Program Director, U.S. Democracy
About The Position
The Program Director for U.S. Democracy will lead the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s U.S. Democracy Program, which supports nonpartisan efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and public trust in an inclusive, durable democracy. The director will oversee all program-related activities and grantmaking, guide the program team, and lead a review of current strategies in response to changing conditions. The role calls for strategic vision, expertise in democratic governance, and a commitment to nonpartisan institutional renewal. The director will work with program officers to shape and implement strategies, collaborate with other program directors and colleagues across the Foundation, and partner with administrative teams to operationalize the program’s work. The position includes advancing the program’s focus on national governing institutions, trustworthy elections, and shared political culture; developing partnerships and funding coalitions; and serving as an internal and external spokesperson. The director will lead and develop staff, maintain a strong relationship with the Foundation’s president, and help advance institutional priorities. This is an eight-year term based in Menlo Park, California, with a hybrid schedule requiring three days in the office per week.
Requirements
- Demonstrated expertise in democracy-related issues, including America’s founding principles, national governing institutions, election integrity, and democratic resilience.
- Ability to engage thoughtfully across ideological perspectives and analyze complex policy environments.
- Ability to articulate a vision, develop and execute strategy, manage and align resources, use data, implement plans, assess progress, and address gaps.
- Ability to adapt to changing external conditions while maintaining a long-term perspective on democratic institutions and the constitutional republic.
- Experience as an inspiring and authentic organizational leader, communicator, and relationship builder.
- Track record of developing and deploying coalitions for collective action.
- Demonstrated ability to recruit, manage, and empower talent and support team members across differences.
- Experience fostering collaboration and advancing organizational action and progress.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and persuasively to varied audiences.
- Experience or familiarity with philanthropy and foundations, including an understanding of philanthropy’s influence on policy and practice.
- Intellectual agility and ability to analyze, think critically, and work across geographies and cultures with grantee partners, government, private-sector, nonprofit, and community leaders.
- Exceptional personal and professional integrity, judgment, and work standards.
- Graduate-level academic degree in a related field.
- Ability to embrace living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Regularly sit for extended periods and travel via various modes of transportation for extended periods.
Responsibilities
- Lead the U.S. Democracy Program and oversee its program-related activities and grantmaking.
- Lead a program review to assess current strategies in light of the changing external environment and recommend updates.
- Work with program officers to shape and implement strategies that advance institutional integrity, civic trust, and democratic resilience.
- Develop innovative initiatives and identify emerging priorities that support the Foundation’s mission and the program’s impact.
- Serve as an authentic and compelling internal and external spokesperson for the Foundation and its grantees and partners.
- Build a culture of curiosity, candor, integrity, mutual respect, collaboration, and accountability across the program and Foundation.
- Engage with program staff and administrative, legal, communications, and grants management colleagues.
- Identify opportunities for internal partnership and lead interdisciplinary initiatives.
- Develop funding coalitions and relationships with external partners to expand the program’s reach and impact.
- Recruit, manage, empower, retain, and develop talent, creating conditions for staff to do their best work.
- Maintain a strong relationship with the president and contribute as a member of the senior team.
- Develop relationships with senior staff and work collectively to advance institutional priorities.
- Anticipate changes in philanthropy and the social, political, legal, and economic landscape and develop strategies or priorities in response.
- Represent the program and Foundation to audiences across sectors and engage in dialogue on critical program issues.
- Cultivate relationships with grantees, funders, policymakers, thought leaders, and other partners.
- Hold the program accountable for its commitments, provide constructive feedback, and support team members’ development.
Benefits
- Housing stipend of $3,125 per month.
- 403(b) contribution of 7%, plus an additional 2:1 match of up to 8%, for a stated total contribution of 15%.
- Comprehensive benefits package.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
