About Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Established in 1926, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (CSMF) is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable, and sustainable society. They support nonprofit activities throughout the U.S. and internationally focused in four programs: Civil Society, Environment, Flint Area and Youth Engagement. In addition to the home office in Flint, MI, offices are located in suburban Detroit, London, and Johannesburg. In 2025, the Foundation made 396 grants totaling more than $159 million.
For more information about CSMF’s work, please visit their
website. To learn more about the values that undergird all of their work, visit their
Values page.
About the Environment Program
Launched forty years ago, the Mott Foundation’s Environment program has long supported programs around the world that protect communities and the ecosystems upon which they depend. This work has demonstrated that such grantmaking must seek practical ways to build strong economic, social, and environmental conditions for all people; in a word, sustainability. In 2025, the Environment program awarded 93 grants totaling more than $20 million.
This is an exciting time to join the Environment team as they begin to implement in 2026 a new ten-year program plan. Based on the lessons learned from their long-term engagement in the field, the new work will pursue three initiatives:
- One Water in which CSMF will promote clean, affordable and accessible water for all from source to tap, both in the Great Lakes region and across the United States.
- Finance for Sustainability in which CSMF will aim to influence international finance to drive the transition to low-carbon energy, protect ecosystems and uphold the rights of local communities.
- Land, Water and People of the Amazon Basin in which CSMF will work to advance land rights, ecological stewardship and sustainable livelihoods in the Amazon basin.
The Opportunity
The Foundation is seeking a Program Officer to manage the
One Water’s national approach, a new focus area within the Environment program’s water initiative. CSMF plans to grant $10 million per year for ten years to advance the goals of the One Water initiative in its entirety, with the funds split between the Great Lakes and national work. This Program Officer role is an exciting opportunity for a water policy expert to help design and shape a new philanthropic strategy poised to make an impact on how water is managed in the United States. Specifically, the national grantmaking portfolio seeks to:
- Support for networking and technical assistance for groups in the water policy and adjacent fields to build One Water movement strength nationally.
- Support for opinion research, message development and media to tell One Water success stories at the local, regional, state and national levels.
- Support for selected efforts outside of the Great Lakes basin to secure One Water policy wins and demonstrate model projects that build momentum for progress across the country.
As the Foundation launches this work, the Program Officer will help strengthen the national “One Water” ecosystem—connecting state and local efforts to national partners, elevating compelling stories of progress, and supporting policy wins that can be replicated and scaled. The Foundation is approaching the national strategy with both ambition and humility, recognizing that durable change will require sustained coalition-building, pragmatic solutions, and engagement beyond traditional environmental audiences over a multi-year horizon.
The Program Officer will work closely with colleagues on the One Water team supporting the Great Lakes region and will be part of an eight-person environment team. This is a full-time position located in Flint, MI and will require frequent travel throughout the U.S.
Key Responsibilities
Program Strategy and Management
- With the One Water team, design and execute multi-year grantmaking strategies.
- Monitor developments in water policy and management across the United States; identify emerging issues and trends.
- Periodically review the One Water U.S. initiative for continued relevance; recommend future grantmaking priorities; and prepare materials for management and Trustee review.
- Manage consultants as needed to evaluate, refine, and/or implement strategy.
- Keep the Program Director and Vice President – Programs informed of major developments and risks.
- Prepare reports, analyses, and other written materials for Foundation leadership and the Board of Trustees, with a high standard of accuracy and clarity.
Partnership Building and Field Leadership
- Build relationships with organizations and leaders in the national water field to understand opportunities, challenges, and promising approaches.
- Represent the Foundation in meetings and discussions with grantees, partners, and peers; maintain the Foundation’s professional reputation through public engagement.
- Collaborate with colleagues across the Foundation (including Communications and Grants Administration) and with peer funders on shared priorities.
- In partnership with Communications, support strategies to disseminate grant and program activities and public policy efforts (as appropriate and consistent with Foundation policies).
- Serve as a resource to public and nonprofit sector stakeholders when appropriate and consistent with Foundation policies and procedures.
- Conduct site visits and participate in conferences and convenings for learning, due diligence, and relationship-building.
Grant Administration and Portfolio Oversight
- Investigate grant requests and develop funding recommendations.
- Process, administer, and monitor grants and clusters of grants in accordance with Foundation policies and procedures, including review of proposals, budgets, and reports in partnership with Grants Administration.
- Serve as the Foundation’s primary liaison to grantees; provide expertise and technical assistance as appropriate.
- Ensure grants and program activities align with established objectives.
- Track travel and related expenses; communicate proactively with the supervisor regarding projected changes.
- Stay on top of internal deadlines and deliver high-quality work products.
Foundation-Focused Expectations
- Demonstrate integrity, accountability, transparency, and sound judgment in all work; comply with applicable laws and Foundation policies.
- Treat all individuals with dignity and respect; act as a responsible institutional partner and good corporate citizen.
