Program Associate

JOB DESCRIPTION – PROGRAM ASSOCIATE

Location: Fully remote work with occasional travel for retreats, conferences, and some team/partner events if desired. All work-related travel costs are employer-paid. Candidates must reside in or commit to relocate to a metropolitan area with access to transportation hubs, printing, mailing, and other infrastructure. TCI is headquartered in Brookline, MA (Boston metro area), but employees may reside anywhere in the United States if it meets the criteria described earlier.

Status: Full-Time

Reports to: Senior Program Officer

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with preference given to applications submitted before April 14th, 2023

Start Date: July 3rd, 2023

TRUE COSTS INITIATIVE (TCI)

True Costs Initiative seeks to increase corporate accountability and strengthen legal systems in the Global South by driving collaboration among communities, funders, and creative leaders to tip the balance so corporations are held accountable for and internalize the true environmental and human costs of their business activities. True Costs Initiative (TCI) accomplishes its unique vision by supporting and fostering strategic collaborations and partnerships with communities affected by corporate footprint. We recommend funding to nonprofits that advance corporate accountability and robust legal systems, support the use of media to drive transparency in corporate accountability, and foster the generation and implementation of ideas for creative leaders in the corporate accountability and business and human rights field.

Here at TCI, we embrace a culture where we appreciate each other’s contributions, support each other’s growth and development, and encourage learning and unlearning. Our team members embrace and embody the organizational values, including high levels of trust, mutual accountability, and respect. We care for each other.

PROGRAM ASSOCIATE OVERVIEW

TCI’s PA is a passionate, dedicated, dependable, organized, conscientious, and passionate team member who embraces and embodies TCI’s organizational values and cares for our grantee partners and the communities we support. The PA pays strict attention to detail and can focus when doing tasks that may be repetitive. They are a creative problem-solver who is flexible and can nimbly move between roles and tasks as necessary for a tiny, mighty team of six people. As with all TCI team members, the PA is reflective, reliable, adaptable and eager to learn with the ability to recognize and navigate power dynamics in different settings. They enjoy stepping up to support team members and take pride in their role. They have a good sense of humor and appreciate nuance and subtleties in our work. Above all, the PA values kindness, rest, diverse opinions and differences and well-being while holding high expectations for self and others.

The PA’s main role is to support our Program Team of three, including the Senior Program Officer (SPO) and Program Officer (PO), in all grantmaking functions. They manage our entire grant management system, Foundant, and support a dynamic grants portfolio with a focus on the Fellowship Program. The PA supports the SPO in the coordination of capacity-strengthening, engagement, and programmatic opportunities for and with grantee partners; our efforts to improve and enhance our grantmaking strategies; partnership cultivation; and the documentation of internal and external communication of TCI’s impact. The PA’s deep issue-focused knowledge and organizational skills allow the PA to provide input to the Program Team in the shaping of TCI’s work to ensure the realization of TCI’s vision. TCI’s Program Associate is our reliable grantmaking and partner support, relationship builder, constant learner, and essential team member!

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grantmaking

Provide holistic support to the entire Program Team; Support the SPO with SPO-led programs
Manage TCI’s grant management system through Foundant: create and maintain database system records, including data entry for grant applications, follow-ups, internal fields, and all relevant updates
Program-related meeting coordination: manage scheduling and communications with grantee partners for grant reviews, prospective calls, and grant follow-ups
Support TCI’s grantmaking Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) efforts as assigned
Develop and maintain effective documentation systems and tools for documenting grantee partner work and impact, prospective partner and ally contacts, and grant recommendation status
Lead and manage prospective grantee research and program-related issues, stay abreast of business and human rights issues and priorities
Work closely with PO/SPO to develop summary narrative reports on grant recommendations and indicators of strategic success for dissemination to appropriate Board members and/or trustees
Be an integral part of the planning & implementation of TCI’s Fellowship Program including prospective host organization identification and engagement, meeting with Host Organizations and Fellows, organizing the annual TCI Fellowship Conference, leading and/or participating in the grant recommendation processing in collaboration with the Program Team as a whole based on readiness and interest,
Prepare, conduct, and/or participate in relevant grantee report review meetings as assigned
Provide input to PO/SPO on grantmaking strategies
Manage TCI’s relevant consultants providing expertise and guidance on program-specific projects as needed
Carefully and analytically review all grant reports applications, updates, and follow-up materials and provide input to the Program Team when applicable
Track leveraged funding
Assist PO/SPO in supporting ED with relevant pre-call and pre-Board Meeting program-related materials
Other relevant tasks as assigned

