THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, seeks a Fellow to manage its Nuclear Security Initiative, a grantmaking initiative within the Foundation's Special Projects Program.
About the Foundation
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has been making grants since 1967 to help solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. The Foundation concentrates its resources on activities in education, environment, global development, performing arts, philanthropy, and population, and makes grants to support disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
About the Nuclear Security Initiative
After a year and a half of exploratory grantmaking in this area, the Foundation's Board approved in mid-2009, a two-year initiative in nuclear security to seize what it believed to be a unique moment for international nuclear policy reform. The Board may choose to renew its commitment to this initiative in the coming year.
Between 2007 and 2009, the Foundation made a set of grants in this area totaling $7 million with an additional $5 million expected over the next two years. In 2011, the Board of Directors plans to review the progress of the initiative and decide how to proceed thereafter. It is our expectation that, should the Board decide to continue the initiative, the Fellow would continue to lead the work.
About the Fellow Position
The individual hired will report to Paul Brest, president of the Foundation, and will be based in Menlo Park, California. He or she will receive some administrative support from the Special Projects program associate.
As the manager of the Nuclear Security Initiative, the individual will be responsible for managing all aspects of the initiative, including tracking the state of the field, monitoring and evaluating the progress of over two dozen outstanding grants, adjusting overall initiative strategy as external events require, identifying and recommending new and renewal grants to be made in 2010 and 2011, reporting to staff and board members about the overall progress of the initiative, and working with the president in 2011 to develop a plan for next steps for the initiative. The individual will be expected to work in close collaboration with the initiative's Council of Advisors.
The successful candidate should have the following qualifications:
•Demonstrated systematic approach to strategy development and problem solving and a strong desire to support the Foundation's efforts to assess the impact of its grantmaking.
•Exceptional interpersonal skills and a demonstrated capacity to work effectively with others.
•Ability to sensitively and successfully work with a diverse and high-powered set of constituencies across varying ideologies and nationalities.
•Demonstrated non-ideological understanding of international relations and U.S. foreign policy, including relevant political dynamics, preferably with specific knowledge of nuclear weapons, global energy, East Asia, or national security issues.
•Experience working with or within the foundation environment, preferably in a grantmaking capacity.
•Demonstrated record as an entrepreneurial and creative leader.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Planning and Strategy
•Collaborates with the Council of Advisors and Program Director to develop plans for strategic grantmaking that ensure impact in the areas of importance to the Foundation.
•Spends significant time in the field working with grantees, governments, industry, and other funders to identify key gaps where the Foundation can make a significant impact.
•Invites, reviews, and responds to inquiries and proposals in the initiative area. Offers professional advice and field expertise to applicants and grantees.
•Works with grantees to develop and modify strategies to effectively utilize available resources while fulfilling initiative goals.
•Develops briefing papers and program-related reports that contribute to the Foundation's understanding of new approaches, best practices, and initiative issues.
•Organizes advisory committees and ad hoc structures to assist program implementation.
Grantmaking
•Manages over $5 million in outstanding grants to a dozen and a half grantees; assesses progress and responds to financial and programmatic reports. Establishes and maintains effective relationships with current and prospective grantees.
•Ensures that sound financial controls are in place for each grant and that funds are spent wisely and according to grant agreements.
•Manages evaluation of grants and leads Council and Program Director in conducting assessments of program strategy. Develops guidelines for measuring the success of programs and grants.
•Drafts application summaries and discretionary grant requests for triannual grants docket. Writes and edits the docket memorandum.
•Writes and edits an annual budget memorandum recapitulating major successes and failures over the prior year and proposing a strategy and budget for the coming year.
Foundation Support
•Organizes and coordinates Foundation-sponsored meetings of grantees and key field experts.
•Represents the Foundation externally at appropriate meetings, conferences, and site visits.
Qualifications:
•Master's, doctorate, or law degree and a demonstrated record of academic excellence.
•Minimum of 5 years experience in policy analysis and development, or a closely related field; grantmaking experience desirable.
•Track record in leading and managing work without significant supervision and ability to implement work with limited staff support.
•A demonstrated record of success working with the U.S. government and policy community, internationally (namely in Russia, China, and Europe), with foundations, and with industry.
•Demonstrated exceptional analytical skills necessary for evaluating grants and proposals.
•Excellent writing skills and capacity to write complicated documents quickly and well.
•Interest and willingness to travel.
How to Apply
Send a résumé and cover letter to Human Resources:
1.) Email: employment@hewlett.org (include subject line: "[your name]; Fellow, Nuclear Security Initiative")
2.) Fax: 650.234.1985
3.) Mail: Human Resources
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
2121 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is
