Position Summary
The Local Economy Lab is JTF’s one-stop resource hub helping coal communities seed, grow, and scale transformative economic projects by pairing flexible funding with tailored technical assistance. The Associate Director executes the Lab’s grantmaking initiatives—the BRIGHT Spot Accelerator, the Get Ready Initiative, and the Federal Access Center—working in close partnership with the Deputy Director of Programs and Partnerships, who oversees the program and in coordination with the Transition Exchange, the JTF’s learning and field strengthening initiative.
Core Responsibilities
Program Execution & Grantmaking
- Own the implementation of the Lab’s grantmaking initiatives.
- Set annual priorities and adapt program design as conditions change.
- Run RFP processes, evaluate grant applications and conduct due diligence, and ensure clean grantmaking workflows with Grants/Impact staff.
- Recruit and launch three BRIGHT Spot Accelerator cohorts/year (10–15 projects) and three Get Ready cohorts/year (20–25 projects).
- Maintain the Federal Access Center, to help grantees apply for federal grants.
- Oversee day-to-day project management of Lab initiatives, including monitoring the progress of grants.
- Make recommendations for additional grantmaking strategies based on lessons learned.
- Provide research and analysis (e.g., landscape analyses) in support of grantmaking strategy.
Team Leadership
- Manage and develop the Lab team (Program Manager; Tribal Nations Lead).
- Ensure the Lab centers community needs and builds trust across diverse communities.
Learning, Evaluation & Field Building
- Identify grantee technical assistance needs and develop technical assistance offerings (with the Transition Exchange).
- Co-create an annual learning agenda with grantees (with the Transition Exchange).
- Partner with Impact staff to track outcomes.
- Elevate BRIGHT Spot models for replication.
Travel Requirements
- Ability and willingness to travel 20–25% of the time, including attendance at site visits, in-person convenings, grantee and JTF team retreats, and occasional partner meetings.
What Success Looks Like
- The Lab achieves its goals.
- The Lab is managed with rigor—timelines are met, due diligence is consistent, and decisions are well-documented.
- Grantees experience the JTF as a responsive and trustworthy partner.
- Senior leadership is kept well-informed and has a clear picture of the Lab’s progress.
- The Lab team is high-performing and well-supported.
Qualifications
- 7–10 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including significant grantmaking experience.
- Deep knowledge of the coal transition field and the landscape of organizations working in it.
- Track record of managing a grants portfolio and evaluating program effectiveness.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information.
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Experience building and managing trusting relationships with community-based organizations, with a commitment to equity and community-centered approaches to grantmaking.
- Experience supervising staff.
- Proficiency with Asana and Airtable a plus.
Compensation
Compensation will be commensurate with experience. The salary range is $90k–$110k, with a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, paid parental leave, among many other benefits.
We offer significant flexibility, including the ability to work from home, as well as a stimulating work environment with a fun and energetic virtual team. The time commitment is 40 hours per week, on East Coast hours, but additional hours are likely during certain periods, such as travel, staff retreats, and convenings.
Apply Here
The position will remain open until filled.
The Just Transition Fund is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity and to maintaining an equitable and inclusive working environment. Employment, compensation, and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion/creed, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, medical conditions, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under law.
