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. 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 reduce the growing threat of climate change, advance gender equity and governance, and reimagine the economy and society. 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. Our grantmaking also invests in strengthening the effectiveness of our grantees, and of philanthropy itself. The Hewlett Foundation’s assets are approximately $13.9 billion, with annual awards of grants totaling exceeding $600 million in recent years. More information about the Hewlett Foundation is available at: https://hewlett.org/.

The foundation has approximately 130 employees in programmatic, operational, and investment roles, and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Across the organization, our employees are challenged with meaningful work, have the resources for ongoing professional development and learning, and contribute to a collegial and engaging environment. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion as part of our guiding principles and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

The Environment Program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is dedicated to addressing the climate crisis and preserving biodiversity while supporting the well-being of communities across the globe. The program provides grants that advance ambitious climate action and protect the natural ecosystems of the North American West in ways that help the members of all affected communities to flourish. In 2024, the Environment Program awarded 289 grants totaling more than $240.9 million to 180 organizations in support of these goals.

The Program’s grantmaking is guided by two core strategies:

Climate Initiative: The Climate Initiative is a cornerstone of the Hewlett Foundation’s Environment Program, focused on addressing the global climate crisis by supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. The strategy prioritizes key regions—including the United States, China, India, and Europe—that are critical to achieving international climate targets. Future strategies could include expansion to other geographic areas. Grants are awarded to organizations that impact public policy, mobilize climate finance, and drive innovation in clean technologies, with the overarching goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels. The initiative emphasizes collaboration among governments, industries, and civil society to ensure that climate solutions are inclusive, equitable, and grounded in science. It also supports multilateral efforts to foster international cooperation, while investing in region-specific strategies that reflect local opportunities and contexts. By advancing policies that promote clean energy, industry, and sustainable transportation, the program seeks to enhance community well-being, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability on a global scale. Current program strategies prioritize crosscutting initiatives including investments to overcome barriers to electrification, workforce development, critical minerals, and climate finance and ongoing support for communications to bring critical climate information to the global community.
Western Conservation: Since 1969, the Hewlett Foundation has supported efforts to conserve the lands and waters of the North American West, recognizing the region’s ecological, cultural, and economic significance. The Western Conservation strategy is rooted in the belief that long-term environmental solutions are best achieved through inclusive, community-driven approaches that honor diverse perspectives and foster collaboration across differences. Focused on conserving landscapes and waterways that are vital to maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring sustainability for future generations, the program invests in partnerships that uphold Indigenous sovereignty, protect public lands, and ensure sustainable water management in the face of climate change. It engages a wide range of grantee partners—including Tribes, ranchers and landowners, hunters and anglers, conservation advocates, faith leaders, and scientists—through relationships built on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to stewardship. The strategy emphasizes safeguarding ecologically and culturally significant lands, restoring vital ecosystems, and advancing durable policy solutions to promote long-term environmental resilience and equitable access to nature.

Reporting to President Amber Miller, the Program Director will lead Hewlett’s largest program area at a pivotal moment in our world. The next Program Director will collaborate closely with a visionary President, a strong leadership team, and a highly experienced group of programmatic staff to amplify the Environment Program’s impact, ensuring that people, communities, and the planet can thrive. The Program Director will be a strategic and visionary leader with deep expertise in the fields of global climate change and conservation. They will be eager to accelerate the energy transition, bring experience in program evaluation and assessment, and believe strongly in philanthropy’s role in shaping policy and in empowering grantees as a core strategy for impact.

Serving a term of eight years, the Program Director is responsible for managing and directing all program-related activities and grant decisions. The Program Director is a member of the foundation’s senior staff and is responsible for selecting, implementing, and managing goals, strategies, and initiatives to achieve the program’s objectives and the foundation’s institutional goals. This person will be an eager collaborator when appropriate with other program directors and staff throughout the foundation.

The Program Director will provide a comprehensive, forward-looking vision for the Environment portfolio, staying true to Hewlett’s commitment to current strategy areas, while bringing their own expertise, experience, and perspective to bear in shaping future directions.

Reports to:

President

Direct reports:

Environment Program Officers (5)
Environment Senior Administrative Coordinator
Environment Program Operations Manager

Other key relationships:

Environment Program Associates (5)
Embedded Grants, Legal, and Communications Partners
Program Directors
Chief Communications Officer and Senior Adviser to the President
Chief Financial Officer
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Environment Program Legal Partner
Grantees and organizations operating in Environment Program area
Foundations and other funders operating in similar or adjacent fields
Thought leaders and policy makers

