Program Manager, Rivian Foundation / Manager, Philanthropy

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Born from a vision focused on safeguarding a healthy planet, the Rivian Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation funded with 1% of Rivian’s pre-IPO equity and a cash endowment. The Foundation is focused on the protection, preservation, and restoration of our natural world. With a philanthropic mission focused on increasing the abundance of and accessibility to clean energy and preserving the biodiversity needed for long-term survival, the Foundation supports builders of a thriving future by funding work to:

• Safeguard a healthy planet by supporting local stewardship of healthy lands and waters, ensuring access to nature, and implementing natural climate solutions.
• Advance a better energy future for all by supporting clean energy solutions for people and the planet and getting transition minerals right.

In close partnership with the Executive Director/Vice President, Philanthropy, this position will be responsible for implementing three programs:

Rivian Foundation (Focus: Community Impact Grants):

• • Community Impact Grants Management: Grow, steward, and manage the Rivian Foundation’s Community Impact Grants portfolio. This includes identifying and developing new grant opportunities and working with existing grantees to ensure they meet the agreed upon goals and objectives.
  • Work with Rivian staff and Rivian Foundation leadership to help amplify the work of Rivian Foundation Community Impact grantees.
  • Programmatic Grant Portfolio Assistance: Assist the Executive Director in the development and management of a robust programmatic grant portfolio, as needed.
  • Provide additional support to Foundation leadership as needed.

Rivian Corporate Philanthropy (Focus: Vehicle Donations Program):

• • Vehicle Donations Program Management: Manage Rivian’s cross-functional vehicle donations process. This includes building and maintaining core, repeatable processes with a cross-functional set of employees to complete multiple vehicle donations from start to finish. This includes developing clear communications about the process internally, coordinating across functions (e.g., Finance, Legal, Fleet, Commercial), implementing efficient processes in a highly dynamic environment, and communicating directly with nonprofit organizations and Rivian team members. This position is responsible for developing appropriate tracking mechanisms with partner teams to support accurate legal and tax record keeping.
  • Strategic Advising: Perform research and provide recommendations to department leadership on proactive and responsive corporate philanthropic opportunities to further build out Rivian’s corporate philanthropy. Address ad hoc requests internally and externally, by providing recommendations to department leadership on Corporate Philanthropic opportunities and seeing them through to implementation, as appropriate.

Assist with Strategic Communications

• • Serve as the primary liaison to Rivian Foundation grantees and nonprofit organizations that Rivian has supported on any potential communications opportunities. Liaise with Rivian’s Communications team, Legal team, and other internal partners as needed. This includes vetting materials, drafting or reviewing content, and identifying collaboration opportunities, ensuring that all Rivian Foundation communications respect all private benefit and self-dealing regulations.
  • In coordination with internal partners, refresh and maintain the Rivian Foundation website.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree.

• 3+ years of experience in philanthropy, sustainability, or conservation projects.

• Strong project management, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Track record of starting and delivering impact-driven initiatives.

• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders with discretion, integrity, and poise.

Preferred:

• Corporate philanthropy, clean energy, or related NGO experience.

• Familiarity with nonprofit compliance (private benefit, self-dealing rules).

• Foundant grants management software and willingness to support implementation.

• ArcGIS Pro exposure for mapping and visualization; comfort with data tracking/analysis.

• Experience in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with evolving structures.

• Outcomes‑focused operator who sets clear goals, executes practical plans, measures progress, and iterates quickly to deliver results in ambiguity.
• Low‑ego, collaborative teammate who works independently, seeks guidance when appropriate, and brings perspective and humor under pressure.
• Negotiation‑savvy communicator who can deliver firm “no” decisions clearly and respectfully to maintain strong internal and external relationships.

Salary Range for Palo Alto, CA-based applicants: $107,000 - $134,000 annually (Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [email protected] .

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.