Packard Foundation History

David and Lucile Packard were philanthropists long before they helped transform a small electronics shop in their garage into one of the world’s leading technology companies, Hewlett-Packard. They formalized their passion for philanthropy in 1964 when they established the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

David and Lucile intentionally did not write down a vision for the future of the Foundation. They believed that no one could foresee what the future would look like and wanted the Foundation to be able to evolve and adapt to the challenges of an ever-changing world. 

David and Lucile’s children and grandchildren have taken an active role in the work of the Foundation, alongside general trustees and professional staff, and continue the important work that David and Lucile started.

Packard Foundation Today

Today, the values of the Foundation deeply reflect the history and philosophy of the Packard family’s approach to philanthropy and continue to guide the Foundation and its vision for a just and equitable world where both people and nature flourish.

Our three overarching, interdependent goals guide the Foundation’s work to accomplish our mission and vision.

• Build just societies

We support a strong civil society and inclusive institutions and governance to build just and equitable societies for all people.

• Protect and restore our natural world

We champion bold climate solutions, an ocean that sustains us, and scientific innovation and discovery to secure the health and future of people and planet.

• Invest in families and communities

We prioritize the importance of children having a healthy start and promoting resilient and vibrant communities where children and families thrive, so they have the power to shape their lives.

Our Vision:

A just and equitable world where both people and nature flourish.

Our Mission:

We work with people and communities to create enduring solutions for just societies and a healthy, resilient natural world.

Our Values:

Equity, Integrity, Belief in Individual Leadership, Thinking Big, Respect, and Effectiveness.

The Opportunity

Vice President, Environment & Science, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Location:

Los Altos, CA

Due to our Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work onsite Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and twice per year during our Hometown Weeks typically scheduled in the spring and fall.

“In our ever-changing world, the wellbeing of people and nature are intricately entwined. Just as individual threads come together to form a strong fabric, people and communities unite to achieve enduring solutions.”

- Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO

Reporting Relationship:

Nancy Lindborg, President and Chief Executive Officer

Website:

https://www.packard.org/

Purpose of the Position

Environment and Science Overview

In a role that embodies the forefront of transformative action, the Vice President, Environment and Science will represent and support a portfolio of initiatives aimed at advancing enduring solutions, including nature-based solutions, to protect and restore the natural world for nature and people. This impactful position operates through an integrated, cross-sectional approach in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, vision, and values.

The Vice President will oversee three existing initiatives (Global Climate, Climate Innovation, and Ocean) as well as our support for the Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).

This role manages and mentors Directors for the Global Climate and Ocean Initiatives.

Global Climate Initiative

The Foundation partners with funders and civil society organizations in the Forests, People, Climate collaborative to mobilize resources to end tropical deforestation and

promote just and sustainable development.

Innovations in Climate Solutions Initiative

The Foundation supports innovative climate leaders around the world to design their own bold strategies to address climate change.

Ocean Initiative

The Foundation centers the needs and rights of ocean-reliant communities to protect and restore ocean habitats, achieve equitable and sustainable fisheries, end illegal fishing, and harness ocean-based climate solutions.

With an estimated grantmaking budget of $180 million, which includes institutional support of MBARI and the Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering, the Vice President will primarily focus on: people/team management, grantmaking strategy, evaluation and learning, and field leadership.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this role will work closely with the leaders of two other Goals, Just Societies and Families and Communities.

Together, this team – along with the CEO and the rest of the Foundation’s Executive Team – will ensure a collaborative and effective approach to grantmaking across the Foundation.

Key Responsibilities

The Vice President, Environment and Science is responsible and accountable for:

Organizational Leadership & Management

• Serve as a member of the Foundation's Executive Team, responsible for developing and upholding institutional policies, providing input into a broad range of cross-Foundation decision making and practices and representing Environment and Science strategies and impact to Trustees.

• Collaborate with senior leaders to execute on the Foundation’s strategic direction with an eye to its mission, vision, and values. Specifically, partner closely with fellow Vice Presidents of Just Societies and Families and Communities to drive collaboration, generate new ideas, and support the strategic direction of the Foundation.

