Program Associate, Organizational Effectiveness and Directed Grantmaking (DLPF)

Program Associate, Organizational Effectiveness and Directed Grantmaking (DLPF)

About Organizational Effectiveness (OE)

Organizational Effectiveness (OE) amplifies and accelerates Packard Foundation strategies to improve the lives of children, families, and communities, advance reproductive health, and protect and restore our planet. We work collaboratively to identify and develop customized capacity building projects that help our partners learn and adapt, leverage opportunities, and collaborate. OE funding helps leaders, organizations, and networks strengthen their fundamentals so they can focus on achieving their missions. OE invests in current Foundation grantees in areas like strategic and business planning, financial management, board and staff leadership, communications, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. OE also makes grants to strengthen these capacities among groups of leaders and cohorts of organizations, so that nonprofit leaders can share knowledge, learn from their peers, and grow their networks. OE works in close partnership with the Packard Foundation’s program areas in Conservation and Science, Children, Families, and Communities, and Population and Reproductive Health. This position is an opportunity to learn about how capacity strengthening in the nonprofit sector can increase impact. You will work with a team committed to supporting leaders and organizations working to achieve change around the world. The team works collaboratively with each other, Foundation program teams, and other partners. To learn more about the OE Program, please visit the OE webpage on

Key Responsibilities

As a program associate you will report to the program operations manager and will provide support for program officers within Organizational Effectiveness. This position will primarily support grantmaking in the conservation field but may also support the Foundation’s grantmaking in other program areas over time. In this role, your duties will include but not be limited to the following:

Grants Management & Grantee Support

• Process grants through their full lifecycle, including creating, maintaining, and updating electronic grant files according to Foundation legal and financial requirements
• Learn and understand the OE strategy to inform work with grantees; participate in strategy refinement and monitoring, evaluation, & learning as needed
• Work closely with grantees to submit required information and assist grantees with system & guideline support
• Facilitate the development and management of the strategy’s grant & operations budget

Administrative Operations

• Coordinate team calls and team calendaring, as appropriate; schedule & plan logistics of meetings for both internal and external participants
• Participate in and lead meetings to produce collaborative work products & improve processes
• Proactively research, develop, and edit content for correspondence, reports, and meetings

Organizational Partnering & Initiatives

• Maintain positive and productive relationships with a wide range of organizations and individuals, including grantees, partners, and foundation employees
• Coordinate regularly with international advisers & partners to meet program needs
• Work closely and effectively with other program associates within the Foundation
• Participate in, and/or lead cross-foundation initiatives, as appropriate, to achieve Foundation goals
• Pursue ongoing professional development opportunities and participate in Foundation-wide training sessions

Benefits and Compensation

The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with related work experience and education, including a discretionary 15% contribution to a retirement fund. It is full-time and non-exempt. The midpoint of the salary range for this position is $76,000. The position is located in Los Altos in Northern California within a beautiful certified net zero energy and LEED® Platinum building, which is a manifestation of our commitment to preserving the earth’s natural resources. We offer a broad selection of benefits to our staff that commute to Los Altos including Caltrain passes with shuttle service to and from the station and electric car charging stations.

Required Qualifications:

This position requires a college degree or equivalent education and experience and a minimum of three years of related administrative experience. Excellent skills and strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and a willingness to learn and become proficient with systems including Fluxx and Microsoft SharePoint is required. Candidates must be committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the nonprofit sector, with the ability to work with others in a courteous and culturally sensitive manner. Candidates must be consistent and dependable for full-time work and be available to work overtime when occasionally required. In addition, candidates will need to be able to coordinate among different time zones and be available for occasional early morning or evening calls. Please note that there will be occasional travel to conferences and grantee site visits, both domestically and internationally, in this role. Interest in supporting and developing outstanding nonprofit leaders, organizations, and networks is desirable. Experience in the nonprofit sector and experience in grant-making processes either through a foundation or grantee perspective is also a plus, along with knowledge of the cultures and languages of the geographies outside the United States where the Foundation’s Conservation and Science program works (including China, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and/or Chile).