Overview

Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.

We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 1,000 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.

Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?

Responsibilities

Manager, Food Systems Operations
Locations: Austin, TX; Boston, MA; Boulder, CO; New York, NY; Raleigh, NC; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Remote-US;

NOTE: This is a fixed term hire position through November 2023. At that point we will assess ongoing opportunities.
 
Program Description

The Manager, Food Systems Operations is a member of EDF’s Climate Resilient Food Systems Team within the People and Nature Program. The team aims to catalyze transformation of our global food system to one that can feed and nourish the warming world’s growing population in an equitable and environmentally viable way, that simultaneously helps to mitigate climate change, build resilience, and abate biodiversity loss. This strategy is based on three nesting pillars:

• Transforming three archetypes – through partnerships with local organizations and individuals, we will work to participatorily develop and implement new and existing interventions to transform three real-world food systems wherein the challenges can be thought of as archetypal of key food system challenges faced the world over.

• Build a broad constituency of champions and partners – we will build a compelling campaign that can unify diverse, influential, and vocal actors in support of the alignment of finance, production, and nutrition policies at national and international scales to reframe the global dialogue and scale impact.

• Elevate the needs and perspectives of small-scale and Indigenous food systems actors, as well as women and other marginalized and disenfranchised groups – in both our archetypal projects and our policy-level engagements, we will begin with and prioritize the needs and perspectives of historically marginalized food system actors, and we will work to amplify their voices to global funders and policymakers.

Overall Function

The Manager, Food Systems Operations is a strategic partner working with Project and Operations staff to deliver operational excellence, foster effective communications, and ensure program focus. In collaboration with the Mission Finance team, they will provide robust resource management and reporting, ensure effective project management that enhances program productivity and help inform strategic decision-making.  This position uses experience and knowledge to independently guide and manage processes critical to project success.  The Manager will report to the Director, Fisheries & Oceans Operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide project management support and act as key strategic partner for VP, Climate Resilient Food Systems, including but not limited to:

  • Weekly and ad-hoc check-ins on overall project management, administrative needs, and special projects as assigned by EDF Leadership

• Ensure that key program goals and milestones are achieved by:

  • Participating in team’s strategic planning efforts

  • Maintain necessary tracking tools and documents for individual and group projects to foster project flow and efficiency

  • Monitoring progress of projects to ensure grant deliverables and milestones are met

  • Participate in weekly team calls, as well as regular or ad-hoc check-ins with Climate Resilient Food Systems team members

  • Coordinate with consultants on work product and scheduling as needed

• Partner with Mission Finance on resource management including but not limited to:

  • Assist Senior Financial Analyst and Director and Operations leadership on annual team budgets with input from Climate Resilient Food Systems leadership

  • Collaborate with Senior Finance Analyst and Project Coordinator on contracts, expenses, and resourcing

• Manage and participate in the development of grant reports and proposals including but not limited to:

  • Communicating with EDF staff in other departments including Development and Government Grants teams

  • Work with Climate Resilient Food Systems team members to ensure deadlines for proposals and reports are met

  • Assisting Senior Financial Analyst with proposal budgets that are aligned with the proposed work.

• Facilitate transparent communication within the team and across the organization

• Contribute to the prioritization of projects and their goals, and keep relevant stakeholders apprised of progress.

• Work with senior Climate Resilient Food Systems staff on development of consultant contract deliverables, recruiting consultants and tracking progress toward meeting those deliverables.  Identify potential issues and propose solutions.  Act as a liaison within the team and with consultants.

• Lead or oversee organization of special team events and meetings to ensure they effectively meet their desired objectives e.g.  site research & selection, contract negotiation, travel arrangements, meeting content input, attendee needs, catering & activity coordination, post meeting review, productivity assessment, and participant communications

• Prepare reports for senior EDF staff as appropriate e.g. status reviews and other team summaries

• Ensure team members are trained in standard operating procedures and model uptake of any new systems or procedures.

• Ensure the highest level of administrative service including processing of expense reports, AMEX reimbursements and invoices, contracts for consultants, team scheduling and executive support, pass through grants, etc.

• Develop innovative solutions to novel operational problems.

• Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least six years program or related experience, or advanced degree with at least 4 years of direct experience;

• Understanding of environmental issues and food systems;

• Demonstrated ability to independently recommend and determine approaches to completing projects and managing processes where precedents are not always available;

• Experience in project management and exceptional personal organization and attention to detail required;

• Independent judgment required to plan, prioritize, and organize a diverse workload;

• Experience balancing the needs of multiple diverse stakeholders;

• Strong ability to work on multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of multi-disciplinary teams in a dynamic, fast-paced and creative environment;

• Strong analytical skills and experience performing rigorous analysis in support of highly visible work;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work with colleagues and partners of varied backgrounds and experience;

• Ability to identify challenges and work proactively to address them;

• Experience building relationships and working with partners of varying disciplines;

• Ability and willingness to work as a strong team player;

• Technical knowledge of government grants or multilateral organizations a plus;

• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Pay Ranges

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

The pay range for this role is shown below.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

Minimum Salary

USD $83,000.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $91,000.00/Yr.

EEO Information

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.