Program Officer, Democracy Rights and Governance

POSITION SUMMARY

Located within the new Just Societies goal area, and reporting to the DRG Director, the Program Officer (PO) will support the development and implementation of the DRG Initiative’s multi-year nonpartisan grantmaking strategy. The PO will execute on all aspects of annual grantmaking for the Initiative portfolio, under the guidance of the DRG Director, including program research, planning and development, project initiation, proposal evaluation, grant administration and monitoring, and post-grant evaluation. The Program Officer role blends subject matter expertise in DRG with exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills as both a key point of contact for DRG grantees and internal partners for related Initiative teams.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grantmaking (70%)

• Working with the Initiative Director, lead the development and implementation of the strategy for one or more portfolios of the Initiative.
• Identify and cultivate new opportunities for investment; research and conduct analyses in areas of strategic priority
• Partner with the DRG team to support all aspects of annual grantmaking – assessing opportunities, evaluating the impact of investments and supporting diverse recipient organizations
• Partner with colleagues across the newly formed Just Societies team, and throughout the Foundation, to support the work of the Packard Foundation’s three main goal areas: to Protect and Restore Our Natural World, to Invest in Families and Communities, and to Build Just Societies
• Provide expert advice and assistance to grantees and peer funders regarding philanthropic strategies, potential grantee and funding partners, trends in the democracy field, results of academic research, and more.
• Clearly and consistently communicate with grant recipients, staff and other partners in a transparent, timely, and respectful manner
• Partner with a grants officer, program associate, consultants and grantees in a highly collaborative environment, to ensure effective grantmaking and operations of the strategy and that deadlines and budgets are met or readjusted as needed
• Manage the grant proposal process and contribute to the shaping of proposals as needed
• Review and resolve legal, financial, and technical issues raised by specific grants and grant reports
• Develop data-driven reviews and summaries, including quarterly Board docket materials, strategy updates, and dashboards, for Foundation leadership and Board members that address key activities, progress, and issues

Field Leadership (30%)

• Organize foundation-sponsored meetings of grantees, partners, and field experts
• Ensure that strategic communications and monitoring and evaluation are fully integrated into the portfolio’s grantmaking strategies; maintain a dynamic learning environment for grantees and staff to understand evaluation data to support strategy modifications over time; synthesize and share lessons
• Collaborate with the Board, Foundation staff, nonprofit representatives, and other key internal and external stakeholders to provide strategic leadership, identify gaps, and develop effective solutions
• Effectively represent the Foundation and the initiative when meeting with current and potential grantees, giving presentations and attending public forums and conferences on topics of relevance, and when interacting with nonprofit, intergovernmental and private sector leaders, elected officials, academics, collaboratives, and journalists
• Provide external leadership in the field through writing, collaboration, and thought leadership
• Engage in cross-cutting Foundation-wide learning and strategy projects to inform the Foundation’s overall work
• Help to achieve the initiative goals through outreach and direct engagement with individuals and organizations – in the NGO, public, and private sectors – to promote change and build strategic partnerships

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree is required for this role.
• An advanced degree in a related or complementary field is preferred.

Experience

• Deep expertise in the core issues of the DRG portfolio gained through a minimum of 7 – 9 years of relevant experience.
• Additional preferred experience would include work: either in or with rural communities; in government at the local, state, or national level; on issues of polarization; with leaders in the business, faith, veterans, or other key communities interested in democratic renewal and/or social cohesion.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A commitment to, and interest in, the Foundation’s vision, mission, and values.
• Track record of success as a results-oriented thought leader and program manager within a philanthropic, nonprofit, organizing, management consulting, academic or government context.
• Innovative, strategic and analytical thinker skilled in understanding and meeting ever-evolving challenges.
• Highly skilled and persuasive communicator with exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Proven ability to build effective partnerships and networks and sustain collaborative relationships at multiple levels both internally and externally
• Self-directed combined with a flexibility and capacity to give and receive feedback graciously
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a team-based and collegial workplace
• Deeply committed to inclusion and creating a workplace that is supportive of difference; experience with diverse teams and success at navigating cross-cultural communication
• Devoted to growing own cultural competence and willing to actively participate in the Foundation’s efforts to integrate justice and equity in all facets of our work
• Administratively self sufficient