Strategy Analyst

Strategy Analyst

The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. PJMF works in partnership with public, private, and social institutions to drive progress on our most pressing challenges, including promoting access to quality healthcare, mitigating the effects of climate change, enabling broad-based AI literacy, and data maturity in the social sector.

As part of the Strategic Capital function, Strategy Analysts help ensure that philanthropic resources are allocated effectively and with impact. They conduct research and analysis to identify and evaluate high-potential grant partners, perform due diligence through desk research, interviews, and financial reviews, and prepare materials to support final grant decisions. Analysts also monitor trends across the data and AI for good ecosystem, distill insights from existing grants, and contribute to learning that informs future investments.

This position reports to the Director of Strategic Capital and offers an opportunity to shape how PJMF deploys capital to accelerate responsible and equitable technology solutions worldwide.

Strategy Development. Develop and maintain a working understanding of PJMF's grantmaking focus areas and the role of data and AI solutions within them. Design and complete field sensing and landscape analyses that help PJMF stay abreast of new developments, opportunities, and shifts in the fields of AI and data science, and how they can be applied to drive social good. Produce portfolio strategy retrospectives that synthesize outcomes, lessons, and directional insights from grant activity to inform future priorities.

Support the generation, validation, and refinement of strategic hypotheses and learning questions that guide PJMF's philanthropic investments and deepen understanding of the field.

Grant Portfolio Development: Conduct research and outreach, and lead early-stage conversations to identify nonprofit and civil society organizations whose work aligns with PJMF's strategy and may be a fit for grant funding. Prepare clear, evidence-based recommendation materials to support funding decisions. Summarize learnings from grant reports and external sources into insights that contribute to the Foundation's broader work in convening and thought leadership.

Identify opportunities for collaboration and shared learning across grantees, portfolios, and adjacent fields to enhance collective impact.

Project-based Support: Provide flexible, project-based support across the Strategic Capital team as we build systems and team practices that enable effective, efficient, and high-impact grantmaking. Participate in a limited number of external events and partnerships to share insights, surface opportunities, and strengthen PJMF's presence in the data and AI for good ecosystem.

Experience and Subject Matter Knowledge: 3+ years of professional work experience (private, nonprofit, philanthropic, or public sector), and/or graduate-level education, that includes demonstrated exposure to and engagement with issues related to data, AI, and their role in enabling social good. Working understanding of and conversant in vocabulary related to data science, AI/ML, and technology product development.

Fast and Nimble Learner: Quickly synthesize information, identify gaps, and deliver recommendations. Regularly assess progress and make adjustments to the approach as needed.

Team-oriented Independence: Pair an ability and desire to work independently with a willingness to check in with leadership and/or teammates on a variable cadence depending on the specifics of a project and its context.

Strategic Thinking and Communication: Organize complex information into clear frameworks, and identify open questions and areas for further learning. Communicate outputs from research, analysis, and other activities in a clear, concise, and structured manner.

Work Product Excellence: Maintain and model a high standard for written and visual communication (e.g., memos, emails, presentations).

External Engagement: Be a thoughtful, responsible representative of the Foundation and remain mindful of power dynamics when interacting with external stakeholders. Proactively identify potential issues or roadblocks in external relationships and follow team norms when addressing them.

Judgment: Build an instinct for seeing around corners to anticipate how any given project or decision may impact internal and external stakeholders, and exercise great judgment every day.

Intellectual Curiosity: Demonstrate an interest in and openness to new ideas, and a willingness to take intellectual risks. Remain naturally curious about technology.

Passion: Maintain genuine enthusiasm for building a better future in the digital era and ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement are…