Program Assistant

BEAM Circular is unlocking the power of communities to transform waste into opportunity by building a vibrant regional ecosystem for the circular bioeconomy in California’s agricultural heartland. Anchored in the North San Joaquin Valley, we are facilitating collaboration through the BioEconomy, Agriculture, & Manufacturing (BEAM) Initiative to scale the most promising innovations in bioindustrial manufacturing. Our work includes public-private projects and programs in the areas of innovation, access to capital, infrastructure, talent development, and cross-cutting partnerships to advance economic and environmental value for local communities.

We have a dynamic, mission-driven team and are looking for partners to join us who believe in rolling up their sleeves to contribute to a bold vision, who are results-oriented and “get things done” mentality, who lead with curiosity, collaboration, and kindness, and who are dedicated to positive impact for people and the planet.

BEAM Circular is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourages individuals identifying with any race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, and abilities to apply.

Position Summary:  

The Program Assistant plays a key role in advancing BEAM Circular’s mission to build a thriving, inclusive circular bioeconomy in California. This position supports program design, coordination, and delivery across events, partnerships, and initiatives, and works closely with the entire BEAM programs team to ensure smooth execution and meaningful impact. This is an ideal role for someone who is organized, flexible, proactive, and excited about sustainability, community building, and systems change.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities:

• Support the planning and execution of two large-scale annual events, as well as webinars, field trips, and other BEAM Circular–hosted events.
• Support the creation of program materials using Canva and Google Workspace.
• Manage and maintain spreadsheets to support data tracking, organization, and reporting across multiple projects and team needs.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Operations Team, as needed.
• Engage with senior leadership to support the development and refinement of program strategies.
• Support drafting and coordinating CBIO Collaborative communications, including monthly Member News, webinars, announcements, social media posts, and general member communications.
• Track BEAM program delivery (e.g., community events) and support content development for newsletters and other communications.
• Support program documentation, reporting, and follow-up activities, as needed.

• Maintain and update the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to ensure accurate, organized contact records.

General BEAM Circular Team Collaboration:

• May drive on company business. 
• Comply with all BEAM Circular policies and procedures, including but not limited to workplace safety, reporting work-related injuries, Infection Control, and preventing potential safety risks for staff, clients, and others.
• The list of job duties and requirements is not all-inclusive. Management, at its discretion, may assign additional duties.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Detail-oriented, reliable, and proactive.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, team-oriented working style; ability to work effectively across teams and contribute to a positive, supportive work environment.
• Comfortable juggling multiple projects, deadlines, and shifting priorities.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, and discretion, including the ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in Canva and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) to create content, manage information efficiently, and support team collaboration.
• Ability to understand and work with scientific terminology, particularly related to bioeconomy, sustainability, and related technical concepts.
• Ability to develop strong partnerships with diverse stakeholders across industry, government, and education sectors.
• More important than a candidate’s personal education background is a general willingness to learn, ability to absorb scientific and technical material, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex content into accessible information for a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage projects with minimal supervision and strong attention to detail.
• Candidate must be able to attend in-person meetings and events across the North San Joaquin Valley (San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced counties) region.

Education/Experience:

• Education:  Associate or Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Public Administration, Business, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: 1 to 3 years of experience in program coordination, administrative support, operations, or a related role.

Environmental Conditions

• Indoors in a typical office environment, approximately ninety-five percent (95%) of the time.
• Frequent computer use at the workstation for up to eight hours. 
• Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• Ability to frequently move (walk or drive) from one work location to another.

Physical Demands

• Ability to walk, reach, sit, stand, stoop, crouch, and climb stairs.
• Ability to move, carry, push, pull, and lift up to 20 pounds.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard. 
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). 
• Ability to communicate information and ideas in English so others will understand. 
• Must be able to exchange accurate information. 
• Regular and Consistent Attendance

What We Offer: 

• Pay based on experience. The salary range is $26.00 to $32.00 per hour with a 40-hour workweek and a competitive benefits package.
• A collaborative and mission-driven work environment.
• This position is based in Modesto, CA. A hybrid work arrangement is permitted as needed, though office days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.