• Attract, develop, coach, and retain high-performing team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, quality and innovation of strategies, and performance.

• Provide leadership in development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff as the organization evolves and embraces a “One Foundation” approach.

• Cultivate a climate of diversity, equity, inclusion, innovation, and collaboration within the team and across the Foundation.

Grantmaking Strategy, Evaluation, and Learning

• Oversee future strategy evolution and development and grantmaking for Environment and Science, including review of grantmaking decisions by Goal Initiatives and approval of grants per the Foundation’s guidelines.

• In partnership with the Evaluation and Learning team and Initiative Directors, develop a knowledge management approach that ensures maximum sharing of information and learning throughout the organization; create an environment whereby the Foundation is known as a best-in-class learning organization.

• Work collaboratively with the Executive and Grants Management teams and Initiative Directors to integrate cross-Goal and Initiative activities and functions.

Field Leadership

• Effectively represent the Foundation and Environment and Science to promote change with inspiring energy and expertise with nonprofit, government, and private sector leaders, academics, collaboratives, and journalists.

• Provide external leadership in the field through writing/publications, events and convenings, collaboration, and thought leadership.

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

The successful candidate will be both a visionary and a strategic thinker with a proactive communications style and experience managing a dedicated and engaged team. They will have exceptional acumen and global credibility in the fields of climate, science, and ocean. Additional skills and qualifications include:

Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of experience in work on environment and science is required for this role.

• Expertise in building, implementing, and evaluating strategies for impact, and achieving objectives of climate mitigation, ocean conservation, sustainable development, and scientific research.

• Experience in navigating complex international landscapes, demonstrating the ability to effectively engage with diverse partners across global contexts, is essential for this role.

• Significant people/team management experience, including management of multidisciplinary teams of persons from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Authentic commitment to and passion for the Foundation’s mission, vision, values; possesses a nuanced understanding of how the Foundation’s goals are interconnected and how they connect to the Foundation’s mission, vision, and value.

• Ability to work globally in a nonpartisan and collaborative manner across the ideological spectrum.

• Ability to make complex, multidimensional decisions in a mission-driven, strategic organizational environment. Experience working productively across teams in a complex, matrixed environment.

• Successful leadership in an organization of relevant size, complexity, and stature.

• Ability to motivate and inspire a team and colleagues to achieve ambitious goals.

• Proven ability to recruit, develop, manage, and retain a team of high-performing individual contributors and managers from diverse backgrounds.

• Highly skilled communicator with exceptional interpersonal, facilitation, and written and oral communication skills; a persuasive, credible, and polished communicator.

• Devoted to growing cultural competence and willing to actively participate in the Foundation's efforts to integrate equity and justice in all facets of the work. A track record of upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion as values within the organization.

• Organizationally savvy; practiced at building, navigating, and influencing relationships at all levels of the organization, with the board of trustees, and with external partners.

• Deeply knowledgeable and understanding of the Foundation's newly approved Global Climate and Ocean initiatives, including experience advancing community-centered strategies, systems change, and work spanning multiple geographic scales. Highly organized and ability to wear multiple hats in a complex environment; a driving force who manages toward clarity and solutions.

• A successful track record in setting priorities, shaping strategies and policies, guiding investment in people and systems to create a stronger and more efficient organization.

• Ability to travel internationally is a fundamental component of this role, necessitating the ability to effectively manage and thrive in diverse cultural and geographic environments.

• And someone who can bring levity and humor to our work environment.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree is required for this role. An advanced degree in a related field is preferred (master’s degree or above in applicable discipline) or equivalent education and work experience.

Compensation

• The salary range for this position is $400,000-$500,000. The compensation range represents a good faith estimate of what the organization will pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate and available market information at the time of hire.

• A relocation package will also be provided if needed.

To Apply

• Please send your cover letter and resume or candidate recommendations to Packard_Foundation_VP@KornFerry.com.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.