California Communities Director

Packard Foundation•Los Altos, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is seeking a California Communities Director to lead a team of eight in implementing the Board-approved California Communities initiative. This role involves managing and inspiring the team, representing the initiative's work to leadership and the Board, and providing strategic direction with a deep understanding of California's public and private sectors. The Director will foster collaboration within the Foundation and with external stakeholders, navigate complex systems, and manage change effectively. The California Communities Initiative (CCI) focuses on supporting partners in six California counties and at a statewide level to promote resilient communities where families thrive, with specific attention to stable housing, access to clean air and water, and trusted local organizations. The role reports to the Vice President for Families and Communities.

Requirements

A minimum of 8-10 years of experience working on issues within California on subject matter closely related to the work of CCI, ideally at both policy and community levels.
Deep knowledge of relevant concepts, trends, and issues including housing, environment, and social determinants of health.
Understanding of and experience working within California public sector, nonprofit and for-profit private sector, state, county and local-level infrastructures and ecosystems.
Demonstrated track record of excellence in leading and managing people, projects, and teams and comfort with matrixed management structures and processes.
Experience using evidence and sound judgment to lead strategy, teams, and develop and maintain effective, productive programmatic partnerships.
Demonstrated people management skills with considerable experience attracting, coaching, developing, evaluating, and retaining professional staff.
Proven managerial talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management.
Skilled communicator with exceptional interpersonal, facilitation, and written and oral communication skills.
Leader deeply committed to inclusion and creating a workplace that is supportive of difference; success at navigating cross-cultural communication and diverse teams.
Independent and decisive leader with clarity of thought, who demonstrates initiative, responsiveness, pragmatism, open-mindedness, and thoughtfulness.
Displays comfort in admitting what they do not know and asking for input.
Diplomatic and respectful approach to problem-solving; demonstrated ability to thrive in a team-based and collegial workplace.
Ability to work in a nonpartisan, productive, and collaborative manner across the ideological spectrum.
Comfortable with ambiguity, a fast pace of work, and risk-taking inherent in a highly dynamic setting; can move start-up projects from concept to completion and adapt as needed based on learning and input from others.
Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and the use of data and evidence for decision making.
Experience in the design and facilitation of meetings and agile internal planning processes.
Meticulous adherence to compliance, due diligence, and cost-effective processes.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (e.g., Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and a willingness to learn and become proficient with Foundation systems.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in a related field, or equivalent education or work experience in non-profits and/or sectors related to CCI.

Responsibilities

Lead a team of eight to implement effective grantmaking within the California Communities initiative.
Inspire and engage the team, build trust, and facilitate thought partnership in support of program goals.
Support the professional growth of all team members and cultivate a positive, productive, innovative, highly collaborative, and feedback-rich team culture.
Represent the team within Leadership and the Board, building alliances within the Foundation, and elevating the work of CCI.
Provide strategic direction with a clear and current understanding of California to effectively navigate the state’s public and private sector, and state, county and local-level infrastructures.
Monitor the changing landscape, trends, and developments to ensure effective deployment of resources.
Build systems that invite and formalize cross-initiative thought partnership, co-funding, and broader collaboration.
Partner with peer initiative Directors and actively participate in the People Manager Cohort and the Goal Leadership Team.
Work closely with the Grants and Data Operations team and General Counsels’ Office to ensure accuracy and adherence to grantmaking policies, procedures, processes and timeline.
Build upon current grantmaking, incorporating input from the President, Trustees, and colleagues across the Foundation.
Build and sustain strategic clarity in the midst of changes in the operating environment.
Anticipate and prepare for changing variables and respond to unexpected challenges.