregon; conducting grantmaking activities; and supporting the assessment of the portfolio’s impact in the field.

In addition, the Program Officer is knowledgeable in many of the fields and types of organizations involved in the environmental and social justice movement, is a strategic thinker, has the ability to map out a long-term vision, listens to grantee and community feedback to shape strategy, and is creative and flexible in helping manage the portfolio, recognizing there is no one right approach to the work.

In all facets of responsibility, the Program Officer upholds Meyer’s key values of equity, collaboration, innovation, responsiveness, humbleness and transparency.

Position: Program Officer – Healthy Environment

Reports To: Portfolio Director – Healthy Environment

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

FLSA Status: Exempt

Start Timeframe: We’re seeking to have a candidate in place by August 2019

Responsibilities

Portfolio Development and Grants Management:

• Help manage a grant portfolio that aims to undo the extractive, transactional and damaging relationships we have with the planet and each other to advance new and proven approaches at all levels — organizational, local, regional and state — that are based on values of justice, cooperation, ecological sustainability and equity.
• Make grants that support efforts to change the policies, relationships, roles and practices in institutions and systems — large and small — that shape how we protect, manage and restore the environment and natural systems in ways that align with Meyer’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Conduct due diligence to identify and support grantees, from established to emerging grassroots-level organizations and across a variety of environmental fields.
• Assist in building and being part of the team of staff and contractors supporting and monitoring grants and other portfolio activities.

Learning:

• Work with the Portfolio Director and other Meyer team members to continue to develop and cultivate a learning culture within the Environment team and the broader organization.
• Help develop and maintain systems to assess and adapt grantmaking strategies to deepen the Healthy Environment portfolio’s impact and broader organizational impact.
• Use data and knowledge gathered in the field to advise on trends, movements and policy developments related to environmental and natural resource issues relevant to Oregon.
• Identify and support opportunities for Meyer to use tools beyond grantmaking, such as relationship building, research, convening and communications to further the foundation’s goals for strengthening the philanthropic sector.
• Work collaboratively with the Meyer’s communications team to produce original writings and work for the Meyer website and share research, findings and information as it pertains to the portfolio’s approach to grantmaking.

Engagement:

• Establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of nonprofit, government, business and philanthropic organizations throughout Oregon’s diverse communities.
• Proactively identify and cultivate relationships and investment opportunities as well as provide technical assistance to grantees.
• Identify ways to develop and support shared learning and field building among grantees and other stakeholders.
• Convene and facilitate ongoing peer learning opportunities that engage grantees and partners around strategy, priority issues and collaboration.

Organization-wide:

• Support other portfolio teams at Meyer in leading, staffing and participating in Meyer-wide strategies.
• Participate in community events and represent Meyer at convenings, meetings, forums, and public presentations, as appropriate. Become a trusted presence in communities throughout Meyer’s service area.
• Engage in diversity, equity and inclusion trainings and practice and serve on related work groups as needed.
• Participate in relevant affinity groups, as appropriate and value-added to Meyer, grantee organizations, and Oregon’s non-profit sector.

Equity:

Our goal is to make equity as much a part of our everyday operations, as it is a part of Meyer’s mission: To contribute to a flourishing and equitable Oregon. We believe if we really want a flourishing Oregon, we can not get there without equity. To that end, this role requires:

• Personal interest and commitment to working in a diverse and inclusive work environment that places a high value on equity.
• Participation in promoting a positive workplace culture of collaboration, innovation and respect.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment (please refer to Meyer’s Equity Statement).
• Engagement in equity trainings and service on related work groups as needed.

Qualifications

Required Competencies, Skills and Experience:

• Senior level experience (10+ years) promoting change in communities to improve environmental protection and social justice (including significant experience working in or with nonprofits). An understanding of current environmental challenges and the environmental field is critical. This experience may come from nonprofit, philanthropic, governmental, business or advocacy settings.
• Understanding of the roles of nonprofits and networks in environmental justice and social change. A mindset for systems-level change.
• Knowledge of and/or applied experience in organizational development, organizational life cycles, business cycles and nonprofit financial management.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with a broad and diverse range of stakeholders and communities, including direct engagement with communities that experience disparities in developing solutions.
• Experience in building bridges between and among a range of public, private and philanthropic stakeholders.
• Effective, engaging facilitation and presentation skills.
• Strong creative and analytical skills, combined with a passion for finding new ways to further and support Meyer’s program work.
• A flexible team player that contributes to a strong sense of community among Meyer staff, leadership and board. A willingness to challenge conventional thinking coupled with the ability to collaborate effectively and encourage dialogue.
• Organized and succinct oral and written communication skills, including the capacity to write complex documents quickly.
• Excellent interpersonal awareness, emotional intelligence and listening skills. A communication style that reflects clarity, authenticity, a sense of humor, humility, energy and a commitment to Meyer’s values.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• A strong work ethic, with high standards of accountability and a bias toward getting things done.
• Knowledge, commitment and personal interest in working in a diverse and inclusive work environment that places a high value on equity.
• Participation in promoting a positive workplace culture of collaboration, innovation and respect including an ability to establish effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic work environment.
• Travel throughout the region and attendance at community events and Meyer functions in the evenings and on weekends.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Working knowledge of best, promising, and emerging practices and innovations in the philanthropic field regionally and nationally. Experience with grantmaking is a plus.
• Experience with developing and applying strategies to operationalize diversity, equity and inclusion in environmental and/or conservation fields.
• Deep experience in the environmental policymaking process.
• Experience assessing needs of, and providing technical assistance to, a broad range of organizations.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:

• Engage in regular communication in-person as well as through electronic means.
• Routinely use computer laptops, tablets, desk phones, photocopiers and monitors including computer screens, TVs and projectors.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Work in a business setting of open cubicles with an estimated 45 - 60 decibel noise level.
• The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation

Salary Range: $72,828 - $109,242

Rewarding Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package including: medical and dental plans, a flexible spending account (F.S.A.) or health savings account (H.S.A.), a generous 401(k) plan, vacation time, tuition reimbursement and multiple transportation options for the active commuter.

To Apply

• Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter describing interest in the position and a resume highlighting experience, competencies and qualifications that meet the position requirements.
• Please submit application materials in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Acrobat Reader (.pdf) format to environmentpo@mmt.org by 5 p.m. May 17, 2019.
• No telephone inquiries, please.

~ Meyer Memorial Trust is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To this end, Meyer ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race; color; age; gender identity or expression; sexual orientation; religion; marital status; national origin or ancestry; citizenship; lawful alien status; physical, mental or medical disability; veteran status; or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.

Transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary job applicants, as well as applicants with disabilities and applicants with criminal record histories, are encouraged to apply. ~