About the Foundation

The Kresge Foundation is one of the top 20 largest private foundations in the U.S. Our staff of over 100 employees works to expand opportunities in America’s cities for people with low incomes. We do this through grantmaking and social investing nationally in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and placed-based work in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, and other parts of the country.

Our state-of-the-art headquarters maintains an array of energy-efficient, water-conserving and health-promoting features. The foundation also operates an office in Detroit’s Midtown district.

About the position

The Environment Fellow will support the Environment Program in advancing its goal of helping cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic equity. The Fellow will gain experience and insight into institutional philanthropy, climate change policy and advocacy, community development, and strategies to incorporate equity firmly in climate change work.

The fellowship is a limited-term appointment of two-to-three years and is open to those who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a field related to urban climate resilience, such as environmental justice, environmental studies, public health, public policy, or urban planning. We are most interested in candidates whose education and work experience have brought them knowledge of climate change mitigation and/or adaptation, environmental justice, public policy, and urban systems, and who hold a demonstrated commitment to both environmental work and racial equity.

Primary responsibilities

· Providing project coordination support to the Kresge staff team that leads the foundation’s Climate Change, Health and Equity Initiative.

· Assisting in the team’s review of grant requests, preparation of grant recommendations, and management of its portfolio of grants.

· Leading special projects as needed.

· Conducting background research to support Environment team strategy and program development; this includes keeping abreast of new developments and published research in fields relevant to climate resilience.

· Preparing materials for internal presentations and meetings.

· Traveling conferences, convenings, and site visits with grantees and funding partners as needed and once coronavirus safety measures allow.

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to urban climate resilience.

· At least two years relevant work experience.

· Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

· Strong project-management skills.

· Strong team orientation, including the ability to collaborate effectively within and across teams and departments to reach common goals.

· A learning orientation that enables one to recognize patterns, identify key lessons and develop creative solutions.

· A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Application deadline for this position is 11:59pm EST on March 12, 2021.

Kresge is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBT applicants. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Please note: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all Kresge staff are working remotely, and our Troy and Detroit offices remain closed until further notice. Kresge staff will not be traveling or attending in-person meetings during this time. Thank you for your understanding.