Program Officer, Economy and Society Initiative

The William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation invests in creative thinkers and problem solvers
working to ensure that people, communities, and the planet can
flourish. Together with their partners, they are harnessing
society’s collective capacity to solve our toughest problems — from
the existential threat of climate change to persistent and
pervasive inequities, to attacks on democracy itself. As one of the
largest philanthropic organizations in the United States, Hewlett
promotes constructive dialogue across difference and provides
reliable, responsive, and strategic support to its partners.

A nonpartisan philanthropy, the Hewlett Foundation has made
grants in the U.S. and globally for nearly six decades based on an
approach that emphasizes long-term support, collaboration, and
trust. In 2022, the foundation awarded more than $560 million in
grants, with more than two-thirds of that total awarded as flexible
funding. At any one time, they have nearly 3,000 active grants to
organizations around the world. That includes support to
organizations large and small — from research universities building
public knowledge to grassroots organizations supporting community
advocacy, from Bay Area artists engaging local audiences to African
think tanks developing policy solutions.

The Foundation now seeks a collaborative and
outcomes-driven Program Officer for its Economy and Society
Initiative (ESI). As a key member of the ESI team, this
Program Officer will engage in grantmaking within the initiative’s
strategy, serving as a thought partner with the Director, building
and maintaining strong relationships with grantees, and actively
monitoring progress and engaging in strategic planning for ESI’s
strategy. The Program Officer will also be deeply engaged in
building and nurturing networks of practitioners and funders
working to shape a new economic paradigm.

 

TEAM OVERVIEW

Launched in 2020, the Economy and Society Initiative aims to
move beyond the outmoded intellectual paradigm of neoliberalism and
foster a new common sense about how the economy works and the aims
it should serve. To date, the Hewlett Foundation has committed more
than $100 million to support a range of academic thinkers and
institutions, think tanks, organizing leaders, and other efforts.
In 2024, the Initiative’s annual grantmaking budget is $20 million.
By funding efforts across the ideological spectrum, ESI seeks to
support the development, translation, and transmission of ideas
that could form a new intellectual paradigm for years to come.

The Program Officer role works closely with a dedicated and
dynamic team of colleagues to advance the initiative’s goals,
focusing on grantmaking to support a growing field that is
developing the ideas that can make up a new intellectual paradigm
better suited to address the challenges of the 21st century.
Working in tandem with Hewlett Foundation staff, grantees, and
other partners, the Program Officer will contribute to
field-building efforts among nonprofit organizations and fellow
funders. Additionally, they will monitor progress for purposes of
ongoing strategy development and refinement.

Interested applicants can learn more about the Economy and
Society Initiative here.

 

OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES FOR THE PROGRAM
OFFICER

The Program Officer will report to the Director, Jennifer Harris,
and work collaboratively with members of the ESI team and other
colleagues across the foundation. Specific responsibilities
include:

• Partnering with the ESI team to implement the initiative’s
  strategy, conduct research and evaluation, and engage in
  grantmaking for the initiative’s portfolio.
• Continually learning about and tracking trends and evolutions
  in the field of post-neoliberal economic thought and policy debate
  – in the U.S. and globally – identifying new opportunities for the
  foundation’s grantmaking.
• Establishing and maintaining trust-based, aligned, productive
  relationships with grantees and peer funders.
• Organizing foundation-sponsored meetings of grantees and field
  experts.
• Developing reports and briefing papers that contribute to the
  foundation’s understanding of new approaches, best practices, and
  program issues.
• Representing the foundation at appropriate meetings,
  conferences, and site visits, as well as in all interactions with
  prospective and current grantees.
• Partnering to develop strategy, grantmaking, and evaluation
  plans with the Director, other ESI team members, and Hewlett
  colleagues working across programs, including those in
  Communications, Effective Philanthropy, Finance and Accounting,
  Grantmaking, Learning, and Operations, and Legal.
• Identifying and guiding potential grantees through the
  foundation’s proposal process, including its compliance-related
  procedures and financial controls.
• Overseeing active grants, including tracking grantees’
  progress, responding to financial and programmatic reports, and
  advising on grant renewals.
• Traveling domestically and internationally to attend grantee
  meetings and conferences.

 

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROGRAM OFFICER

The Program Officer will need to be an adept strategist with
exceptional relationship and network building skills, who also has
a strong grasp of the ideas and issues core to the Economy and
Society Initiative’s goals and strategy. The ideal candidate will
exhibit the following skills, values, and competencies:

• Demonstrated commitment to learning and collaboration, working
  in authentic partnership, an unwavering commitment to Hewlett’s
  Guiding Principles, and a passion for improving society.
• Deep interest and work experience in areas broadly relevant to
  the Economy and Society Initiative, including economic policy and
  political economy.
• Relationship orientation, with meaningful experience partnering
  productively across the political and ideological spectrum.
• Persuasive communication skills, with the ability to articulate
  complex themes for multiple audiences/settings (academia, think
  tanks, career, and elected officials, etc.) both orally and in
  writing.
• Strong analytic mindset, with experience researching,
  processing, and organizing complex information in a highly dynamic
  environment. Ability to present ideas in a pragmatic, compelling
  manner while also being rigorous and striving to wrestle
  challenging issues.
• Experience with strategy development, including goal setting,
  initiative development, resource allocation, and implementation
  through project management with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability and comfort with working both autonomously and in
  collaboration with colleagues and partners.
• Excellent time management, project management, and
  organizational skills. Proficient with technology tools and
  applications including MS Office (or similar).
• An undergraduate degree is required, and a relevant advanced
  degree or equivalent professional experience in law, political
  science, economics, policy, or related disciplines is a plus.
• Exceptional personal and professional integrity, judgment, and
  the highest work standards. Someone who brings flexibility, good
  humor, high energy, and humility.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT, REQUIREMENTS, COMPENSATION &
BENEFITS

The Hewlett Foundation has approximately 125 employees in
programmatic, operational, and investment roles. Their employees
are challenged with meaningful work, have the resources for ongoing
professional development and learning, and contribute to a
collegial and engaging environment where they can thrive. They are
committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and encourage
individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

While performing the duties of this position, the Program
Officer is required to spend extended periods of time at a
computer.

The physical demands described are representative of those
that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the
essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may
be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these
essential functions.

The Hewlett Foundation is committed to providing compensation
that is competitive within the philanthropic sector. We offer a
generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base
salary and comprehensive
benefits.

The salary range for this role is $195,000 –
$223,000. Offers are based on the candidate’s years of
experience and our practice of maintaining salary equity within the
foundation. This position is exempt and full-time. Program Officers
of the Hewlett Foundation serve for an eight-year term.

 

LOCATION & TRAVEL

The Program Officer position is based in Menlo Park, CA, and
staff are currently expected to work from the Hewlett Foundation
offices at least 2-3 times per week, when they are not traveling
(Tuesdays and Wednesdays are required in-office days).

Travel will vary, but they should expect to travel up to 25
percent of the time.

 

TO APPLY

To learn more about the William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation please visit: www.hewlett.org

This search is being led by Emily Wexler and Rachel Burgoyne of
NPAG. Candidates may submit
their cover letter, outlining their interest, qualifications, and
commitment to equity and transparency as a central tenet of
effective grantmaking, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.

The William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation embraces the importance of diversity, equity,
and inclusion both internally, in our hiring process and
organizational culture, and externally, in our grantmaking and
related practices. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome
applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and
experiences.