- Protect confidential information and avoid conflicts of interest; promptly disclose any potential conflict.
- Use Foundation technology and equipment responsibly and conserve Foundation resources.
- Work cooperatively and professionally with colleagues, grantees, vendors, and guests; communicate promptly with the supervisor regarding concerns.
- Pursue continuous improvement—seek feedback, build skills, and strengthen processes, products, and services.
Position-Focused Expectations
- Maintain broad awareness of the Foundation’s program areas and collaborate across teams as appropriate.
- Provide supervision, mentoring, and training to program staff when assigned.
- Communicate effectively in writing and verbally, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Work effectively with people from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds; use tact, diplomacy, and discernment.
- Demonstrate discretion and professionalism in representing the Foundation; manage conflict constructively and work effectively with multiple stakeholders.
Ideal Candidate
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation seeks a mid-career water policy leader who is energized by the chance to help shape a new national philanthropic strategy at a pivotal moment for water in the United States. This Program Officer brings a strong grounding in how policy change is built and sustained—especially at the state level—and understands how state-level progress can inform and advance federal outcomes over time. They are intellectually curious, highly collaborative, and motivated by practical progress: the ability to identify what is feasible now, invest strategically, and build momentum for larger, durable reforms in the years ahead.
Equally important, the ideal candidate is a natural bridge builder—someone skilled at finding common interest across differences and bringing the right stakeholders to the table, including partners in sectors that do not always align but are essential to lasting solutions. They build trust quickly, communicate with clarity and humility, and can represent the Foundation with credibility among community-based organizations, utilities, policy advocates, and national organizations. Successful candidates will thrive in a relationship-rich role that includes significant travel and an active presence in the Flint office when not traveling, consistent with the Foundation’s Flint-centered culture and expectations.
Qualifications
The incoming Program Officer for U.S. One Water will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following qualifications and attributes:
- Approximately ten years of experience working on water policy issues at the local, state, and/or federal levels.
- Experience in the nonprofit and/or water utility sectors.
- Experience in public policymaking and/or public policy advocacy, including exposure at the state and/or federal levels.
- Demonstrated ability to deploy limited resources strategically to leverage change; direct experience in philanthropy is preferred but not required.
- Demonstrated coalition-building skills and the ability to identify shared priorities across diverse stakeholders, including community-based organizations, utilities, policymakers, and private-sector or industry-aligned partners.
- Commitment to working with diverse communities that share interests in positive environmental and/or sustainable development outcomes.
- Familiarity with public narrative and/or communications approaches that translate complex policy work into accessible stories of impact.
- Strong analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with established and emerging nonprofit leaders.
- Strong project, time, and budget management skills.
- Ability and willingness to travel approximately 45–60 days per year.
- Ability to work effectively within a Flint-centered institution, including a consistent in-office presence in Flint when not traveling.
- Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree in a related field is preferred but not required.
Leadership
- Results-oriented and able to take ideas from concept through implementation.
- Exercises sound, independent judgment in complex, high-impact decisions; able to develop and advance policy and program recommendations in collaboration with peers and leadership.
- Proactive, adaptive, and able to anticipate needs while balancing individual initiative with team and organizational priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to strengthen long-term organizational effectiveness within an area of responsibility, including representing the Foundation with credibility among senior external stakeholders.
Interpersonal
- Relationship-driven, responsive, and resourceful; able to provide thoughtful support to grantees and partners while being sensitive to the power dynamics inherent in interactions between funder and grantseeker.
- Skilled in team building, negotiation, and constructive conflict management; able to work effectively with multiple stakeholders around complex issues.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and change, with a high level of discretion and consistent commitment to confidentiality.
- Culturally competent and able to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Technical
- Strong planning and execution skills, including developing implementation plans and managing multiple priorities with attention to detail.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including budget analysis and interpreting quantitative information for decision-making.
- Proficient with common workplace technologies and web-based tools, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and databases/spreadsheets; able to learn and apply organizational systems, policies, and procedures quickly.
- Demonstrated ability to identify process improvements and contribute to efficient, high-quality internal workflows.
Salary, Benefits, and Location
The salary range for this role starts at $125,000, and highly qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
The Foundation recognizes that mission-driven work should be matched by strong support for its people, and its benefits reflect that commitment in clear, high-value ways. The Foundation supports its employees with a strong, high-value benefits package starting on day one. Medical and dental premiums are fully covered for employees and dependents. Additional benefits include life insurance, 401(k) and a pension plan. The Foundation also offers a range of additional benefits.
This position is based in Flint, MI and is expected to travel 45-60 days per year.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
May sit, use the telephone and computer equipment for extended periods of time. Occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
CSMF’s EEO Statement
The Foundation reaffirms its continuing commitment to provide all individuals equal
employment opportunities without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, height, weight, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, or other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In addition, the Foundation complies with all applicable state and local equal opportunity employment laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, job application procedures, selection, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, training, transfer, layoff, termination, recall, leaves of absence and evaluation.
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