Title: Program Coordinator, Great Apes & Gibbons Program
Location: Cambridge, UK
Compensation: £55,000 - £61,000 GBP
Employment Type: Permanent Full-time
The Arcus Foundation is seeking a Program Coordinator, Great Apes and Gibbons Program, to join our Cambridge, UK office. Reporting to the Director of UK Administration, this role will ensure the smooth functioning of strategic grantmaking, field engagement, and learning and evaluation activities, enabling the team to achieve its mission.
About Arcus Foundation
Founded in 2000, the Arcus Foundation is a private grantmaking institution dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. Arcus' work is based on the belief that respect for diversity among peoples and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet and all its inhabitants. Arcus works with experts and advocates for change to ensure that LGBTQ people and our fellow apes thrive in a world where social and environmental justice are a reality. The Foundation works globally and has offices in New York City and Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The Arcus Foundation staff and Board of Directors are a diverse group, reflecting the diversity inherent in the world the Foundation's work supports. The Foundation works globally to support partners in their pursuit of lasting change. The mission is driven by the vision of Arcus' founder, Jon Stryker, and by a shared dedication to the emergent global human rights and conservation movements.
With a deep commitment to integrity and humility, the leadership and staff of the Arcus Foundation hold one another accountable for implementing the Arcus mission. This includes practicing shared leadership and recognizing, celebrating, and taking collective ownership of Arcus' success. Because a strong work ethic and responsible decision-making should exist at all levels of leadership, the Arcus Foundation applies fact-based decision-making and encourages all staff to proactively 'course-correct,' to efficiently manage resources so that the movements Arcus serves will benefit.
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Position Description
The Program Coordinator is a key member of the Great Apes & Gibbons Program (GGP) team, providing critical administrative and programmatic support. This role ensures the smooth functioning of strategic grantmaking, field engagement, and learning and evaluation activities, enabling the team to achieve its mission.
Reporting to the Director of UK Administration, the Program Coordinator works closely with the entire GGP team and collaborates with other departments across the Foundation.
The GGP program aims to promote the conservation and well-being of great apes and gibbons and focuses on two primary outcomes:
1. Resilient wild populations in Arcus priority landscapes are governed in a sustainable, just, and holistic way.
2. All captive apes in Arcus priority landscapes or in the U.S. live in verified/accredited sanctuaries or zoos.
To achieve these outcomes, the program is guided by three goals:
* Reconciling conservation and human well-being in all priority landscapes.
* Implementing long-term, collaborative strategies to monitor and address emerging threats.
* Promoting cultural respect for the intrinsic value of apes, reducing their exploitation, and improving conservation outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Administrative Support
* Support the implementation of the team's administrative processes, workplans, and workflows.
* Provide general support for office and facilities operations and, when needed, basic HR administrative tasks.
* Manage diaries, organize travel, process expenses, and coordinate internal and external meetings, often with international participants.
* Track invoices, submit payment requests, and support contracting processes for consultants and vendors.
* Create and maintain systems and tools for data management, including grants updates, financial analysis, and annual presentations.
Grantmaking Support
* Maintain accurate data and knowledge management systems, including online filing and a reference library.
* Provide operational support for new grant requests and workflow optimization.
* Potential to manage a small portfolio of introductory grants over time.
* Assist with discrete program-led projects as needed.
Learning and Evaluation Support
* Contribute to monitoring and evaluation activities, including data coding, report preparation, and annual learning reports.
* Assist in planning and executing external events such as convenings, site visits, and learning trips, ensuring alignment with Foundation policies and values.
Qualifications and Competencies
* 5–7 years of administrative experience, ideally with exposure to grantmaking, legal administration, or other complex organizational settings.
* Comfort with numbers, data, and technology, and the ability to perform basic analysis.
* Experience with database management and digital workflows.
* Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to interact with colleagues and partners professionally and with sensitivity.
* Demonstrated teamwork and interpersonal skills, including a sense of humor and a positive, collaborative approach.
* Ability to work independently and take initiative while balancing collaborative responsibilities.
* A high level of integrity, accountability, and attention to detail.
* Cultural awareness and sensitivity, with respect for diverse communities and perspectives.
* Proficiency with standard office technology and a willingness to learn new tools.
Location and Work Authorization
The Program Coordinator position is based out of our Cambridge, UK office. Arcus staff work on a hybrid schedule, with three days in the office (Tuesday–Thursday) and the option to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. The general office hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
On occasion, you may be asked to travel domestically and/or internationally for (site visits, conferences, and/or foundation gatherings and events) approximately <5% of the time.
We are required to verify that all employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Under the UK Government's points-based immigration system, this position does not meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.
Compensation
The Program Coordinator role is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position with an annual salary ranging from £55,000 to £61,000. In addition to salary, Arcus Foundation offers a robust benefits package that includes
* Medical, Vision, and Dental health insurance and a separate cash-back scheme
* Pension scheme with generous employer contribution and matches
* Cycle to Work scheme
How to Apply
At this link, please submit a résumé and a cover letter telling us about what you hope to bring to this role and how your background and experience respond to the desired skills and qualities we seek.
Applications will be accepted through January 6, 2026, to make a hire by March or April 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please email
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The Arcus Foundation is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to complying local equal employment laws in the United Kingdom and all federal and state laws in the United States. The Arcus Foundation prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for employment because of the individual's race or color, religion or creed, immigrant, citizenship or non-citizen status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intersex status, sexual and reproductive health decisions or decision making (of employees or their dependents), disability, marital status, familial status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, preemployment arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Arcus Foundation also considers for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with federal, state, and local law.