Senior Program Officer

Position: Senior Program Officer
Department: Environment

Reporting to: Environment Program Director
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Washington, DC or Denver, CO

The Walton Family Foundation is seeking a skilled, highly motivated, and collaborative individual to join its Environment Program as Senior Program Officer. The ideal candidate will bring leadership experience, a proven ability to execute at a senior level, an entrepreneurial spirit, and strong interpersonal and communication skills. They will take a respectful, analytical approach to supporting grantees as they work to transform business norms and harness the power of nature to protect and restore rivers and oceans.

About the Position

The Senior Program Officer will play an important role in shaping and advancing the Foundation's Environment Program strategy to protect and restore rivers and oceans. As the leader of the initiative focused on advancing nature-positive markets, the Senior Program Officer will manage a team of Program Officers responsible for grantmaking that leverages corporate supply chains and financial markets to scale nature-based solutions for healthy rivers and oceans. Our approach to this work is grounded in the idea that sustainability is consequential for companies, consumers, and nature. We seek changes in how businesses behave that can lead to measurable improvements for the health of rivers and oceans. To do that, we are working to build incentives, information, and consequences into the framework for sustainability.

This role requires demonstrated leadership, coaching, and people management skills, and a record of operational and strategic excellence. The ideal candidate will bring a proven history of scaling and funding nature-positive corporate supply chains or innovative finance in the environmental field.

What You Will Do

As Senior Program Officer, you will play a leadership role in the Foundation's Environment Program. Your responsibilities will center on three core functions:

Serve as a Member of the Environment Program Leadership Team

• Partner with the Program Director, Deputy Director, and other Environment Program leadership to shape and strengthen the Program's culture, strategy, and impact.
• Provide counsel on current and emerging priorities, ensuring alignment with the Foundation's vision and goals.
• Contribute insights, data, and learnings to inform strategic shifts and long-term planning.
• Represent the Foundation internally and externally, modeling its values and inspiring collaboration across teams and with key stakeholders.

1. Manage a Team of Program Officers Toward High Impact

• Lead, coach, and develop Program Officers to design and implement innovative grantmaking opportunities.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture built on collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Promote seamless collaboration across the Environment team, the Foundation, and external partners.

1. Strengthen Grantee Relationships and Field Partnerships

• Oversee and deepen relationships with current and prospective partners aligned with Program strategy.
• Provide proactive and responsive advising to grantees - anticipating needs, resolving challenges, and guiding strategies for sustainability, monitoring, and funding.
• Shepherd proposals through the Foundation's approval process and support grantees in achieving meaningful, measurable impact.
• Identify and cultivate new opportunities, including due diligence on prospective grantees, funding partners, and coalitions that advance new approaches and greater impact.
• Convene grantees, funders, and stakeholders for learning and knowledge-sharing that strengthen the field.

Who We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate has the following qualifications and prior work experience:

• A bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree (master's or higher) is preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience that includes both philanthropic or nonprofit as well as sustainable supply chains, sustainable finance, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing teams, including developing organizational strategy, shaping culture, and fostering high performance.
• Proven ability to coach, grow, and develop individuals and teams that value collaboration and accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, timely, and compelling materials for diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and execute effectively across multiple projects.

Personal attributes that support your success

• Ability to act as a trusted advisor to principals and colleagues, exercising discretion, and demonstrating expertise and integrity.
• You are helpful, a team player, and show respect while collaborating with others to succeed together.
• A lifelong learner, who is inquisitive and solves problems with bold thinking and innovation.
• You are results oriented and exercise sound judgment in your work.
• A visionary who plans for the future with imagination and wisdom.
• You are dedicated to achieving excellence and work with others to tackle the tasks at hand.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Benefits Information

Compensation Range: $197,000 - $246,000

Benefits Information: We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401 (k) retirement plan and paid time off.

About the Walton Family Foundation

We are a family-led organization, supporting multiple generations of Sam and Helen

Walton's family.

We value trust, mutual respect, and a workplace where every associate belongs and can do their best work. We bring together talented people with different backgrounds and viewpoints, support their growth, and empower them to contribute meaningfully.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.