Senior Advisor, Advisory

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) is a nonprofit organization that currently advises on and manages more than $400 million in annual giving by individuals, families, corporations and major foundations. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors accelerates philanthropy in pursuit of a just world.
Continuing the Rockefeller family’s legacy of thoughtful, effective philanthropy, RPA remains at the forefront of philanthropic growth and innovation, with a diverse team led by experienced grantmakers with significant depth of knowledge across the spectrum of issue areas. Founded in 2002, RPA has grown into one of the world’s largest philanthropic service organizations and, as a whole, has facilitated more than $3 billion in grantmaking to nearly 70 countries. RPA serves as a fiscal sponsor for more than 120+ projects, providing governance, management and operational infrastructure to support their charitable purposes. For more information, please go to www.rockpa.org.

Role Overview

The Sr. Advisor advises individual donors, families, corporations, and foundations on their grantmaking and related philanthropic activities. The Sr. Advisor represents RPA and its clients throughout the nonprofit and philanthropic sector and assists in the cultivation of prospective clients as needed. They serve as senior-level program officers for all or parts of clients’ grantmaking portfolios, including research and analysis of clients' funding areas; developing funding strategies and criteria tailored to clients' interests; building a pipeline of prospective organizations; and conducting thorough due diligence on potential grantees.

Core Accountabilities:

Client Services and Portfolio Management

Function as core grantmaking leads on client engagements by researching topical issues, organizations, and projects to make grantmaking recommendations to clients. Plan and manage the creation of client deliverables within an area of professional expertise, including strategy, research, and operational plan development, values assessment, board work, leading retreats, and stakeholder consultation as needed. Develop tailored recommendations for specific client goals. Demonstrate higher-order thinking that positions client works in the broader context of trends, best practices, and strategic insights for the client.

Business Development

Support business development opportunities through the cultivation of key external relationships, representing the organization in desirable networks, and generating proposals and related content as needed.

Project Risk and Issue Management

Manage identification of risks, issues, dependencies, and constraints associated with the project, escalating these where appropriate. Where necessary, develop, agree on, and implement solutions to overcome these.

Project Team Management

Serves as project team leader for engagements commensurate with experience level and scope. Able to define and communicate the project goals and outcomes, along with the strategic and operational guidance to achieve outcomes.  Coordinates individual and team responsibilities across project activities and milestones; coordinates resources (team members, time, budget) to ensure engagements are completed on time and within budget.

Project Quality

Manage the delivery of high-quality client service and deliverables through assurance reviews within a project, and take appropriate action to resolve any issues identified to give senior stakeholders confidence that the project can deliver on time, within budget, and with quality.

Complexity and Problem-solving

• Uses comprehensive knowledge and skills to work independently while providing guidance and training to others on planning, organizing, prioritizing, and overseeing activities to efficiently meet organization objectives.

• Works at an advanced level to shift into and out of a mental mindset associated with assessing the facts and circumstances of the current situation and/or environment and making the appropriate/innovative adjustments to thinking and work habits to thrive in any scenario.  Typically works independently and provides guidance.

• Uses comprehensive knowledge and skills to negotiate independently while providing guidance and training to others on how to help the organization by obtaining consensus between two or more internal or external parties who may have different interests.

• Works at an advanced level to prioritize components of a project, program, or portfolio work in context with risks, activities, stakeholders, etc. across the life of the project or program. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

• Able to work independently or with minimal ongoing supervision, but also able to function collaboratively as part of a broader client team as needed.

• Contributes meaningful creative insights, original ideas, and strategic counsel that distinguishes the organization from competitors.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Coordinate and inform priorities for Advisors and Coordinators supporting projects for delivery.

• Works with full competence to identify, acquire, and manage the resources (physical and human) for the project. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.

• Assign tasks and responsibilities to Assistants Associates and Advisors as needed. Provide directional guidance, feedback, and training as needed. Coordinate and manage tasks to support projects.

Desired Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s and graduate work or equivalent experience preferred.

• Previous professional experience in the philanthropic or related field with increasing responsibility and proven effectiveness in working with grantmakers, donors, grant seekers, and non-profit organizations in grantmaking, program development, evaluation, and/or research (7-9 or more years of experience).

• Experience with individual/family or institutional family philanthropy preferred.

• Skills/Knowledge: An understanding of the broad spectrum of private philanthropy, including trends in giving and key issues.

• Demonstrated experience in client services and superior interpersonal communication skills required.

Travel Requirements 

• We are seeking candidates within reasonable commuting distance to either our San Francisco or New York City office.

• Must be willing to travel for client work as needed.

The individual in the role must demonstrate a commitment to RPA’s Mission and Values:

• We believe that philanthropy can help create a better world.

• We make decisions that center people and communities.

• We believe philanthropy has a responsibility to pursue equity.

• We uphold the highest standards of integrity and trust.

• We are committed to learning and sharing knowledge.

Compensation & Benefits

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including health coverage, retirement benefits, paid sick leave, vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement and access to professional development resources.

The salary range is one component of the total compensation package for employees.

Pay Range: $125,000 - $135,000 salary per year.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed as received. In order to be considered, all applications must include a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications and your resume. The position will remain open until filled.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors celebrates the uniqueness of our staff, our partners, and the communities we serve. We are committed to inclusion with the goal of cultivating a culture of belonging and acceptance. We strive to embed this value in our philanthropic work to advance a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

RPA is an equal opportunity employer.