Strategy Officer, Effective Philanthropy Group, Hewlett Foundation

 About the Foundation

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 our
partners, we 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. 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.

Globally, we make grants to address both longstanding and
emerging challenges like our efforts to advance gender equity and
governance, reimagine the economy and society, and reduce the
growing threat of climate change. Our U.S. efforts prioritize
strengthening democracy, advancing education for all, and
supporting community-led conservation. In the San Francisco Bay
Area we call home, we make grants to support meaningful artistic
experiences in local communities and support regional foundations
working on critical issues such as housing. All of our grantmaking
also invests in advancing racial justice and in strengthening the
effectiveness of our grantees, and of philanthropy itself. The
Hewlett Foundation’s assets are approximately $13 billion with
annual awards of grants totaling more than $550 million. More
information about the Hewlett Foundation is available at: www.hewlett.org 

About the Effective Philanthropy
Group

The Effective Philanthropy Group is designed to work
collaboratively with all program and operational teams on issues of
cross-foundation relevance, providing support in the areas of
strategy, evaluation, organizational effectiveness (OE) and general
philanthropic practice. It is a hybrid team that includes some
grantmaking and some internal strategic functions. The Strategy
Officer reports to the Director of the Effective Philanthropy
Group. The team ethos which guides its work is: shift power,
advance equity, and center people. The team values are equity,
inclusion, joy, openness, and partnership.

About Strategy at the Hewlett
Foundation

Each of the foundation’s programs develop strategies that guide
their grantmaking and other activities based on a four-part
framework that the Hewlett Foundation uses, Outcomes-Focused
Philanthropy that is currently being refreshed. Questions
explored include: (1) long-term goals—what we ultimately hope to
achieve in response to a specific problem; (2) intermediate
goals–; 3) a theory of action—how we hope to achieve our goals;
and (4) ways of evaluating progress, learning, and adapting—how we
will know whether we are advancing toward our goals, why or why
not, and how to course correct as needed. Hewlett’s framework is
deeply and continuously shaped by learning and adaptation, with a
strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice.

The purpose of the Strategy Officer’s role is to:

• In partnership with program staff, inform and strengthen the
  foundation’s strategies and initiatives so they are better equipped
  to achieve their goals.
• Strengthen program staff’s understanding and practice of
  strategy in general and in how it is practiced at the Hewlett
  Foundation, so they are better equipped to carry out their work
  effectively, while learning and adapting all along the way.
• Support the continuous improvement of the foundation’s approach
  to strategy and its overall approach to philanthropic practice to
  be efficient, effective, and highly responsive to program needs
  (and to the needs of grantees and communities, and collaboration
  with other funders).
• Actively contribute to and learn from relevant fields and the
  sector and in partnership with the EPG team.

Specific Responsibilities

• Guide and support individual program team members and program
  teams in various stages of strategy development and implementation,
  adjusting the type, intensity and duration of support based on
  colleagues’ needs. Guidance and support can take a range of forms,
  including serving as a thought partner to program staff by asking
  questions and challenging assumptions; helping design and
  facilitate meetings; reviewing board memos and other strategy
  documents; providing examples and reviewing strategy consultants’
  scopes of work, and developing tools and resources and templates.
  At critical junctures, in partnership with the Evaluation Officer
  and/or a program’s learning and evaluation partner, ensure that
  program learning is discussed and incorporated into
  strategies.

• In partnership with the EPG Director and in alignment with
  guidance from the President, develop, implement, and continuously
  improve the foundation’s approach to philanthropy and strategy,
  incorporating feedback from internal program and administrative
  colleagues and external partners, and teaming with colleagues to
  update content as needed.

• Orient and onboard new program staff on the foundation’s
  approach to strategy and support external strategy consultants who
  work with program staff on the foundation’s overall approach.

• Identify opportunities to share strategy-related experiences
  and insights across program teams and develop and deliver
  trainings, workshops, learning sessions, and tools to help program
  staff continuously improve their work.

• Partner closely with internal and external collaborators:
  • With other EPG team members, especially the Director,
    Evaluation Officer, and Organizational Effectiveness Officer, in
    their support of Hewlett program staff so that EPG’s work with
    teams is cohesive, consistent, and mutually reinforcing.
  • With colleagues in Communications, Learning and Operations
    (GLO), Legal, and the Culture, Race and Equity team.
  • Participate in Program Director Forums (as needed) and Program
    Officer meetings; coordinate with the Organizational Learning
    Officer to design and deliver learning sessions related to strategy
    as needed.
  • With peers across the philanthropic field, by sharing the
    foundation’s approach to strategy—including what we are learning
    and how we are adapting to changing circumstances—to contribute to
    the field’s ongoing learning and improvement.

• Stay current on the field of strategy and various approaches in
  philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, sharing best practices with
  foundation staff and representing Hewlett’s approach to strategy
  externally. This includes but is not limited to reading,
  researching, connecting with peers at other foundations,
  participating in or convening learning and/or practice communities,
  and attending conferences.

• Manage projects within EPG or across foundation programs and
  department, with an orientation of inclusion and timeliness.

Skills and Experience

The Strategy Officer should possess the following professional
qualifications and personal attributes: 

• Deep track record in strategy development, strategy
  implementation, and/or program management within the nonprofit,
  philanthropy and/or strategy consulting fields. Internal or
  external client service experience (including project scoping,
  timeline and project plan development) highly desired.
• Ability to think and act strategically, consistent with the
  foundation’s goal-oriented, flexible and adaptive approach to
  philanthropy; brings strong analytical, project management and
  creative problem-solving skills with demonstrated attention to
  detail.
• Outstanding interpersonal, relationship management and
  facilitation skills. Appreciation for organizations as complex
  dynamic systems. Team player. Ability to work collaboratively with
  diverse individuals and across teams while recognizing that
  partners and stakeholders may have competing priorities and
  availability.
• Demonstrated excellent writing, speaking and facilitation
  skills, able to process complex information and present ideas in a
  pragmatic, compelling manner in a range of settings and
  modalities.
• A deep commitment to the core values and principles of the
  Hewlett Foundation, with a demonstrated individual and collective
  commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and
  justice—particularly racial justice.
• Possesses personal and professional integrity, high quality
  standards, excellent judgment, a learning orientation, flexibility,
  good humor, motivation, modesty, and graciousness.
• Strong computer skills and familiarity with MS Office.

 

Physical Demands/Work Environment

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 the essential
functions.

The position is based in Menlo Park, California. Staff are
working in a hybrid environment and currently expected to work from
the Hewlett Foundation office at least 2-3 times per week (Tuesdays
and Wednesdays are required). While performing the duties of this
position, the employee is required to spend extended periods of
time at a computer. The Foundation requires all staff, vendors, and
visitors accessing the office to be fully vaccinated against
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Compensation and Benefits

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 starts at $180,000 –
$226,000. 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. 

How to Apply

Viewcrest Advisors (www.viewcrestadvisors.com)
is supporting with the Hewlett Foundation on this search. Please
send your resume and cover letter to:

Email:
HewlettStrategyOfficer@viewcrestadvisors.com    
     

Application deadline: June 25, 2024

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.

Viewcrest Advisors is committed to social justice and access to
opportunity, and actively cultivates relationships with
individuals who have varied life experiences as well as the skills
needed to lead strong, innovative programs and organizations. In
addition, the organization is committed to your privacy and to
protecting your personal data; for more information, please visit:
www.viewcrestadvisors.com