What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Grant Management & Climate Projects position at The San Diego Foundation?

At San Diego Foundation, we value our diverse and experienced staff who are committed to our mission of improving the quality of life within all of San Diego’s communities. We strive to be an employer of choice, offering a competitive compensation package, and a professional and vibrant work environment for those who have a passion for our mission that is carried out every day by providing leadership for effective philanthropy and promoting community solutions.

San Diego Foundation is seeking an experienced, mission-driven Director of Grant Management & Climate Projects who will be responsible for leading SDF’s management of both State Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) and EPA Community Change Grants (CCG). This would involve, but is not limited to, coordination of the RICCE collaborative of 14 projects and plans, serving as liaison with state and federal grant program staff, oversight and project management of RICCE projects, grant accounting and financial management, and management of a two-person team plus consultants hired to support the RICCE collaborative. The selected Director must possess the technical ability and capacity to navigate state and federal funding, coordinate the required reporting and invoicing for both state and federal grants, and develop processes and practices that build partner capacity for successful project implementation.

The Director position will be housed within SDF’s Environment Initiatives (EI) team and report to the leader of Environmental Initiatives. As part of the EI team, this position commits us to furthering RICCE priorities, which broadly align and support EI’s programs and activities. The following outlines the roles and responsibilities under this position as they specifically advance RICCE in alignment with EI’s priorities and SDF’s greater Strategic Plan.

Note : This role is structured as a five-year term, contingent on the continuation of external funding.

About The RICCE Opportunity

Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity (RICCE) is a set of 14 projects and plans, led by 14 community partners, in the central historic barrios of San Diego. In 2023, San Diego Foundation (SDF) along with all 14 partners applied for and was awarded $22 million in Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) funding from the State of California’s Strategic Growth Council. In 2024, SDF and select RICCE partners applied for and were selected to receive an additional $20 million in Community Change Grant (CCG) funding from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Between both government grants, the RICCE projects will result in ~$42 million in grant investment in the project area plus additional leveraged dollars, totaling over $70 million in investment.

The RICCE projects will transform the underinvested communities of San Diego’s central historic barrios. These projects will reduce emissions, improve public health and environment, and expand economic opportunity for people in communities who have endured years of systematic racism through unfair land use policies and industrialization. RICCE has the potential to improve the quality of life in communities affected by years of injustice and change the way San Diego approaches community investment.

Area of Focus :

The 8 communities of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mt. Hope, Sherman, Southcrest, and Shelltown are some of San Diego’s oldest communities and are included in California's 14 Cultural Districts. Residents in these communities have long suffered disproportionately from air pollution sources including surrounding port terminals, large shipyards, San Diego Naval Station, the I-5 and I-15 freeways, the Coronado Bridge, the BNSF railyard, as well as smaller industries within the residential community itself. The neighborhoods are in the 95th percentile across California for housing burden (paying greater than 50% of their income for housing) and have high numbers of renters (over 70%) which limits the ability of residents to build equity.

RICCE Project Description :

For more information on the projects within the RICCE partnership, please visit : Historic Barrios Application (environmentalhealth.org)

Essential Responsibilities :

Grants Management, Reporting and Compliance

Oversee execution of state TCC and federal CCG grant deliverables throughout the grant term.
Oversee the invoicing and reimbursement process for state TCC and federal CCG grants.
Oversee the state and federally required reporting for RICCE projects.
Collaborate with the University of San Diego evaluation team to meet required state and federal tracking and evaluation requirements.
Serve as the main point of contact for the state TCC and federal CCG grants.
Work closely with partners to ensure that the RICCE projects and plans are implemented in accordance with the grant requirements and the TCC and CCG Grant Guidelines.
Build and support a culture of collaboration and trust between partners.
Participate in regular check-in meetings with each partner on the status of their project or plan.
Organize and lead regular meetings and training for all RICCE partners.
Provide regular briefings to SDF leadership and / or Board on the status of each grant program.
Work closely with partners and other stakeholders to align on norms for communication expectations, response times, and prioritization of tasks.
Ensure clarity of roles and processes, facilitating an interconnected collaboration of organizations and individuals involved in the project.

Manage Partner Reporting & Capacity Support

Engage with community members and local organizations to understand their specific capacity needs in relation to the projects they are managing.

