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Democracy, Rights & Governance Director
Posted on Oct 21, 2026
ABOUT THE DAVID AND LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION Founded in 1964 by David and Lucile Packard, the Packard Foundation is a family philanthropy dedicated to supporting leaders and organizations around the world working to invest in children and families, protect and restore the natural world, and create just and inclusive societies. For more than six decades, the Foundation has advanced scientific innovation, championed reproductive health and rights, conserved and restored our natural world, and invested in the well-being of children and families. To achieve lasting change, we also strive to address root causes of longstanding problems, including building a thriving, resilient U.S. democracy; advancing racial justice in the United States and gender equity globally; and supporting a strong civil society around the globe. Inclusive collaboration is the heart of our approach. We believe that actively listening to and learning from people with a wide range of views is the best way to create solutions that match the scale and urgency of the challenges we face. We are dedicated to supporting community-based solutions shaped by the knowledge and experience of the people whose lives are most affected and informed by data. We recognize that meaningful solutions require patience, urgency, and supporting the conditions for transformational change. We are committed to addressing complex issues over the long term while making tangible progress today. 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. DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW The Democracy, Rights, and Governance (DRG) initiative advances a thriving, resilient democracy that meets the needs of a politically, racially, and religiously diverse America. The strategy supports a broad portfolio of grantees and partners working to address the root causes of strain within the current democratic system and to build a more representative democracy that can effectively serve all Americans, both now and in the future. The Initiative has three key focus areas, including: strengthening civic culture; improving the federal government's ability to respond to people's needs and solve complex societal challenges; and developing a long-term, optimistic vision for democracy in a rapidly changing world. POSITION SUMMARY Reporting to the Vice President, Just Societies, the Democracy, Rights, and Governance Initiative Director is responsible for strategy development and implementation of a grantmaking initiative that supports partners working to advance a thriving, resilient democracy that meets the needs of a politically, racially, and religiously diverse America. The DRG strategy supports a diverse set of grantees and partners to address the underlying causes of the strains in our current system, to create a representative democracy capable of meeting the needs of all Americans today, and for generations to come. This includes work to improve civic culture and support the ability of the federal government to effectively meet people’s needs and solve today’s problems. It also includes work to develop a long-term, positive vision for democracy in the face of a rapidly changing world. In addition, the Director is responsible for leadership of a grantmaking team consisting of a Program Officer and a Program Associate. Additionally, the Initiative Director will partner with the Grants Officer (GO) to oversee the Program Associate’s grantmaking via a dotted line reporting relationship. The GO will provide expert guidance and oversight on grantmaking processes and quality of work; they are responsible for ensuring that Program Associates are informed, supported, and complete grants in line with our policies and practices. PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Develop Oversee Initiative Evaluate the changing landscape, trends, and developments to ensure that the Foundation is selecting objectives and deploying resources as effectively as possible to achieve initiative goals Build upon current grantmaking and incorporate input from the President, Trustees, and colleagues across the Foundation; responsible for developing and implementing the initiative Ensure that the strategy and portfolio align with the Foundation’s vision, mission, values, and theory of change Provide written and verbal communication to the President, Trustees, and other stakeholders regarding initiative, learning and evolution, and progress against goals Grantmaking Grantee Partnership Management Oversee the development and implementation of grantmaking in alignment with the Foundation's values and the initiative’s strategy Oversee the operations and grant budget for the initiative Build and manage portfolio(s) of grantee partners; develop and steward trusting relationships with grantee partners and provide support through the proposal development process as needed In cooperation with the Evaluation and Learning Officer, set evaluation and learning goals for the initiative; collect and ensure quality and accuracy of data, regularly reflect on the results, and make changes as appropriate Field Leadership Effectively represent the Foundation and the initiative to nonprofit, intergovernmental, and private sector leaders, elected officials, academics, collaboratives, and journalists Provide external leadership in the field through writing, collaboration, and thought leadership 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 to build strategic partnerships People Management Team Leadership Hire, onboard, manage, coach, and develop direct reports based within the initiative; responsible for performance management and compensation decisions, ensuring that each direct report understands their learning and career trajectory at the Foundation Cultivate a positive, productive, innovative, highly collaborative, and feedback-rich team culture Partner with peer Initiative Directors to sponsor and support the ongoing development of the Program Associate cohort Actively participate in Foundation’s People Manager Cohort, designed to train and support managers and create a space to share management best practices Partner with the Grants Management Director and team to ensure accuracy and adherence to grantmaking policies, procedures, processes, and timelines In partnership with Grants Management Director, ensure productive and effective dotted line relationship between Program Associates and Grants Officers Serve as a member of the goal leadership team, with the Vice President, partnering on decisions, priorities, plans, and problem solving for the team