Program Delivery Associate

Schmidt Sciences is a philanthropy dedicated to fostering the advancement of science and technology. We approach this by identifying under-supported or unconventional areas of exploration and discovery in order to accelerate and deepen our understanding of the natural world and develop solutions to global issues. We seek ideas, people, and techniques across disciplines of science and technology to catalyze results for society. Our focus areas include AI and Advanced Computing, Astrophysics and Space, Biosciences, Climate, and Science Systems programs. At Schmidt Sciences, we support and develop talent programs for post-docs, exceptional mid-career polymath researchers, and interdisciplinary fellows; virtual institutes on topics ranging from astrophysics to earth systems modeling to artificial intelligence; and data platforms and scientific software to improve the way scientific research is done. We explore new avenues to support scientific research that further our understanding of the world.

The Role

Program Delivery Associate, Climate / New York, NY

Reporting to the Program Delivery Director, the Climate Institute Program Delivery Associate will play a central role supporting key operations relating to program and grants management within the Climate Institute; helping to source, diligence, and manage the Institute's gifts and grants throughout their lifecycle; and supporting the grantee community. The Associate will support 1-3 programs within the Climate Institute – the Virtual Institute for the Carbon Cycle (VICC), the Virtual Institute for Earth’s Water (VIEW), and the Decarbonization and Energy Virtual Institute (DEVI).

• Grants Management: Working as a key member of the Climate Institute team and in partnership with our finance, grants management, and legal teams, the  Program Delivery Associate will support grants administration across VICC, VIEW, and DEVI within the Climate Institute.
• Program Management: Working in partnership with the Climate Institute Director and Program Scientists, the Program Delivery Associate will support implementation of the Climate Institute’s strategic plan by providing comprehensive operational support to designated programs and at the Institute level.
• Stakeholder Collaboration, Engagement, and Communication: Coordinating with internal teams (e.g. communications, legal, finance) and external stakeholders to build community, track progress, and optimize impact.

• Input and maintain grants and gifts data in the grants management system, ensuring all records are up-to-date and compliant with organizational standards and requirements.
• Contribute to due diligence and management of gifts and grants.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Facilitate seamless collaboration with key stakeholders, including Communications, Community, Grants Management, Legal, Accounting, and Finance teams, to optimize the impact of the Science Systems team's endeavors.
• Create operational materials, mechanisms, and processes that can improve and be used across multiple programs in the Climate Institute.
• Diligence partner organizations — including research facilities (universities, labs, etc.), startups, and philanthropic and government organizations — that could work in concert with the Climate Institute.
• Ensure team understanding of and compliance with internal processes during program implementation, including budgets, contracting, and grant administration.
• Provide thorough financial analysis and progress tracking, including budget documentation, anticipated outcomes, and projected impact. 

• Working in collaboration with Program Analysts and Associates, support monitoring and evaluation of projects. 
• Develop mechanisms and processes for program assessment, including the organization and collection of data to verify program progress on target metrics, collating relevant information through awardee conversations and report reviews, creating and conducting benchmarking and other analyses to facilitate project execution, etc.
• Ensure efficient and effective execution of initiatives by consistently collecting key data to accurately assess impact across all Climate Institute initiatives.
• Serve as a thought partner to administer and improve selection and award processes, including helping to coordinate and facilitate the due diligence and evaluation of awardee applications, supporting the management of competitions, and executing awards.

• Provide grantee and science advisory board community management and support. Align and work closely with internal stakeholders to support Schmidt Sciences' goals.
• Create and coordinate program communications, including arranging meetings with grantees and advisory board members as needed.
• Work with our communications team to develop materials to publicize the accomplishments and impact of our grantees.
• Lead the planning and execution of convenings and other events for our grantees.
• Be familiar with and an advocate for grantee needs and problems, and be the first point of contact with our grantees for resolving operational, administrative, and financial issues. 
• Analyze feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement (e.g., processes, tracking, metrics), and work with the team to implement changes that enhance community engagement and satisfaction.

• Exceptional operational and program management skills and project planning.
• Experience collaborating with and managing multiple diverse stakeholders.
• Experience building and managing communities of grantees.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a deeply collaborative team.
• Strong written communication and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to drive efforts independently and ensure effective implementation.
• Ability to coordinate efforts across multiple stakeholders, partners, and portfolio teams.
• Knowledge or familiarity with Salesforce CRM, particularly in the context of grantmaking processes. 

• Have 4-6 years of experience in an operational, grants, or program management/delivery type function.
• Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution.
• Have proven capability of working with multiple teams to support the management of large awardee portfolios to achieve specified outcomes.
• Values-based, collaborative working style with demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Be based at the Schmidt Sciences offices in New York and be able to travel within the U.S. and internationally regularly as needed, following company policy.

About Schmidt Sciences

SIF, which operates Schmidt Sciences, is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.