Director, Templeton Prize

Location: Greater Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania, USA

Department: Templeton Prize

Reports to: President and CEO

Employee Type: Hybrid

Status: Full-time; for highly experienced candidates, the Foundation would be willing to consider a part-time position of 24 hours per week or more

Organization and Position

The John Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder. We are working to create a world where people are curious about the wonders of the universe, free to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and motivated by great and selfless love.

The Templeton Prize honors individuals whose exemplary achievements advance Sir John Templeton’s philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind’s place and purpose within it.  Established in 1972, the Templeton Prize is supported by the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Templeton Religion Trust. It celebrates pioneers of scientific and spiritual insight for their contributions to human well-being and spiritual prosperity, and it seeks to inspire current and future generations by recognizing the work and contributions of those who receive the Prize each year.

To support our team in advancing the Foundation’s mission, we are seeking a Director, Templeton Prize. This role oversees the planning and execution of the Templeton Prize program. The Director, Templeton Prize coordinates the selection of Templeton Prize nominators and judges, ensures that the selection of the laureate proceeds in accordance with the stated review process, oversees the Templeton Prize team, liaises with the Templeton World Charity Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust for program support, and produces a Templeton Prize program that elevates Sir John Templeton’s philanthropic vision and draws attention to the work of the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Templeton Religion Trust.

Areas of Responsibility

• Ensure effective execution of all Templeton Prize related activities.
• Develop and manage the annual timeline for the Templeton Prize program.
• Manage the process to identify individuals who could serve as nominators or judges for the Templeton Prize.
• Oversee/Support the process of inviting nominators and judges and ensure careful documentation of who accepts, who declines, and in the case of the nominators, who submits a nomination.
• Identify invitees for Prize-related events and coordinate the overall list of invitees and attendees.
• Review nomination materials. Ensure that executive summaries are complete and include similar information for each candidate. Manage the review of publicly available background information about the finalists.
• Contract with a firm/s or individual contractors to develop a dossier for all who are nominated for the Templeton Prize.
• Lead and coordinate Templeton Prize Review Committee meetings.
• Coordinate the development of a public relations strategy, including events, for celebrating and honoring each Laureate. Ensure that public announcements are made in a timely manner and consider the Templeton Prize objectives and the Laureate’s best interest.
• Support and prepare members of the Templeton family to represent the Prize publicly at the Templeton Prize ceremony and related events.
• Hold weekly or bi-monthly planning meetings with the Templeton Prize team. This includes setting and distributing an agenda in advance, distributing notes, delegating follow-up tasks, and ensuring that follow-up tasks are completed.
• Serve as the primary contact with the Laureate.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination with the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Templeton Religion Trust throughout the year.
• Create and manage a budget for the Templeton Prize.
• Manage contracts related to the Templeton Prize.
• Deliver an annual report to the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Templeton Religion Trust about the accomplishments and lessons learned for each Templeton Prize year.
• Recommend improvements and changes to the Templeton Prize program. If approved, ensure effective implementation of changes to the program.

The Foundation requires employees to be physically present in our offices a minimum of three days per week for full-time employees. This in-office requirement is essential to our organization for a number of key reasons, including that it allows for spontaneous interactions and face-to-face communication, facilitates effective and efficient teamwork and collaboration, and ensures regular access to our office’s various resources. It also helps maintain and strengthen our organization’s culture by allowing employees to regularly engage in a more active way in meetings and interactions, and fosters a sense of belonging and community. In addition, regular in-office work is required for this position because of the high level of interaction and teamwork required to carry out the responsibilities of the role, which include developing a public relations strategy and events to celebrate and honor each laureate and attending key meetings in person.

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• 8-10 years of experience managing collaborative programs, including events in the academic or philanthropic sector. Experience overseeing prize programs preferred.
• Strong administrative skills, including the ability to maintain consistent workflows, problem solve, manage deadlines, and maintain a high level of project organization.
• Demonstrated ability to take direction, to delegate, and to execute.
• Creative thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• A collaborative and collegial orientation toward internal and external constituents.
• Demonstrated people management experience, budgeting and planning skills, and internal team building skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail.
• An ability to build relationships with external stakeholders.
• Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office, event management software, and ability to manage large amounts of electronic data.
• Strong personal interest in the Foundation’s mission and in philanthropic prizes

Benefits

We are committed to caring for our employees and their families through exceptional benefits. We pay for 100% of employee medical, dental and vision premiums, and generously contribute to family premiums. We provide life insurance, short-term disability coverage, and long-term disability coverage at no cost to employees. Note that benefits are provided for part-time team members working more than 20 hours per week; however, premiums vary based on number of hours worked.

We offer a 401(k) retirement savings plan with an employer match and additional discretionary contributions. Paid time off includes generous vacation, sick, and personal days. The Foundation offers a unique donation program, enabling employees the ability to direct a $5,000 donation to a mission-aligned organization of their choice, with no employee donation required.  

Location

The position will be based in the Foundation’s offices, located in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The Director, Templeton Prize may request a hybrid work arrangement in accordance with our hybrid work policy.

West Conshohocken, PA is a short drive (~15 miles) from Philadelphia and there is a nearby commuter train station with service into downtown Philadelphia. The offices are close to residential and commercial districts with multiple restaurants.

To Apply

To learn more about the role, or to apply, please visit templetoncareers.org.