Program Director, Environment

Organization Overview

The Joyce Foundation is a nonpartisan private foundation that champions public policies and civic partnership to advance racial equity and economic mobility, creating a safe, strong, vibrant and inclusive Great Lakes region. Guided by its core values – Equity, Inclusion, Trust, Courage, and Accountability - the Foundation supports policy research, development, and advocacy in six areas: Culture, Democracy, Education & Economic Mobility, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform, and Journalism. The Foundation focuses its grant making primarily in the Great Lakes states but also partners with funders to explore promising policy solutions in other states and at the federal level. In 2026, the Foundation’s charitable contributions will be $65 million on assets of approximately $1.4 billion.

The Environment Program

For more than two decades, the Joyce Foundation has invested in policy work that tackles the long-term environmental challenges threatening the next generation in the Great Lakes region: climate change, safe and affordable drinking water, and the health of the Great Lakes. Led by the Program Director, the Environment team includes two Program Officers and one Program Assistant.

The Opportunity

The Program Director is responsible for executing and refining, as applicable, the Environment Program’s recently approved 2027 - 2031 strategic plan for the Program. The Program Director provides oversight and guidance to Program Officers and the Program Assistant to ensure timely and consistent execution of all initiatives under their direction. Reporting to and working in collaboration with the Vice President of Programs, the Program Director develops program strategies and goals that align to the Foundation’s overall mission; ensures the effective implementation of program plans in accordance with applicable policies and in furtherance of established benchmarks; builds relationships and conducts outreach to advance awareness of the program; and works closely with the Foundation’s External Affairs team to promote program impact and accomplishments.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal Program Director is deeply passionate about the environment and believes in the unique, instrumental power of philanthropy to foster positive change. They recognize the complex, intergenerational threats to our climate, water, and the Great Lakes, and are skilled at identifying and lifting up promising policy solutions with real-world regional impact. They are a respected thought leader in the area(s) of climate solutions, safe and affordable drinking water, and/or the Great Lakes, and are comfortable working alongside, and in service to, diverse stakeholders, including community-based leaders and organizations, government partners, peer funders, and academic institutions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Program Management & Strategic Planning

• In partnership with the program team, and in alignment with the Foundation’s mission and organizational goals, develop and refine the Environment Program’s strategy, accounting for evolving policy opportunities and context

• Guided by community needs and a focus on real-world outcomes, define program goals and objectives and establish benchmarks for measuring progress; support and manage team progress, ensuring learning from successes and setbacks

• Develop and manage annual and multi-year grant budgets that maximize program goals

• Lead meetings with Foundation leadership, including monthly check-ins, to provide timely updates on the sector and the team’s work

• Continue to deepen and grow knowledge of relevant issues, as well as in proximate topics that impact the Foundation and the Environment Program

• Collaborate closely with peer Program Directors to align strategies, share learning, and integrate efforts across the Foundation’s portfolios to maximize impact and advance shared goals

People Leadership

• Provide thoughtful supervision and coaching that supports staff success and reflects the Foundation’s values of equity, inclusion, trust, courage, and accountability
• Establish clear performance expectations and provide timely, consistent, and specific feedback to direct reports
• Conduct annual performance reviews and twice-yearly check-ins to assess progress, discuss development goals, and align priorities
• Monitor staff performance and provide the guidance, resources, and support needed to meet role expectations
• Identify and secure professional development opportunities that strengthen staff skills, support career growth, and advance team objectives
• Foster respectful working relationships and help staff navigate and resolve workplace conflicts constructively
• Address performance concerns promptly and consistently, and partner with Talent & Culture for guidance as needed

Grantmaking

• Lead the program’s overall grantmaking, with personal ownership of a portion of the portfolio

• Solicit proposals consistent with strategy and goals through a process of reviewing letters of inquiry, site visits, and other meetings

• Review, evaluate, manage, and acknowledge funding requests in accordance with the Foundation’s policies, processes, and established criteria
• Ensure that grant exploration and cultivation activities, Board book preparation, proposal review, and other related tasks are continuously on-track and on-schedule; ensure grants management system is accurately utilized

