Analyst - Assessment and Advisory Services

Center For Effective Philanthropy | Cambridge, MA

As an Analyst, you will work closely with CEP’s energetic and diverse staff to provide philanthropic foundation executives, boards, and staff with data-driven insights to enhance the effectiveness of their work. The core function of the role is to create reports and share recommendations based on the results of standardized surveys of grantees, staff, and donors that CEP conducts on behalf of philanthropic foundations. Analysts also work with individual foundations or groups of foundations on customized engagements focused on approaches to philanthropy, performance assessment, and organizational effectiveness. If you want to help grant-making organizations to understand how they’re doing in creating social impact, this is the role for you. The analyst will be a member of CEP’s Cambridge office.

The Ideal Candidate:
• You understand that CEP’s work depends on the high quality of our analysis and, likewise, have high standards for quality control, task management, and attention to detail
• You are confident in your work, but are humble in the knowledge that you are always learning and improving
• You are detail-oriented, organized, and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• You are excited to build trust with key stakeholders and senior leaders, and you exhibit good judgment when engaging with others in professional settings
• You enjoy a mix of working independently as well as on teams, and you bring a hard-working, empathetic, and reliable approach to both situations
• You take initiative, when appropriate, and you are tolerant of ambiguity
• You are curious and ask questions; you thrive in an environment that encourages diversity of opinion
• You have the highest level of personal integrity and commitment to excellence

Key Responsibilities:
• Analyzing quantitative and qualitative datasets, often using basic inferential statistics and qualitative coding techniques
• Creating clear and compelling written memos that identify and highlight synthesized findings and recommendations drawn from analysis
• Co-managing survey processes, question design, and innovation in CEP’s assessment tools
• Creating and presenting the results of assessment and advisory engagements to foundation executives and staff alongside client managers
• Actively participating in team discussions and helping develop CEP’s internal knowledge base and operations

Requirements:
• College degree (B.S., B.A.), or equivalent, and some work experience required
• Demonstrated ability to conduct high quality quantitative analysis and synthesize findings into persuasive recommendations. Comfort with running and interpreting basic statistical analyses such as T-Tests, ANOVA, and Chi Squares is required.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Excel required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with computer programming languages, such as SQL and Python, a plus: these languages form the basis of CEP’s Online Reporting System and all Analysts will receive some training on these systems

We believe diversity and inclusion are key drivers of creativity and innovation, and we actively seek out candidates with diversity of backgrounds, skills, experiences, and perspectives for this exciting role.

About CEP:
For almost 20 years, CEP has led the movement to improve philanthropy through a powerful combination of dispassionate analysis and a passionate commitment to improving lives. Today, over 350 foundations have used CEP’s assessment tools to gather honest feedback from their stakeholders in an effort to learn how to be even more effective. CEOs and trustees have come to rely on our research for insights into foundation effectiveness on a wide range of topics, from assessing performance to developing strategy to managing stakeholder relationships. Our highly regarded programming—including our biennial conference—gives foundation leaders an exclusive and unprecedented opportunity to connect with their peers. Strengths of CEP’s work culture are entrepreneurialism, accountability, teamwork, collegiality, diversity, and mutual respect. CEP is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a second office in San Francisco, California.

Benefits:
Our nonprofit model is central to our identity: our bottom line is impact, not profit. Yet even as a nonprofit, we successfully compete for top talent across both the public and private sectors and offer competitive compensation and benefits including:
• The annual base salary for this position is $72,500. In addition, this role is eligible for a competitive Performance Based Incentive Compensation.
• Comprehensive health and dental insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off plan, including up to 15 holidays, two weeks of accrued vacation, and two personal days per year.
• 401(k) plan with a 1:1 Employer Match up to 5% of total compensation.
• Generous annual personal professional development allowance.
• Flexible spending and dependent care tax free savings plans.
• Life insurance covered 100% by the organization.

To Apply:
Please fill out our application for employment and attach a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. If you have any questions, please contact Leaha Wynn, Manager, People & Culture; Diversity and Inclusion Strategist or Alyse d’Amico, Director of People & Culture at jobs [at] cep [dot] org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We believe that a diversity of thoughts, experiences, backgrounds, personalities, and identities helps us think bigger and better, and enables us to reach our goals more effectively. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

Senior Manager, Financial Institutions Engagement, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets

Description & Responsibilities
This a full-time position, preferably based in the Boston or New York City area. This position is designed for a highly motivated, self-starter with prior policy campaign experience looking to be an advocate for strong and effective climate and clean energy policies, especially in the financial sector. The position will report to the Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Partner with Accelerator, Company Network, Investor Network and Policy teams to lead outreach to support bank engagement strategy.

  • Lead the development of events, activities and outreach for the bank engagement effort. Might also support insurance industry outreach.

  • Work with Ceres team to drive an external campaign to get bank (and possibly insurance) leadership to address climate change as a financial risk.

  • Coordinate outreach with investors, regulators and other influencers of the banking industry

  • Drive strategies to impact the banking and other financial institutions, industry, regulators, and other influencers using earned media. Use earned media, advocacy days, national & regional meetings, direct engagement with policymakers, and other strategies to impact banking industry, regulators and other influencers.

  • Develop, maintain, and expand relationships with external partners and key allies, such as non-profits, trade associations, think tanks, communications firms, lobbyists working in and associated with financial institutions.

  • Prepare materials and support Ceres staff and investor, Policy & Company Network members to engage with the press, regulators, legislative staffers, and lawmakers on banking issues. Coordinate closely with financial regulator outreach efforts at state and federal level.

  • Recruit investors and business leaders, in coordination with the Investor Network and policy teams, to engage in advocacy on financial institutions.

  • Help craft fundraising proposals to support the project and program work.

  • As needed, participate in meetings with current and potential funders.

  • Support organizing and logistical activities related to Ceres’ Annual Conference.

  • Handle other duties for Ceres and Ceres Accelerator as requested.

Qualifications

  • At least seven years of professional experience in the financial services sector.

  • Direct experience working on policy and/or communications preferred.

  • Experience in the financial sector not required but a significant plus

  • Demonstrated ability to bring a nuanced advocacy perspective to both analysis and corporate engagement and to make clear recommendations for actions and next steps.

  • Prior experience in working on complex projects or campaigns a plus.

  • Effective presentation style as well as strong speaking and written communication skills.

  • Experience in relationship management and developing partnerships.

  • Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative, and motivation.

  • Demonstrated strong project management skills of multiple, complex projects.

  • Planning expertise and delivering projects on deadline and within time and resource budgets.

  • Ability to work as part of a team and to take a collaborative approach.

  • Ability to bring a positive outlook to working at Ceres.

  • Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity

  • Willingness to travel as needed.

  • Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications.

How to Apply
We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying: www.ceres.org. If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and a list of three references, as well as complete the additional information as instructed.

Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

Organization
Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through our powerful networks and advocacy, we tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses.

For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site (www.ceres.org). Here is more information on the Ceres Accelerator https://www.ceres.org/accelerator.