Job Description
The Moore Foundation's Science Program funds research that acquires new knowledge and asks new questions, enables new science through technology, breaks down barriers, and enhances society’s understanding of the inherent value of science.
Experimental Physics Investigators
The Moore Experimental Physics Investigators (EPI) Initiative aims to identify and support researchers at a critical time in their research careers with the goal of enabling high-risk/high-reward scientific advances. The initiative will identify diverse annual cohorts of researchers spanning all areas of experimental physics, provide substantial flexible support, and convene researchers to encourage collaboration and generation of new ideas.
The Position
The Program Associate will provide programmatic and administrative support to the Science Program, with primary focus on the foundation’s Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative. In addition, the Program Associate will support special projects, other grant portfolios, and standalone grants as needs arise. The Associate will report to the Program Officer of the Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative.
The position is based at foundation headquarters in Palo Alto, California; however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foundation offices are closed until at least January 1, 2022, and work will initially occur remotely.
Key Responsibilities
- Facilitate coordination of operational grantmaking processes and planning efforts of the Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative.
- Support the review of proposal budgets, manage active grant records, monitor grant reports and payments, and communicate with grantees and other stakeholders, ensuring high-quality and effective day-to-day running of the initiative.
- Employ project and grant management tools to manage information on the grant pipeline, including grant requirements, preparing and sending reporting templates for grantees, and tracking payments.
- Support timely decision-making through tracking and analyzing initiative budget allocations, including funding and grantmaking projections.
- Help organize and schedule conferences, workshops and meetings with the grantee community, including arranging travel (meals, lodging, etc.) for meeting participants as needed, managing event expenses and participant reimbursements, etc.
- Coordinate initiative-related meetings and calendars, maintain meeting agendas, create and distribute meeting notes and synthesis documents, maintain action items for initiatives, among other administrative duties as requested.
- Collect and organize results of grantees, including impact data, publications, and other research products.
- Help conduct due diligence on new projects.
- Develop, solicit, and coordinate updates of website content in partnership with program team and internal communication team members.
- Communicate effectively to internal and external audiences regarding our funding activities and apply knowledge about grant portfolios and program priorities when addressing inquiries from the community.
- Contribute to, and participate in, broader Science Program Team and foundation-wide activities.
Education and Experience
The ideal candidate will have:
- A bachelor’s degree (physics or physics-related field preferred, but not required) and experience in administration and/or project management.
- Interest in science, experimental physics research, and project management demonstrated through work, extracurricular, or volunteer activities.
Competencies
The ideal candidate will also have:
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills for phone inquiries, presentations, correspondence, and research summaries.
- A strong team orientation, positive attitude, and integrity.
- Strong character attributes that include reliability, discipline, and self-starting.
- Excellent project management and analytical skills.
- Willingness to support and promote the foundation and colleagues through commitment to enhancing the foundation’s considerations of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
- Ability to work independently, self-manage priorities and goals for projects, consistently meet deadlines, and multi-task while working well under pressure.
- Ability to think critically and exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate courses of action.
- Willingness to ask for help and identify appropriate resources to accomplish tasks, when necessary.
- Initiative to work proactively while maintaining appropriate consultation with other EPI staff members.
- Proficiency with office productivity software (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
Attributes
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following attributes that describe how we at the foundation strive to do our work with each other and our partners.
- Committed to Excellence
- Passionate
- Collegial
- Open and Honest
- Humble and Self-Aware
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation includes a competitive base salary and an excellent package of health, retirement savings and other benefits.
COVID-19
The Moore Foundation requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except as required by law. Any employment offer will be contingent upon satisfactory proof that you are fully vaccinated from COVID-19, subject to reasonable accommodations for medical or religious reasons, and/or as otherwise required by applicable law.
Application Process
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the ordinance.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates for this search. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.
All correspondence will remain confidential.