The Organization
BuildUS, a multi-donor fund to accelerate America’s transition toward a worker-centered, lower-carbon, and more equitable economy, is seeking its inaugural Executive Director as the fund launches this fall. Housed within the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, the Fund will support the implementation of four landmark pieces of federal legislation—the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act—and will help ensure Americans, especially those from marginalized communities, see and feel the investments made possible by this legislation.
BuildUS is a philanthropic fund with an economic justice orientation that aims to maximize the economic and decarbonization potential of all four pieces of legislation by deploying grants to ensure that federal and private sector investments benefit communities of color, workers, and rural communities. To advance these goals, the Fund will deploy grants in four distinct areas: 1) accelerating state and local efforts to utilize federal investments, 2) empowering workers, 3) addressing bottlenecks and scaling solutions, and 4) facilitating communications and outreach at the local, state, and federal levels.
BuildUS is an effort by major philanthropies to address these needs while proactively building out partnerships between national, place-based, and issue-based funders. The fund is launching in September 2023 with an initial commitment of more than $50 million over the next three years, with ongoing efforts to raise additional funds. Initial funders include the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, Omidyar Network, the Open Society Foundations, the Skoll Foundation, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, and other partners.
Position Overview
ABOUT THE ROLE: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Reporting to the fund’s Steering Committee, the Executive Director will guide the strategy and execution of the BuildUS portfolio. The Executive Director will be a deeply mission driven and entrepreneurial leader. They will demonstrate the ability to set clear priorities and goals, make informed decisions, and stay agile to pivot in response to external conditions and impact data. The Executive Director will bring a nuanced understanding of philanthropy and economic justice, as well as an understanding of the intersectionality with diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ), and the experiences of people with marginalized identities. Key responsibilities will include:
Strategic Leadership. The Executive Director will work collaboratively with the Steering Committee and key partners to refine and execute the Fund’s grantmaking strategy, with an emphasis on realizing synergies across the four areas of strategic engagement. The ED will weigh in on learnings and impact at key stages. The ED will also uplift our values in fund communications, grantmaking and execution, maintaining a focus on equity across the portfolio, ensuring that resources are flowing to communities in an equitable manner, and that community and worker voices are uplifted as part of implementation efforts.
Network Stewardship and Fundraising. The Executive Director will build a network of government, community, non-profit, private, and philanthropic partners in support of the Fund’s goals. As a three-year fund, the ED will maintain a modest focus on fundraising in the first 18 months to maximize fund resources, engaging with philanthropic partners to align funding as well as ensure the Fund’s strategies and networks complement and reinforce other multi-donor philanthropic coalitions that share our goals.
Convening and Communication. The Executive Director will curate high impact convenings to build networks, align strategies and share learnings for our funders, grantees, and partners. The ED will also serve as the public face of our effort, representing BuildUS in a variety of fora to advance our mission and goals.
Management and Governance. The Executive Director will hire and manage a team of 3-5 staff as well as any required consultants. They will also plan and facilitate Steering Committee and Advisory Board meetings and regular communications with key constituencies. The ED will develop and manage the BuildUS budget in coordination with the Steering Committee and Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, which maintains final authority over all financial and legal aspects of the Fund’s work.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
The Executive Director should be an entrepreneurial leader with a track record of organizational or campaign leadership, as well as building high performing teams. Skills, attributes, and experiences that may be particularly relevant include:
- An entrepreneurial spirit, with an ability to strategize, test, pivot, and navigate ambiguity in a dynamic environment.
- Excellent stakeholder management along with an inclusive and collaborative leadership style that is appropriately humble and leverages the knowledge, networks, and expertise of partners to make good decisions and effectively advance the work.
- Self-directed and motivated working style that is resourceful and able to prioritize, multitask, meet deadlines, and thrive in an independent work environment.
- Outstanding oral and written communications with the ability to synthesize and present information via multiple mediums.
- Knowledge, networks, or experience related to economic justice, work underpinned by a racial equity and/or system change analysis, state-based policy implementation, industrial strategy, climate, manufacturing and/or any of the areas of fund engagement.
- Philanthropic experience, including portfolio development, knowledge of grantmaking and due diligence processes.
- Fundraising experience, including knowledge of funder landscape, experience managing funder relationships and success at mobilizing funds from funders that could include foundations, high net worth individuals, labor unions, etc.
- Experience managing organizations, people, budgets, and various types of risk (reputational, operational).
- At least 15 years of relevant work experience.
WORK LOCATION, COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Work Location: This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the United States.
Salary and Benefits: The salary range for this position is $225,000 – 275,000, commensurate with experience. A generous benefits package is also provided through Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, which includes:
- Excellent health benefits with 100% employer-paid coverage.
- Respect for work-life balance, including a flexible work from home policy with a remote office stipend.
- 20 days of vacation, 10 sick days, and 13 paid holidays.
- Parental and caregiver leave options.
- 401(k) with match.
TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS & LENGTH OF SERVICE
Travel Expectations: The Executive Director will be expected to travel approximately 25% of their time.
Length of Service: The expected duration of the Fund and the Executive Director role is approximately three years.
How To Apply
This search is being led by Emily Wexler and Sarah Hecklau of NPAG. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. We offer an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with experience.