Job Details
Pivotal Ventures ("Pivotal") is an investment and incubation company created by Melinda French Gates. We partner, invest, and advocate to remove barriers that hold people back, concentrating on areas where progress and opportunity have stalled for millions of Americans. The pursuit of a more equal and equitable United States-not just for some of us, but for everyone-is what drives us forward. It's the why behind every problem we tackle.
We approach partnership with big ambitions and open minds, embracing what's already working and innovating beyond traditional philanthropy. Some areas we focus on: women in technology and innovation; Women in public office; women and girls of color; adolescent mental health; paid family and medical leave; and caregiving.
Inspired by our founder, we reach across communities and sectors to bring together changemakers who can scale up proven ideas and catalyze new ones. We learn from their experiences, amplify their resources, then step back so they can lead.
Our impatience with the status quo is fueled by an optimism that progress is always possible.
The Program Strategy Manager will serve as a critical member of the Policy & Advocacy Team, a part of Pivotal's Program Strategy Team, focused on Pivotal's cross-cutting policy and advocacy agenda. The manager, in partnership with the Program Strategy Lead, will be responsible for the management and execution of Pivotal's policy and advocacy strategy. The manager will track the policy landscape, engage with stakeholders in the advocacy ecosystem, make programmatic investments, and partner with teams internally to provide support and counsel on advocacy-related matters. The manager will be part of a lean, efficient, and outcomes-oriented team and play an essential role in helping foster and solidify internal and external relationships needed to advance Pivotal's policy priorities.
This is a Limited Term Employee (LTE) position and is expected to have a duration of 3 years.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
Consulting, Coordination, and Reporting
- Partner closely with and act as "internal consultant" to other managers and strategy leads to build alignment across Pivotal's policy agenda and approach, support their efforts to execute advocacy-focused and/or advocacy-linked grants, and track progress.
- Work closely with the Policy & Advocacy Program Strategy Lead to implement the policy and advocacy strategy, help align grants, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
- Draft materials and updates to support knowledge sharing across the company and for the principal's benefit.
- Track data, contacts, and information through company platforms (such as Salesforce).
- Coordinate with Pivotal's communications teams in support of amplifying Pivotal's policy priorities and the impact of advocacy partners.
- Develop and help inform talking points and other messaging related to public policy.
Strategy Execution - Develop strong internal and external partnerships to support Pivotal's cross-cutting policy and advocacy agenda, routinely communicating with stakeholders and making connections and recommendations to advance the work.
- Work closely across teams to advise on advocacy-related matters, ensure knowledge sharing, and assess the effect of partnerships and grants in the context of overall strategy goals.
- Track, synthesize, and share policy and advocacy developments and news.
- Be an active member of the broader policy and advocacy community to keep abreast of relevant happenings, gather learnings, and build relationships with key players.
- Support overall strategy management by evaluating progress to date, managing key advisors and consultants, working with Pivotal and other partners to gather evidence and insights.
- Represent Pivotal's interests and policy and advocacy priorities in external forums, such as meetings, discussions, and at events.
Grants and Grantee Management - Help identify, move resources to, and manage a portfolio of philanthropic grants.
- Follow internal procedures for grant and strategy development and deployment, coordinating closely with internal stakeholders.
- Collaborate with existing and new grantee partners and cultivate or implement funding opportunities to support programmatic goals.
- Regularly check in with grantee partners to share information and gather updates across the strategy portfolio.
- Identify opportunities for partner collaboration, make connections to maximize efficiency and outcomes, and convene partners when appropriate.
- Track progress of individual grants, as well as across the portfolio, to evaluate impact and course correct where needed.
- Seek opportunities to align political engagement and support with Pivotal's policy priorities.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or behavior required to be successful in this role.
- A can-do, collaborative attitude with experience executing complex projects or campaigns. Project management skills required.
- Ability to weave in and out of a project, connecting dots and identifying areas of collaboration.
- An analytical and strategic thinker with an ability to parse and distill complex information.
- A team player who actively seeks opportunities for collaboration and partnership and communicates proactively with colleagues and managers.
- Strong writing ability with a clear and coherent writing and communications style and experience writing for and communicating with multiple audiences.
- An ability to conduct work with discretion and confidentiality.
QUALIFICATIONS - Minimum of 8-10 years of experience. Relevant experience in philanthropic, public policy, government, and/or non-profit sectors important.
- Strong working knowledge of government and congressional operations; must be fluent in federal political and policymaking processes. Prior government experience is a strong plus.
- Familiarity with strategy development including long-term planning against identified goals using a variety of assets, including private investment, philanthropic capital, voice, networks, etc.
- Experience and comfort working in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with a diverse set of individuals and organizations.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience and familiarity with issue and policy advocacy, the legislative process, government relations, coalition management, and donor engagement.
- Experience grantmaking or directly investing in non-profit and/or for-profit organizations with an intersectional lens.
Base annual compensation range for this role is from $170,500 - $177,500. This role is based in Pivotal's Washington DC office.
This is a Limited Term Employee (LTE) position and is expected to have a duration of 3 years. This means that, absent some change the position will end within that timeframe as defined in the offer letter. The limited duration of the position does not alter the at-will nature of the position or work at Pivotal Ventures.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, fertility benefit, backup caregiving solution, 144 hours of vacation, 96 hours of sick leave, 401k, HSA, FSA, discretionary annual target performance bonus and more.
APPLICATION To apply, send submit your application via the Pivotal Ventures Careers page.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Pivotal values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and all applicants seeking employment. All employment decisions at Pivotal are based on the candidate's or employee's capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran, military, or marital status, sensory, physical, or mental disability, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please contact ...@pivotalventures.org.