Foundations Senior Specialist

Job Description RMI is seeking two Account Specialists with exceptional organizational, project management, writing, and communication skills to support RMI’s Foundations Vertical. Each Account Specialist will drive critical processes on behalf of our fundraising team including managing successful proposal submission processes, coordinating reports and ongoing stewardship materials, assisting with entering and maintaining data about revenue opportunities, and maintaining momentum on ongoing activities and external relationships. This role will coordinate with programmatic and operational staff across RMI while building effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. This position is an exceptional opportunity for a professional who aspires to grow into a frontline fundraiser.

This position requires a cover letter. Only applicants who submit a cover letter will be considered for the role. Cover letters should be submitted along with resumes when applying.

Account Coordination

• Work alongside 3-6 assigned Relationship Managers in the Foundations Vertical to manage the full lifecycle of funding proposals. Each Account Specialist will coordinate grant materials for portfolios totaling $35-50M over the course of a fiscal year.
• Lead coordination related to the proposal development processes for complex accounts and multiple relationship managers. Anticipate overseeing 10-15 proposal submissions monthly.
• Manage the concept note and proposal development process cross-departmentally. This includes: setting up timelines for drafts, managing communication between program colleagues and Relationship Managers, ensuring that teams are tracking against established timelines, and managing final document preparation and submission. 
• Efficiently coordinate with accounting colleagues to review and approve budgets to submit with proposals; identify when to use a funders’ template or the RMI template; identify approved indirect cost rates for use in budgets.   
• In partnership with the Development team’s writers, review and copy edit proposals and related materials for funders prior to submission.
• Navigate donor portals successfully to submit materials within deadlines.
• Track project progress via Monday.com and Salesforce. 

Reporting

• Lead coordination and manage the tracking, preparation, and submission of funder reports related to assigned Relationship Managers’ accounts monthly. Anticipate overseeing 10-15 reports monthly.
• Manage the report development process cross-departmentally. This includes: setting up timelines for drafts, managing communication between program colleagues and Relationship Managers, ensuring that teams are tracking against established timelines, copy editing and polishing report drafts, and managing final document preparation and submission.
• Review financial reports, in coordination with Accounting, to ensure that they match foundation’s templates and funder expectations.   
• Track all above via Monday.com and Salesforce. 

Operations

• Manage the workflow and compliance around incoming grant agreements alongside RMI’s Legal and Accounting Teams. Responsible for managing the internal workflow across teams and adhering to RMI’s signature and approval policies.
• Track concurrent grant approvals, save documentation appropriately, and meticulously update SalesForce data in alignment with incoming agreements.
• Champion and socialize process best practices related to processes with program teams and the accounting team.

Data and Documentation

• Ensure that important supporting documents are uploaded to SharePoint and SalesForce timely and efficiently.
• Work with Relationship Managers to update pipeline information and opportunities weekly.
• Work with Relationship Managers to update revenue projections weekly.
• Review late payments and initiate action with funders.

Collaboration

• Run point on weekly check-in meetings with relationship managers to go over statuses and progress related to deliverables.
• Build strong working relationships with the accounting team and program teams to create process efficiencies and trust.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3-5 years of progressively responsible administrative, operations, project management or related experience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact professionally with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines.
• Experience at nonprofit organizations
• Experience in fundraising and/or proposal development
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Proven organizational skills and ability to balance competing priorities
• Attention to detail and exceptional accuracy
• Experience with Salesforce

Additional Qualifications

• Experience working with senior staff in various organizations
• Interest in philanthropy, climate, and energy
• Proactive attitude and the ability to anticipate need
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Demonstrable problem-solving skills
• Ability to effectively multitask and work independently
• Good judgment and strong decision-making ability
• Familiarity and comfort with reviewing budgets

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado.

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Compensation.   

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary for this role is in between $61,776 to $76,139. You would also have an additional 5% bonus target!

Benefits   

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:   

Medical, dental, vision insurance   

403b retirement options (5% match immediately)   

Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability   

Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)   

Generous paid time off  

Parental leave   

Commuter and wellness benefits   

Casual work environment   

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion      

At RMI, our mission is to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future for all. For this to happen, every single person needs to be a stakeholder in the energy transition. Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve is critical to our success. We need the widest range of perspectives to understand the systems we are trying to change. That doesn’t just mean bringing a diverse team to the table; it also means working proactively to give all job seekers and employees equitable experiences. Visit our DEI page for more information on our DEI initiatives and commitments.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

About RMI 

RMI is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization of experts across disciplines working to accelerate the clean energy transition and improve lives. Since our founding in 1982 by Amory Lovins, RMI’s chairman emeritus, we continue to grow and have a global reach and reputation.

For 40 years, RMI has utilized our unique techno-economic expertise and whole-systems thinking to publish groundbreaking research and analysis. We bring together collaborations of rare reach, range, and expertise—creating unconventional partnerships and mobilizing action to drive change on the massive scale needed to combat the climate crisis.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.