Program Officer (Mars Impact Fund) (Finance)
Job Description:
At Mars, we believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. We are dedicated tomaking a positive impact on the people and communities we touch. The newly formed Mars Impact Fund is in the process of building a program team to work alongside the Executive Director. Specifically, we are hiring two Program Officers (POs) who will develop and manage a portfolio of partnerships aligned with the Impact Fund's initial focus areas, which include improving farmer livelihoods and resiliency in our sourcing communities; building the pipeline of food scientists and veterinary professionals; and improving companion animal well-being. The two POs will play a pivotal role in developing theFund's strategies, designingbreakthrough programs and managing relationships with non-governmental, non-profit, academic, and other impact organizations, and developing and implementing the Impact Fund's grantmaking and reporting processes. The POs will work collaboratively across Mars businesses, sustainability teams, and other foundations/charities within Mars to ensure alignment, coordination and advance best practices. The POs will also represent the Mars Impact Fund with external audiences
What are we looking for?
- Bachelor's degree
- At least 12 years of direct experience in global, strategic philanthropy, partnership design, and program management
- Significant experience in at least one of the Impact Fund's focus areas (e.g., farmer livelihoods and community resilience in low- income countries, science education; animal welfare, disaster response)
- Experience designing community-centered programs, pilots, and initiatives that drive significant impact at scale
- Experience working in complex, global supply chains
- Experience in global, corporate and/or foundation philanthropy
- Proven ability to cultivate and manage relationships with diverse stakeholders, including NGO's, governments, higher education institutions and private sector partners.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision
- Ability to translate social impact concepts into business language
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action
- Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning
- Knowledge of the nonprofit/NGO sector, international development
- Experience in grants management and reporting
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Partnership development: Lead the identification and cultivation of breakthrough impact partnership and program opportunities.
- Partner engagement: Build and lead trusting, long-term partnerships with NGOs, nonprofits, academic institutions, and international development organizations to deliver positive outcomes across our priority focus areas.
- Grantmaking : Manage the grant application and due diligence process; develop written grant recommendations for the Executive Director and the Board of the Mars Impact Fund.
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning: Develop and implement evaluation and learning practices that help refine the work and increase impact; establish and maintain relationships with field experts.
- Budget management: Develop and manage annual and 3-year rolling grant budgets for select focus areas.
- Project management: Contribute to the development of the Fund's strategy; drive the development of annual implementation plans, including goals, workplans, and budgets; contribute to the annual reporting process; complete special projects as assigned
- Grant operations and reporting: Implement and manage a new grants management system, develop grant agreements, and ensure accurate financial and impact reporting.
- Internal engagement: Develop and maintain productive working relationships with Mars peers working in adjacent areas (e.g., philanthropy/charitable giving, sustainability, R&D, people and organization, corporate affairs) at the corporate and segment levels.
- External engagement: Represent Mars at external events; collaborate with partners to build and strengthen the nonprofit and international development sector in relevant areas of work; collaborate with the Executive Director and Mars External Communications to share the Fund's goals and the impact of its work with key stakeholders.
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
- Join a purpose driven company, where we're striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
- An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
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