Communications and Collaboration

Nurture TCI grantee partner relationships; Provide the first line of communication for prospective partners, current/past grantee partners, other funders, and TCI Fellows
Communicate with grantee partners about new or emerging TCI programming when appropriate
Communicate with grantee partners about non-TCI funding opportunities and partnerships which may be additive to their work when appropriate
Identify communication and engagement opportunities for TCI to raise awareness about TCI Program Areas, focusing on utilization of social media platforms and bring that to our media team’s attention
Engage with philanthropic and nonprofit communities and identify opportunities for engagement

Team Learning

Lead the identification of learning opportunities for the TCI team and proactively sharing these opportunities for team members.
Attend educational workshops and training as appropriate to advance thematic expertise and PA’s own professional development as appropriate
Take notes and document relevant learnings when attending meetings with senior team members

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

2-4 years of professional experience in grantmaking, program coordination, project planning and management or similar role
High school degree or High School Equivalency/GED required; Bachelor’s degree preferred
Interest in nonprofits, philanthropy corporate accountability, environmental rights, human rights, and/or social justice issues
Conscientious organizer
High attention to detail, the type to “triple-check everything”
Can focus on multiple tasks with some interruption, understands how to plan and prioritize based on diverse needs of the organization
Can work autonomously and does not require follow-ups from supervisors and other team members, while being a collaborator and working well on a team
Skilled in working across cultures and geographies with the ability to communicate effectively with audiences of various backgrounds and perspectives
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Creative thinker who can quickly turn ideas into action
Highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards
Intellectual agility and the ability to analyze and think critically
Demonstrates the flexibility, adaptability, accountability, and team-orientation needed to thrive in a small and dynamic team environment
Good sense of humor
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and willing to learn other tools implemented at TCI

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary range is $55,000-$60,000. With full transparency, candidates with 2 years of experience in the same role can expect the lower end of the range, and candidates with 4+ years of experience in the same role can expect the higher end of the range.

Annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and annual merit raises depending on performance
Health and Wellness Stipend of $1,600 per year
Professional Development Entitlement of $1,500 per year
100% Employer-paid health insurance
100% Employer-paid vision insurance
100% Employer-paid dental insurance
100% Employer-paid life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
401k with 4% matching after 6 months of service
Fully remote work with employer-paid occasional/quarterly travel
Flexible work hours. Standard work hours are 9am-5pm EST with variation and flexibility as expected due to timelines, traveling requirements, and project cycles.
60-minute per week allocation for PA’s own self-determined and self-directed learning
Relocation and transportation stipend
14 days of paid holidays per year
20 days (4 weeks) of Paid Time Off per year
5 days for bereavement or ED-approved personal events per year
3 Mental Health Days per year
3 “Summer Fridays” off per year
Quarterly “Flex Weeks” with reduced work hours (4 hours/day)
8 weeks of paid parental leave after 1 year of service
Reproductive health travel reimbursement
Fully paid sabbatical of 1-2 months or partially paid sabbatical of 3 months after 5 years of service
As an organization that values its employees, TCI is always looking for ways to provide additional benefits to employees within budget. The PA will have the opportunity to contribute and suggest additional benefits to the Director of Operations.

How to Apply and What to Expect

Application: Please send one PDF with 1) resume, 2) cover letter, 3) one writing sample, and 4) list of three references in that order to info@truecostsinitiative.org. Applications without all four components in one PDF in that exact order will not be considered.
Round 1 Virtual Interview: 5-10 candidates will be selected for Round 1 interviews on a rolling basis with preference to those who submit full applications before April 14th. The interview will consist of a 45-minute virtual Zoom interview, camera on, and a live 30-minute writing portion.
Round 2 Final In-person Interview: 3-5 candidates will be selected for Round 2 interviews. This interview will be in-person at our office in Brookline, MA (Boston metro area) with all travel costs reimbursed. It will consist of 60 minutes with the full TCI Team and 30 minutes with the Executive Director and Senior Program Officer.
Reference Checks: 2 candidates will be selected from Round 2 and TCI will contact the references listed in the candidates’ applications.
Background Check: 1 candidate will be offered the position contingent on background check clearance.

TCI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment and fostering belonging among all employees. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.