Develop and implement equitable processes in partnership with RICCE partners to ensure that the proposed projects are equitably designed.

Provide guidance for RICCE partners to ensure that projects meet grant guidelines and implementation related to hiring practices and policies.

Work with RICCE partners to regularly assess and monitor the impacts of the TCC and CCG grants on the community, and to make any necessary adjustments to ensure that the benefits are distributed equitably.

Increase Visibility and Opportunities to Leverage Program

Work with internal SDF communications and community impact teams to raise the visibility of RICCE in relation to SDF’s Strategic Plan and goals of SDF’s Environmental Initiatives.

Work closely with the EI team to leverage impact from RICCE to raise SDF’s role and value to this effort area of work.

Strengthen visibility of RICCE in front of funder audiences and other stakeholders.

Ensure RICCE alignment with SDF’s execution of its Strategic Plan by providing expertise and insight into state funding and government grant management for investments in regional climate resilience initiatives.

Team and Project Partner Management

Manage hiring and staffing needs for RICCE.

Oversee small staff team of two, including a Program Administrator and a Manager.

Lead contracting processes to hire consultants and additional support as needed to meet the terms of the grant and respond to project needs.

Qualifications :

Minimum 10 years of administrative and program management experience in a private or community foundation, or position in a corporate, government or nonprofit organization, preferably with significant government, city or agency experience.

Demonstrated track record managing state and / or federally funded programs.

Demonstrated track record in developing and utilizing administrative organizational systems with attention to detail, timeliness, finances, and record keeping.

Demonstrated experience managing staff, consultants and / or contractors.

Passion for the work and mission of San Diego Foundation to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

Ability to work independently to organize and prioritize multiple projects and meet State and Federal requirements and deadlines.

Knowledge of local, statewide, and national environmental issues as they relate to SDF and EI’s Strategic Priorities and local context.

Demonstrated organization, time, and project management skills. Ability to “right size” projects.

Strong emotional intelligence with excellent interpersonal skills, strong cultural competency, and customer service orientation.

Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, forecasting and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Advanced knowledge and proficiency with computer software applications : Microsoft Office Suite, database / contact management, software experience, and data visualization software experience preferred.

Broad knowledge of climate change concepts (such as transportation, clean energy, building electrification, air quality, etc.) and how they are relevant to local communities, particularly high risk, underserved, frontline communities.

Interdisciplinary, analytical, and critical thinking skills with a problem-solving approach.

Experience in a public-facing work environment.

High level of comfort with public speaking and interacting with elected officials, donors, executives, and other community leaders.

Must live in San Diego County.

Language Skills :

Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently.

Bilingual in Spanish a Bonus.

Work Environment & Physical Demands :

Professional, hybrid work environment in San Diego.

Fast-paced work with multi-level distractions.

Ability to safely lift 25 pounds.

Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time at meetings, desk, computer, driving.

Ability to sit at a desk and view a computer screen for up to two hours.

Ability to type using a computer keyboard.

Ability to speak into and use a telephone.

Ability to bend and stoop.

Compensation and Benefits :

Salaried, Exempt $140,000.00 - $160,000.00 (San Diego Foundation is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will be reflective of qualifications, skills and experience, internal equity, alignment with market data, among other relevant factors.)

Supportive, inclusive company culture; awarded Top Workplace by the San Diego Union Tribune 5 years in a row.

Flexible 9 / 80 Alternative workweek schedule, with every other Friday off.

Hybrid work environment with support for at-home office setup.

100% Employer paid medical, vision, dental, life, AD&D and long-term disability premiums; 75% Employer-paid premiums for all dependents on your benefits.

403B Retirement plan match up to 4% Annual discretionary contribution.

Earned Incentive Program.

3 weeks of paid time off 1 additional week off with pay in July for all staff.

4-week sabbatical for every 5 years of service.

13 paid holidays 2 paid volunteer days off each year.

Extended Health Care Time accruing at 2.77 hours per pay period to a cap of 480 hours : use for sick time, family care, and parental leave baby bonding.

100 monthly cell and internet reimbursement.

75 quarterly gym reimbursement.

Donor Advised Fund contribution with no minimum and $600 annual match from the Foundation to a nonprofit of your choice.

Annual service award $100 donation to nonprofit of your choice.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

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Salary : $140,000 - $160,000

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