Program Director, Democracy (HJF)

About the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund (HJF) works to advance equality and justice so every person can thrive and live life with dignity and hope. Rooted in the Bay Area, the Haas, Jr. Fund is guided by an enduring set of core values.

• Inclusion: HJF celebrates the rich differences in human identity and embraces the perspectives of all people.
• Respect: The Haas, Jr. Fund is guided by the wisdom and voices of people and communities working for change.
• Collaboration: HJF believes in the transformative power of working together to advance a shared vision.
• Courage: The Haas, Jr. Fund takes a stand to make a deep and lasting difference on urgent social issues.

HJF focuses on a set of issues it believes are at the core of advancing equality and opportunity in California and the broader society: Democracy, College Success, Immigrant Rights, and LGBT Equality.

The Haas, Jr. Fund has a full-time staff of about 20 professionals and assets of approximately $450 million. Located in downtown San Francisco, it has awarded over $600 million in grants since its founding in 1953. For more information, visit us online at haasjr.org.

The Opportunity

The Program Director for Democracy will lead the Haas, Jr. Fund’s efforts to advance fair and representative democracy through increasing civic engagement of historically marginalized populations and removing structural barriers to ensure every person has an equal opportunity to positively shape the future of California and the nation.

Democracy in the U.S., California, and locally is at a crossroads due to a range of issues, including consistently low civic participation and voter suppression; outsized influence of special interests and dark money; persistent barriers to achieving representative leadership; and rampant misinformation. The Haas, Jr. Fund is seeking a Program Director who can work creatively to respond to challenges and capitalize on opportunities in partnership with civic advocates, community leaders, and other partners to advance fair and inclusive civic values and policies.

The Program Director will have an opportunity to build on the Haas, Jr. Fund’s past accomplishments to implement a bold vision for a new program. This unique opportunity is suited for an ambitious leader who is willing to take risks, exhibits strategic agility, and thrives by continually learning from successes and setbacks.

The Program Director for Democracy reports to the Vice President of Programs and is responsible for:

Strategic Grantmaking and Partnership

• Providing strategic partnership and supporting efforts to achieve a fair and representative democracy at local, state, and national levels;
• Directing the development and implementation of the Fund’s democracy program priorities;
• Playing an influential role beyond grantmaking by providing grantee partners with strategic advising and resource connections;
• Collaborating with foundations and partners to develop initiatives and leverage resources;
• Preparing grant and strategy recommendations for the Board of Directors and other stakeholders;
• Managing the democracy program grants portfolio, including due diligence, financial reviews, and evaluation;
• Providing mentorship to staff assigned to support the Fund’s democracy program.

Field Knowledge and External Relations

• A high level of knowledge about U.S. and California’s democracy field;
• Understanding of the ecosystem of democracy influencers;
• Providing an active leadership role in fundraising;
• Participating in the philanthropic sector to advance the program strategy;
• Helping deepen partnerships with public, nonprofit, and other sectors.

Candidate Profile

The Haas, Jr. Fund seeks an accomplished and visionary leader who is passionate about having an impact and committed to justice and equity. The ideal candidate will have:

Strategic Initiative and Policy & Advocacy Experience

A demonstrated track record of success moving strategic policy or project initiatives from vision to impact, with direct experience in issue-focused movements.

Relationship Building and Communication Skills

Excellent writing skills, strong research and analytical skills, and a track record of building good working relationships.

Passion for the Mission and Values

A deep commitment to advancing equality and justice for all, while effectively representing the Haas family and the Fund.

Excellent Judgment

Maturity and sound judgment required to act thoughtfully and lead effectively.

Connections to, and an understanding of, the Bay Area and California is desirable. Fluency in a second language and experience living, studying, working, or volunteering abroad is also desirable.

The salary range for this position is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Haas, Jr. Fund offers an excellent benefits package.

To Apply

Koya Leadership Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. To express your interest in this role please visit this link or email HaasJr@koyapartners.com. All nominations, inquiries, and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

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