Vice President

About The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation was founded in 1964 by David and Lucile Packard. We work with people and communities to create enduring solutions for just societies and a healthy, resilient natural world. We have worked with thousands of organizations and leaders in the U.S. and worldwide to advance progress in the critical areas of science, ocean and land conservation, climate change, women’s reproductive health and rights, and the well-being of children, families, and communities.

OUR VISION: A just and equitable world where both people and nature flourish.

Our new vision embraces a future where both people and nature flourish in a more just and equitable world. We explicitly acknowledge that the fate of people and the natural environment are inextricably linked. Solutions to the complex challenges we face must account for this interconnectedness.

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

Our new mission takes on the critical work of addressing root causes of the challenges we face and mobilizing people for collective action. In addition to building on approaches that have guided our philanthropy for decades — working in partnership, committing to issues over the long-term, and grounding our work in science, knowledge, and data – we focus on understanding the systems that either accelerate or impede progress. It is only through just and equitable systems that we can find and sustain solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face today.

OUR VALUES: Equity, Integrity, Belief in Individual Leadership, Thinking Big, Respect, and Effectiveness

In addition to clarifying our long-held values, we added equity. We will champion equity by treating people with dignity, honoring a range of ideas and perspectives from those closest to the issues, creating inclusive processes, and funding people who have been historically excluded to spur progress for all.  For more information, including our definitions of key concepts, please visit our website.

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.

Primary Duties and 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.

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 and Benefits

The position is full-time. The salary range for this position based in California is $400,000 USD to $500,000 USD annually. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on various factors, including without limitation individual education, experience, tenure, certification, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation offers excellent benefits for eligible employees. Current benefits include medical (HMO and HDHPs), dental and vision coverage; 15% employer contribution to employee retirement plan; life insurance, disability insurance, vacation, and sick leave; an adoption benefit; fertility benefit; a financial wellness program; health advocacy services, paid time off to volunteer for nonprofit organizations; matching grants for employee contributions to tax exempt organizations; commute assistance; and tuition assistance.