KEY OBJECTIVES

Ensure the Environment Program remains true to its guiding principles and strategies, while also driving the development of innovative initiatives to promote its ongoing impact and influence as a leader in addressing climate change globally and in conservation efforts of the western United States.
Champion Hewlett’s mission and the work of its grantees and partners and serve as an authentic and compelling internal and external spokesperson.
Build and sustain a culture of curiosity, candor, integrity, and mutual respect, fostering collaboration and accountability across the program.
Engage substantively with staff in the Environment Program, administrative staff from legal, communications, and grants management who are embedded with the Environment Program, and staff across the foundation’s programmatic areas; identify distinctive ways to create impact through internal partnership and collaboration, providing leadership, counsel, and support for interdisciplinary initiatives.
Proactively develop and identify funding coalitions with a wide range of external partners, expanding the Environment Program’s reach and catalyzing greater impact in the field.
Capitalize on the Environment Program’s strengths, specifically its ability to attract, retain, and develop top talent, creating conditions that allow members of the team to do their best work.
Maintain a strong and successful relationship with Hewlett’s President and serve as a key member of senior staff.
Develop relationships with other senior staff members and work collectively to advance institutional priorities.
Identify, anticipate, and develop strategies and/or programmatic priorities to address changes in the philanthropic sector, as well as the social, political, legal, and economic landscape, which may impact the Environment Program, its strategies, and its priorities in the near or long term.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

At least 20 years of impactful senior-level experience in public policy, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and/or government; a proven record of strong leadership, management, and operational acumen.
Deep experience and subject matter expertise across multiple policy, technology, and institutional issues related to climate change and biodiversity conservation, including at the national and international level.
A demonstrated ability to recruit, manage, and empower internal talent, building a strong team to operate collaboratively and perform at the highest level of leadership, quality, trust, and effectiveness.
Experience serving as an inspiring and authentic leader, communicator, and relationship builder on behalf of an organization or cause; a track record of developing and deploying coalitions for collective action.
Clear and persuasive oral and written communicator to a range of audiences.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategy, manage and align resources, use data, implement plans with fidelity, identify challenges and assess progress, and address gaps to achieve strong results.
Authentic demonstrated commitment to working across differences and ensuring that all team members are valued, and have the opportunity to succeed.
Evidenced success in supporting action and progress within an organization.
Experience or familiarity with philanthropy and the work of foundations and an understanding of how philanthropy can influence actions in policy and practice.
Intellectual agility and the ability to analyze, think critically, and work across geographies and cultures with grantee partners, government, private sector, nonprofit, movement, and community leaders.
Exceptional personal and professional integrity, judgement, and the highest work standards; brings flexibility, good humor, high energy, humility, and an unwavering commitment to Hewlett’s Guiding Principles.
Graduate-level academic degree in a related field.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Strategic Leadership

Provides clear leadership and understanding of the Environment Program’s priorities to contribute to the Foundation’s mission, policies, strategies, operations, and evolving aspirations.
Anticipates future challenges and opportunities; illuminates and builds awareness of emerging priorities consistent with Hewlett’s principles, systems, and approach; and works with the President, senior staff, and other partners to proactively adjust the Environment Program’s direction accordingly.
Balances short-term decision-making, while conveying a long-term vision for how the Environment Program’s strategies can evolve to drive greater impact and results.
Develops strong collaborative relationships with the President and senior staff, ensuring that leadership is aligned to set and achieve the foundation and Environment Program’s priorities.

Collaborating and Influencing

Articulates the Environment Program’s strategies, core purpose, and impact effectively and with passion and serves as an authentic and compelling spokesperson for the foundation.
Effectively provides external leadership and engages in meaningful dialogue on critical program issues as they intersect with the foundation’s work, mission, and goals.
Cultivates and builds relationships with current and potential partners across the sector in the U.S. and internationally that are central to the Environment Program’s strategies, ultimately amplifying the work of the program and elevating Hewlett’s impact.
Maintains impeccable credibility through strong policy acumen, visibility, and ability to create and maintain strong relationships built on trust and transparency with staff, grantees, and partners across the sector.

Inclusive Orientation

Engages and empowers a diverse, motivated, and high-performing team, bringing out each team member’s personal best, while modeling a passion for Hewlett’s mission and the Environment Program’s priorities and delegating leadership as appropriate.
Holds the program area accountable for its commitments, providing clarity, fairness, and constructive feedback, and motivates team members to reach their full potential as they achieve organizational goals.
Builds and sustains a culture in which every member of the team can be supported and empowered in their work. Partners with staff members as they think proactively and boldly about the future.

OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Intellectually curious with a love of learning.
Strong emotional intelligence, integrity, an inclusive team player, and confident enough to listen openly to differing views, empower others, make challenging decisions, and share credit.
Readiness to be a visible representative of the Environment Program and the foundation and its priorities to a wide range of audiences.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Able to fully embrace living and working in the Bay Area.

COMPENSATION

The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $500,000 to $600,000, but the final base salary will be dependent on the individual’s skills, experience, abilities, and qualifications. In addition to the annual salary, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation offers a strong benefits package.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

If you wish to submit application materials or nominate someone to serve as the next Program Director of Environment for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, please email: HewlettENVPD@SpencerStuart.com.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

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 senior staff are currently expected to live in the SF Bay Area and work from the Hewlett Foundation office at least three times per week when not traveling for business. Travel will vary, but the Program Director should expect frequent domestic and international travel (at least 25% of the time). While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to spend extended periods of time at a computer.

This position was originally posted by the Hewlett Foundation and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link below. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.

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