Environment Program Associate

The Walton Family Foundation pursues a philanthropic mission established by Sam and Helen Walton, which began modestly in the small town of Bentonville, Arkansas.

When Sam Walton opened the original "Walton's Five and Dime" in 1950 he did so with a strong belief in the power of an individual to make a positive difference in his or her own life and community. Throughout a career that created Wal-Mart, one of the world's leading companies, Sam Walton believed strongly in achievement, and that included philanthropic commitment and results as well as corporate success.

Sam and Helen Walton's philosophy of giving is based on life-long experiences in small town Northwest Arkansas that teach the value of personal engagement and involvement, the power of education in society, and that making philanthropic investments should make an appreciable difference in communities.

The Foundation and the Walton family today seeks to honor those basic principles and values, even as the focus of its giving has expanded beyond projects and institutions in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas.

Position Overview: 

The Walton Family Foundation is seeking a skilled individual to join the Environment Program as a Program Associate. The new Associate will be located in the Foundation's Washington D.C. office.

The Program Associate will work with other foundation staff, under the supervision of the Environment Program Director, to assist with the management of grants made by the program and with the evaluation of grantee performance and progress under our grants.

Responsibilities:

• produce information useful to the continued development and ongoing execution of the Environment Program Strategic Plan;
• solicit proposals consistent with the Environment Program's Strategic Plan and to review proposals received;
• prepare and process internal grant-related documents, including grant write-ups, grant letters, and grant and budget tracking sheets;
• develop systems for grant evaluation;
• evaluate progress under Environment Program grants through the review of grant reports, related research, data collection and analyses, and field visits;
• assist individual Board members with charitable programs of special interest related to the environment;
• represent the Foundation at professional meetings and before the broader conservation community.

Qualifications: 

The position calls for an understanding of issues related to the conservation of marine and freshwater systems, and familiarity with the use of market-based tools for conservation. The role requires self-direction and decisiveness combined with flexibility and a capacity to give and receive feedback graciously.

The Foundation seeks to recruit an individual with superior interpersonal skills, a respectful attitude for the work of grantees, and a demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team.

The Program Associate should ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

• At least 3 years experience in natural resource management, policy or advocacy, ideally with experience in grant or project management and evaluation.
• Graduate degree in a related field.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proven skills at organization and time management.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a team as well as independently.
• Intellectual agility and the ability to analyze, think critically, and understand emerging issues that are directly relevant to programmatic funding areas.
• Unquestionable ethics and personal integrity.

Compensation: The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience.

Closing date: 11/25/09

To Apply:

Interested candidates should please send cover letter and resume.