Environment Program Officer - Oceans/Chile and Peru
Job Description
The Walton Family Foundation is seeking a skilled, highly motivated and entrepreneurial individual to join the foundation’s Washington, D.C. office (or Denver office) as a Program Officer for the Oceans Program to direct the work on our new Chile and Peru initiatives.
About the Walton Family Foundation
Sam and Helen Walton had an unshakeable belief in the power of people to transform their own lives. As Sam said, there is no limit to what individuals can accomplish if “given the opportunity, the encouragement and the incentive to do their best.” Today that “no limits” philosophy is carried forward by their descendants through the Walton Family Foundation.
Since 2000, the foundation’s grant-making has grown from $50 million to an anticipated more than $400 million in 2015. With grant-making projected to exceed $2 billion over the next five years, the foundation continues to move forward with increasing intensity, focus and commitment to sustaining the Walton’s timeless entrepreneurial values and their deep dedication to making life better for individuals and communities alike. By working with grantees and collaborating with other philanthropic organizations, the foundation is focused on making a positive difference in three primary program areas of collective interest to the Walton Family:
• K-12 education
• Freshwater and marine conservation
• Quality of life initiatives in Arkansas and the Mississippi River Delta Region
In addition to these program areas, the foundation also supports grant-making interests of individual and groups of Walton family members, as well as independent foundations created by family members. These individualized giving areas represent a high growth area of the foundation.
During 2016, the foundation plans to invest over $400 million in domestic and international projects that address significant social and environmental issues. The foundation continues to implement and expand grant-making to fund a positive difference in many diverse communities – and in the lives of the people who call these communities their home.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, with offices in Washington, D.C., Jersey City, New Jersey and Denver, Colorado, a staff/consultant base of approximately 95 associates conducts the day-to-day operations of the foundation.
About the Environment Program
Among the largest environment programs in the U.S., WFF’s Environment Program will make approximately $85 million in grants in 2016 to dozens of organizations across multiple continents investing in two of the most important conservation issues of our time: restoring the health of the oceans and preserving the quality and availability of fresh water in the Colorado River basin and the Mississippi River basin.
The work of the Environment Program is organized under four initiatives:
Ocean. We invest in the Americas (the U.S., Mexico, Peru and Chile) and Indonesia, to significantly reduce overfishing, improve ocean health, and preserve fishing jobs.
Colorado River basin. We focus on increasing market incentives for agricultural and urban water efficiency in the Upper Basin; advancing binational and multistate water agreements in the Lower Basin; and preserving the Colorado Delta system, including riparian habitat and flow restoration.
Mississippi River basin. We align policy and market incentives to encourage farmers to adopt practices that improve water quality, build soil health and reduce pollution.
Coastal. We work to ensure that the restoration dollars from the 2010 Gulf oil spill settlement flow to priority restoration projects with an emphasis on the Mississippi River Delta.
The Role
The Program Officer would assist in the continued development and implementation of the Foundation’s Oceans strategy in two countries that are new to the Walton Family Foundation – Peru and Chile. The goal of the Oceans Strategy is to create healthy, sustainable fisheries that provide greater social and economic security to coastal communities and contribute to healthy ocean ecosystems.
We have chosen to focus on overfishing because it is one of the greatest, yet most tractable threats to our oceans. Overfishing has a direct impact on the health of fish populations and the overall health of the marine environment. Nearly two-thirds of all fish populations for which good information exists are over fished and need to be rebuilt, and all the other fisheries for which we have little information are suspected to be even worse. On the other hand, if properly managed, fisheries could provide increased income and stability for coastal communities and at the same time improve the health of the marine environment due to resurgent fish populations.
This position will be located in Washington, D.C. (or possibly Denver) and will report to Monica Medina, Deputy Director of the Environment Program.
Responsibilities:
• Oversee grant-making in Peru and Chile including soliciting grant proposals, reviewing programs, developing internal grant documents and monitoring progress of grants.
• Engage with academics, NGO and industry partners from different parts of each country to hone strategy and solicit grant proposals.
• Conduct site visits to ongoing or potential project sites, attend public meetings and represent the foundation at conferences and other events.
• Identify potential new partnerships and opportunities, including identifying other funding partners to engage each country.
• Provide information and assistance as needed to Foundation board members.
• Work with WFF evaluation staff to implement and refine WFF’s monitoring and evaluation program.
• Execute special projects and other duties as assigned.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand, reach with hands and arms, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects and/or controls. The employee is required to sit, walk, talk and hear; and move/carry files. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color, and the ability to adjust focus in order to handle extensive data collection, analysis and summary reporting. Computer work will be a part of the daily workflow and process.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics for this job are typical for this type of job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is reflective of a mid-sized office.
Compensation and Benefits
The foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience
The Walton Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
Basic Qualifications
The position calls for an understanding of issues related to Chilean and Peruvian fisheries, fisheries management, fisheries policy, illegal fishing, and a familiarity with the use of market-based tools to ensure sustainable fishing and conservation goals. 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 Officer should ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:
• At least 5 years of experience in natural resource management or fisheries, in either a policy or advocacy role, ideally with experience in grant-making 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.
• Fluent Spanish is required. Experience in Chile, Peru, Central or South America is a plus.
• Willingness to travel frequently, particularly to Peru and Chile.
