The posting
Gordon and Betty Moore established the foundation to create positive outcomes for future generations. Guided by this vision and the Statement of Founders' Intent, the foundation fosters path-breaking environmental conservation, scientific discovery, and preservation of the special character of the San Francisco Bay Area. We strive to make significant and durable impacts on the world.
Together, we work to honor the vision of our founders and serve as stewards of the resources they have entrusted to us. We establish specific strategies based on advice from experts, identify partners who share our goals and measure results along the way. We build relationships and fund work in areas where we hope to make significant impacts; and we know that working together expands our ability to drive meaningful change.
The Opportunity
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is seeking a Grants Officer to help advance the Foundation’s mission through effective, efficient, and compliant grantmaking processes, from grant inception through closeout and reporting.
Working in partnership with Program, Legal, Finance, and other Foundation teams, you’ll oversee grant documentation and agreements, maintain data integrity, provide guidance and training, and help resolve policy and process questions. You will also lead cross-functional projects and continuous improvement efforts, drawing on data, stakeholder feedback, industry best practices, and responsible AI tools to strengthen grantmaking operations.
This role is ideal for a highly motivated, service-oriented professional who takes initiative and works effectively in a collaborative team environment. You’ll bring strong customer relationship skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage complex requirements while helping program teams and grantees navigate the grantmaking process. Hands-on experience with contract management, advanced technical skills including basic AI skills with an appetite to learn more, and a general understanding of relational databases and data stewardship will help you succeed in this role.
This position is based in Palo Alto, California, at the Foundation’s main office. We operate under a hybrid work model that combines flexibility with meaningful in-person collaboration. Staff are required to work and reside within a reasonable driving distance of the Palo Alto office, and this role will work onsite in Palo Alto a minimum of one day each week. Additional on-site presence is required during the weeks of the May, August, and November board meetings and periodically throughout the year as business needs require.
What You’ll Do
Grants Management
- Facilitate the smooth and expeditious processing of grants by proactively monitoring the grantmaking pipeline and collaborating closely with Program leads to forecast submissions.
- Lead the final review of grants submitted for approval for the assigned Program teams, including verifying database records, and reviewing grant documents and budgets for completeness, adherence to policy, accuracy, and appropriate approvals.
- Manage the drafting, execution, and tracking of grant agreements and amendments, ensuring timely delivery, revisions, and proper internal reviews.
- Design and deliver grantmaking training, both one-on-one and in groups.
- Routinely evaluate and resolve inconsistencies between planned reporting and system data to maintain integrity and transparency.
- Champion a customer-centric approach by providing expert guidance and responsive support to program teams and grantees on grantmaking policies, processes, and systems.
- Apply sound judgment to identify when legal, policy, or business rules apply, and partner with stakeholders to ensure compliance.
- Collaborate with colleagues to identify solutions to complex contracting and other grantmaking issues.
- Partner with colleagues to maintain and improve training resources, the Grantmaker Process Guide, and grant agreement templates.
- Lead continuous improvement efforts by evaluating tools and processes, integrating industry best practices, and incorporating stakeholder feedback to enhance operational excellence. Embrace responsible and impactful use of AI to improve processes and/or innovate new workflow approaches.
- Support grantee organizations in engaging with the Foundation’s grantmaking lifecycle.
Team and Project Support
- Generate and share insights on the Foundation’s grants and grantmaking process.
- Lead, plan, and facilitate key team meetings and projects, ensuring clarity of purpose, effective coordination, and measurable outcomes.
- Build and strengthen cross-Foundation partnerships through collaboration and active participation in multi-team initiatives.
- Assess and recommend system and process enhancements, driving innovation to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and impact of the grantmaking function.
- Demonstrate agility in managing shifting priorities, partnering effectively with the team to rebalance workload and sustain high performance during peak periods.
Other Duties
- Lead special initiatives and perform additional responsibilities as assigned to advance the Foundation’s mission and strategic priorities.
What You Bring
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 10+ years of relevant work experience in a not-for-profit or for-profit organization. Hands-on experience with contract drafting, negotiation, and management preferred, but not required.
- Experience working with workflows and projects that require the application of multiple business rules, external regulatory rules, and compliance requirements
- Experience managing databases and maintaining data integrity, with a general understanding of relational databases and data stewardship.
- Advanced Excel and database management skills. Basic AI skills with openness to learning more.
- Understanding of and experience in using SMART goals, service level agreements, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to align work with desired outcomes and service levels.
Competencies
- Exceptional ability to synthesize and communicate findings from data analysis to varied audiences both verbally and in writing.
- Proven ability to produce high-quality deliverables and to manage and prioritize multiple time-sensitive tasks.
- Strong customer service orientation while balancing the requirements to adhere to legal requirements, policy, grantmaking approach, and internal processes.
- Ability to work independently, as well as in a team-based, highly collaborative environment. Must be a creative thinker, a self-starter, and take initiative.
- Strong planning, organization, and time management skills. Ability to adhere to deadlines.
- Ability to plan and deliver training content to individuals and groups in a clear, engaging, and effective way.
- Flexible and positive approach to problem solving in a collaborative team environment and an ability to work collaboratively with multiple audiences.
- Detail-oriented but also able to focus on the big picture and identify risks and trends effectively.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion; establish and maintain credibility and trust.
- Demonstrated interest in the not-for-profit and/or philanthropic sector (preferred).
Attributes
Our ideal candidate will also demonstrate the following foundation attributes, which describe how we strive to do our work with each other and our partners:
- Committed to Excellence - We bring our best to all we do.
- Passionate - Inspired by the vision of our founders, we are passionate about our work.
- Collegial - We are part of a team striving toward common goals.
- Open and Honest - We act with integrity, putting the good of the foundation first.
- Humble and Self-Aware - Emulating our founders, we bring a sense of humility to our work.
Compensation and Benefits
The Moore Foundation provides a generous total compensation package that includes a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits to support your life, health, and well-being.
The expected salary range for this position is between $140,000 and $150,000 per year. Our job titles and salary ranges may span more than one career level, and the salary offered to a candidate will be determined based on factors such as the position's scope and responsibilities, job-related knowledge and skill set, depth of experience, certifications and/or degrees, and our practice of upholding salary equity within the foundation.
Our health benefits include employer-paid options for medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents; a mental wellness program; paid parental leave; employer-paid disability and life insurance benefits; and pre-tax flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
Other benefits include 6 weeks of paid time off per year and 10 paid holidays; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a foundation contribution of up to 10% and a Roth 401(k) option; a matching gifts program for qualifying charitable contributions; hybrid work arrangements and a home office stipend; and a commuter benefits program.
To support you in achieving your career goals, the foundation offers a professional development program to all benefits-eligible employees that includes an annual financial benefit of $5,000 and paid time off to participate in educational programs.
