AMBFF is seeking a Managing Director to lead its growing Environment Program. A newly created role for the Foundation, this is a unique and exciting leadership opportunity to deepen AMBFF’s impact agenda and build systems and capacity to strengthen the work, positioning the program to pursue ambitious and ground-breaking strategies for achieving meaningful change. Based in Atlanta, the Managing Director will focus on advancing the Foundation’s work in two climate change related areas:

1. Accelerating the deployment of clean energy in the Southeast and Intermountain West; and
2. Reducing emissions through renewable agriculture and land. The program also maintains a small conservation fund to preserve ecosystems in the Yellowstone region.

Reporting to the President of AMBFF, the Managing Director is expected to be a leader in the environment field, and specifically in renewable energy markets at the states and regions level, with knowledge of the many challenges, opportunities, and strategic approaches the Foundation might bring to addressing its strategic priorities for the portfolio. Externally, the Managing Director will serve as a leader, thought partner, and collaborator with the broader field of actors in the nonprofit, government, and business communities. They will monitor progress of existing strategies and approaches and develop new strategies as appropriate for board consideration and approval. Internally, the Managing Director will develop and manage their team. As a member of the Foundation leadership team, the Managing Director will also help shape AMBFF’s future working in concert with the President, other Managing Directors, and finance and operations leads to set a new course for the Foundation with respect to programs, operations, and culture in ways that together advance AMBFF’s mission and build relationships and synergies with the Blank Family of Businesses to strengthen the collective work.

Key Priorities

The Managing Director will support AMBFF in multiple, critical ways, notably as: a leader of the Foundation’s environment strategies; a champion of a results-oriented and dynamic learning culture; and as a colleague partnering across AMBFF and BFOB. Key priorities ahead include:

Implement and Refine the Recently Approved Energy Strategy

The Managing Director will implement and refine the Energy strategy approved by the Board of Directors in September 2022, with its focus on accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and its positive impact on people’s lives. This includes working to develop and expand regional energy markets and bringing the benefits of renewable energy to historically marginalized communities in the strategy’s geographic focal areas of the Intermountain West and Southeast. Additionally, consistent with the Energy strategy, the Managing Director will ensure grants for 2023 are fully deployed before year-end.

Develop and Implement the Renewable Agriculture/Land and Conservation Strategies

While the Energy strategy is the Environment Program’s largest area of giving, the Board of Directors also seeks to influence proper land management and conservation  to affect climate change. As such, in partnership with the Effective Philanthropy team at AMBFF, the Managing Director will develop and implement two additional strategies for the portfolio: (1) Land and (2) Conservation, ideally identifying synergies across these issue areas. Of note, the Foundation has engaged in longstanding philanthropy in conservation, focusing on the Paradise and Gallatin Valleys of Montana.

Leverage Philanthropic Capital and Business Influence

The Managing Director will utilize the full power and suite of capabilities of philanthropy, including innovative financing, as a critical lever for innovation, and scaling effective practices and systems change. While grantmaking is one lever available to AMBFF for impact, the BFOB includes multiple ranches in Montana, the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, PGA Tour Superstores, and the Mercedes Benz stadium. This allows for a unique opportunity to harness the capabilities of business operations, properties, and brands to exemplify and elevate the goals for the climate and conservation strategies. The Managing Director will collaborate with internal leaders and connect with others in the broader ecosystem as appropriate, including other businesses, nonprofits, and public systems.

Drive Execution of Strategies with Operational Excellence

The Managing Director will lead a small team of strong and skilled staff working in a culture of inclusion and purpose. This role oversees all core activities, programs, grantmaking, and other investing in the environment portfolio, fully leveraging the BFOB assets as appropriate. The Managing Director will work with the Foundation’s Effective Philanthropy team to develop evaluation frameworks and relevant progress tracking for the strategy to inform ongoing decision-making and course correction. The Managing Director will share lessons and engage AMBFF leadership and the Board in strategic conversations about how to adapt the environment strategy over time.

Build and Nurture Partnerships in Service of Sustained Impact

The Managing Director will serve as an effective spokesperson for AMBFF’s vision and act as an engaged and responsive partner to communities, grantees, other funders, businesses, and civic leaders. A skilled network builder and convener, the Managing Director will identify areas of strategic partnership in the field and align and champion opportunities for engagement with other philanthropic, nonprofit, business, and government entities locally, regionally, and nationally. The Managing Director will help build bridges across political and economic divides, acknowledging the diversity of perspectives around issues of conservation and climate.

Ideal Candidate Profile

AMBFF seeks a Managing Director with vision, innovative thinking, and a genuine commitment to help define and lead a mission-driven portfolio focused on climate and conservation solutions. A broad-based ecosystem thinker is essential—someone who is comfortable operating with expansive parameters across sectors and able to explore opportunities that can lead to scaled, bold, and even unconventional approaches. The foundation seeks candidates who are driven by ambition as well as active inquiry and learning, possessing an intellect that thrives when creatively synthesizing ideas and input from a variety of sources to address complex problems. A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience is required, with interdisciplinary experience favored across nonprofit, philanthropy, business, and/or advocacy settings. While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

Strategic Vision for the Portfolio

• A strategic, creative and entrepreneurial leader with experience in renewable energy and regional energy markets, who can bring together a variety of constituencies and leverage philanthropy and business platforms to align with AMBFF’s social aims.
• An understanding of how states and regions operate and the varied features of energy markets is essential. While note required, experience with the landscape and politics in the Southeast and/or Intermountain West is highly desirable.

Leadership and Management

• A strong and effective people leader, who attracts and retains great talent by building a positive, trusting, and inclusive team culture that inspires all to achieve excellence.
• A skilled facilitator who can activate, unite, and build trust and shared understanding across a variety of stakeholders while nurturing a culture of accountability to impact.
• A lifelong learner with a growth mindset who integrates the best ideas no matter the source and supports others to do the same.
• Collaborative, positive, and able to navigate well with ambiguity and change; adept at building collegial relationships and able to respond to issues with clarity and diplomacy.

External Representation

• Credibility and leadership ability to represent all areas of activity within the Environment portfolio and will contribute to alignment between brand, values, and community goals.
• Experience leveraging networks to achieve results, including fostering strategic partnerships with key leaders from the community, government, private sector, and philanthropy.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.

Interpersonal Acumen

• Unquestionable personal and professional integrity.
• Genuine commitment to the Blank family values.
• The confidence and grounding to be a good listener and communicator, to give and receive feedback graciously and candidly, and to operate with high integrity and transparency.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with experience in assessing and managing risks and being agile.
• Down-to-earth approach with an inclusive style and ability to communicate effectively and authentically with a diverse array of people.

To Be Considered

Position Location & Travel

The Managing Director is expected to work onsite at AMBFF’s office in Atlanta, Georgia. Relocation support is available. Occasional domestic travel is required.

Submit Materials

AMBFF values, celebrates, and supports a diverse and inclusive environment throughout its organization. All qualified candidates who contribute to the Foundation’s broad commitment to diversity are strongly encouraged to submit their materials for consideration.