Update November 2017: We are no longer accepting applications for this position.

The Open Philanthropy Project is looking for a Program Associate to work with our Program Officer, Lewis Bollard, to advance our work on farm animal welfare.

Our goal is to greatly reduce the suffering of animals raised on factory farms globally, both by eliminating particularly abusive practices and by reducing the number of animals raised on factory farms. We’re open to pursuing whatever strategies most effectively further this goal, including supporting research, movement building, and individual, corporate, and policy advocacy (see our grants to date). The Program Associate will be responsible for working with our Farm Animal Welfare Program Officer to research, recommend, and evaluate grants, and to assess progress and research important questions in the field.

About the Open Philanthropy Project

The Open Philanthropy Project identifies outstanding giving opportunities, makes grants, follows the results, and publishes our findings. Our main funders are Cari Tuna and Dustin Moskovitz, a co-founder of Facebook and Asana.

Farm animal welfare program

Current factory farming practices cause enormous suffering for billions of animals around the world. Our goal is to identify and fund the most cost-effective opportunities to reduce that suffering, both by eliminating particularly abusive practices and by reducing the number of animals raised on factory farms.

We’ve made $25M in grants during the last year in this area. Our grants to date have focused on:

Corporate campaigns to eliminate battery cages and the worst abuses of broiler chickens in the US, Europe, Brazil, and Mexico.

Technical farm animal welfare capacity-building and meat reduction work in China.

Building the farm animal welfare movement in India, China, Europe, and the US.

Exploratory work on the welfare of farmed fish and potential solutions.

Research into improved farm animal welfare practices, alternatives to animal products, and the impact of advocacy encouraging reduced meat consumption.

We’re also invested in Impossible Foods to advance plant-based alternatives to animal products. We are continuing to learn and remain open to revising our strategy and pursuing new promising approaches.

Key Program Associate job responsibilities

This role will report to our Farm Animal Welfare Program Officer, Lewis Bollard. Responsibilities may include:

Check in with grantees, gather additional information on their operations, and track their progress toward their project goals. Make recommendations on grant renewal decisions.

Track progress on our strategic priorities, for example the number and scope of corporate reforms, the efficacy of interventions we’re supporting in China, and the state of farm animal welfare research.

Research potential new priority areas, including approaches to awareness raising, meat reduction advocacy, international animal welfare certifications schemes, hosting conferences or convenings, and policy initiatives.

Investigate potential new grantees, and review information sent by potential grantees.

Weigh in on grant recommendations and strategic decisions, based on critical analysis.

Prepare briefs synthesizing knowledge on questions of key strategic importance.

Represent the Open Philanthropy Project at relevant external meetings, conferences, and site visits.

Desired skills and experience

Strong quantitative skills, especially the ability to assess the cost-effectiveness of potential grant opportunities, to evaluate assessments conducted by others, and to construct and update quantitative measures of movement progress.

Strong research skills, especially the ability to locate hard-to-find information and data, to vet claims, and to assess the credibility of sources.

Strong analytical skills, especially the ability to quickly grasp complex issues, to identify key points, and to make recommendations based on analysis.

Ability to work effectively with ideologically and culturally diverse partner organizations.

Curiosity about and ability to rapidly acquire knowledge in areas beyond current expertise.

Excellent written and oral communication skills, especially the ability to explain one’s views clearly.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to individually lead phone calls with grantees.

Ability to travel domestically.

Experience in the farm animal welfare movement, effective altruist community, and/or international priority areas (especially China and India) is a plus, but not required.

Personal characteristics we look for

Alignment with the Open Philanthropy Project’s core values of openness and impact maximization.

Passion for farm animal welfare, and/or strong motivation to reduce animal suffering.

Open-minded and genuinely interested in finding out what is most effective.

Strong self-direction and self-motivation.

Directness and openness in giving and receiving feedback.

Comfort with intense discussion and debate, including challenging one’s manager.

Quantitative mindset and comfort thinking in terms of expected value.

A diverse background and/or perspective.

What we offer

Opportunity to assist with research, strategy development, and grant recommendations and evaluation in factory farming for a major funder in the field.

Flexible location. Lewis is currently based in Washington, D.C., while the majority of the Open Philanthropy Project staff is based in San Francisco, but location is negotiable.

Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience.

Additional information

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our staff, the Open Philanthropy Project is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at jobs@openphilanthropy.org.

To apply

Please send an email with a resume and brief cover letter explaining your interest in the position to jobs@openphilanthropy.org.