• Prepare written grant recommendations and make presentations to members of the Management Team and the Board of Directors
• Support grantees to achieve program objectives and grant terms and improve capacity through technical and other assistance
• Monitor funded projects and grant reports for fulfillment of grant terms , legal, and IRS compliance

Communications & Convening

• In conjunction with the Foundation’s External Affairs team, communicate key program messages, opportunities, and impact
• Serve as a key Foundation subject matter expert and leadership representative both within and beyond the Environment sector

• Leverage the Foundation’s ability as a convener to lift up and strengthen the work of grantees and partners; participate and host meetings in the Joyce Foundation offices and at locations throughout the Great Lakes region, including travel to rural or remote locations where public transportation and ridesharing services may be limited or unavailable and access by a motor vehicle will be required

• Deepen thought leadership in the field through ongoing research and dissemination of information on matters impacting the Environment Program and, as applicable, cross-cutting work across the Joyce Foundation portfolios

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree with concentration relating to the Environment portfolio, public policy and/or a relevant field; relevant advanced degree is a plus

• At least 10 years’ professional, academic, and/or lived experience in the area(s) of climate solutions, safe and affordable drinking water, and/or Great Lakes-related policymaking and/or policy implementation; 15+ years’ experience is strongly preferred
• At least five years’ experience in resource allocation and/or professional grantmaking
• Demonstrated success establishing relationships and building trust with diverse stakeholders including funders, community-based leaders and organizations, and regional, state, and local policymakers, particularly in the Great Lakes region
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to compose and deliver compelling internal and external documents and presentations for a variety of stakeholders in and outside the sector
• Highly-respected people management experience and skills; comfort leading with influence rather than authority
• Superior emotional intelligence and active listening skills; demonstrated humility

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

The most competitive candidates for this role will demonstrate notable leadership experience and capacity in these areas:

• Problem Solving
  • Adept at creative problem solving, particularly in ambiguous situations, to drive equitable outcomes
• Strategic Thinking
  • Extremely savvy data user who melds big-picture thinking with values-centered organizational resource decisions
• Innovation
  • Demonstrated ability to take new ideas and potential opportunities and translate them into useful, executable strategies for the program
• Teamwork
  • Shapes a team culture that enables colleagues to thrive and deepen their sense of purpose connected to the Foundation’s work
• Relationship Building
  • Builds trusted partnerships with varied stakeholders; actively seeks out diverse internal and external perspectives to inform decision making
• Growth and Feedback
  • Maintains, models, and expects a “growth mindset” to ensure continuous individual and team learning; respected as a trusted internal and external mentor who celebrates and develops talent

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TRAVEL

• The Joyce Foundation operates a hybrid office environment, with three business days per week required in the downtown Chicago office

• Occasional early morning and evening work are required

• Significant local and out of town travel is required to attend meetings, events and make site visits
• A valid driver’s license is required
  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• The salary range for this position is $190,000 - $235,000/year based on relevant skills and experience. The Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of the team. Benefits include high-quality medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans; Charitable Contribution Matching Program with a generous 2-to-1 match; and robust paid time off policies. Employees also have access to pre-tax savings accounts for FSA health, dependent care, transit, and parking, as well as employer-paid life and disability insurance. Additional offerings include a Healthy Lifestyle Reimbursement Program, access to an on-site fitness center, and an Employee Assistance Program. The Foundation is committed to continuous learning and professional development opportunities.

The Foundation is committed to building a strong and inclusive workforce that is able to reach the communities we serve. The Foundation strongly encourages applications from individuals who have a proven record of effectiveness with and commitment to the communities we serve.

We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting employment discrimination. It is our policy to take all employment actions and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, military status, status as a disabled or other protected veteran or any other protected status under applicable law. Consistent with our obligations under applicable laws, we will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

This opportunity will remain open until the position is filled; however, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and potential candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.