Director of Grantmaking Analytics and Operations (Menlo Park)

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Director of Grantmaking Analytics and Operations

About The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a nonpartisan, private charitable foundation that advances ideas and supports institutions to promote a better world. For more than 50 years, the foundation has supported efforts to advance education for all, preserve the environment, support vibrant performing arts, strengthen Bay Area communities, make the philanthropy sector more effective, and foster gender equity and responsive governance around the world.

Today, it is one of the largest philanthropic institutions in the United States, awarding over $465 million in grants in 2020 to organizations across the globe to help people build better lives. A fourteen-member board of directors provides overall direction for the foundation.

The Hewlett Foundation has approximately 130 employees in programmatic, operational, and investment roles 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 where they can thrive.

About Grantmaking Analytics and Operations

The Grantmaking Analytics and Operations (GAO) team focuses on maximizing the impact and effectiveness of, and learning from, grantmaking at the Hewlett Foundation. The department has a unique vantage point across the organization: it partners with program teams and collaborates closely across administrative functions to facilitate the operational grantmaking process and achieve foundation goals. They also engage across the foundation by leading cross-organization trainings, committees, and initiatives, effectively engaging at all levels in the organization.

From developing tools and processes to implementing systems and advancing best practices through training, the GAO team plays a pivotal role in all grantmaking operations and has a valued voice in all aspects of the foundation’s work. The team designs systems to interact with grantees, manages the grant lifecycle, aggregates information, analyzes data, and shares learning and best practices. Working on every program and on every grant, the GAO team is a critical partner and respected resource in the management and implementation of program strategies, serving as thought partners and catalysts for innovation.

The Hewlett Foundation plays a leading role in the field of grants management. Its model is unique in its approach, uniting grant operations with strong analytical insights and cross-foundation training. The team’s cross foundation view gives it a distinct understanding of the interconnectedness of roles, goals, organizations, systems, and people. The structure allows for alignment of values with grant practices and contributes to greater collaboration and sharing of insights, knowledge, reflection, and learning at all levels of the organization.

The Opportunity

The Director of Grantmaking Analytics and Operations serves as a key organizational leader, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the foundation’s senior staff. This position is both strategic and operational, requiring someone who can translate values into action, support a high-performing team, and bring clarity, structure, and collaboration to complex and evolving organizational work. The role is extremely collaborative and offers the opportunity to stimulate creative and innovative capacity within a mission- and values-driven organization.

As the leader of the GAO department, the Director:

• Ensures the foundation’s operational grantmaking practices and approaches are consistent with the foundation’s goals and values, consider the trends and changes in philanthropy.
• Provides strategic leadership to the Hewlett Foundation’s staff, grantees, and peer organizations and the field at large regarding grantmaking data and operations.
• Is responsible for all operational areas of grants management, maximizing the impact and effectiveness of grantmaking at the foundation.
• Partners closely with IT, Legal, and Finance to support operational needs, including compliance, cash forecasting, and effective systems changes and rollouts.
• Partners closely with program teams to support their grantmaking work.
• Provides a vision for the GAO team and inspires and supports them in their work.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Implementation

• Articulate and align connection between Hewlett values and its practice of philanthropy in grantmaking implementation and process (how we work, what we ask for from grantees, touchpoints with grantees).
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships across the foundation with clear communication, deep listening for operational challenges and a desire to jointly find solutions.
• Continually stay abreast of new developments in philanthropic technologies and best practices, and their applicability to the needs of the foundation.
• Lead planning, evaluation, and improvement efforts for grantmaking systems and technology.
• Represent the foundation externally, gathering and sharing knowledge that will inform foundation and the broader field’s operational grantmaking practices.
• Lead a highly collaborative team of six, fostering a supportive and inclusive team culture grounded in trust, respect, and mutual accountability.
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence and self-awareness, an ability to navigate conflict, and comfort in giving and receiving feedback.
• Model leadership that inspires and empowers the GAO team to collaborate with, and support, their colleagues across the foundation.

Grant Operations, Systems, and Processes

• Ensure operational systems and processes for grants management are effective and support the people using them in service to program and organizational goals, vision, and values.
• Design and manage overall grant workflow and processes, ensuring:
  • Proposal and reporting structures are established and met.
  • Grant agreements are executed properly.
  • Board, finance, legal, and program approval processes use established criteria before execution.
• Create and design frameworks and processes for effective due diligence of grantees and potential grantees in consultation with program staff.
• Develop and manage a framework for grant monitoring and associated data collection.
• Advise and support programs in areas of:
  • Planning (budget, portfolio, workload, timing)
  • Practice (due diligence, application and reporting, monitoring and reporting, grant types/terms, equitable practices).
  • Collection and use of data (data sources, data needs, data quality) for their own learning as well as understanding and advancement of their strategic goals.
• Advise management on grant pacing and other key grantmaking metrics
• Lead short- and long-term planning, including development of annual project and budget plans; monitor pipeline and budget throughout the fiscal year to ensure the appropriate allocation of funds and resources.

Data Insights

• Promote and implement use of information systems and tools to support research, knowledge, and transparency.
• Partner with programs on data sources and data needs within their fields and areas of work.
• Direct the design and use of data systems that support foundation goals for learning and monitoring; ensure systems include the full scope of data collection, storage, analysis, transparency, use, and reporting of grants-based data.
• Remain abreast of and utilize new developments in philanthropic and field-based technologies and best practices to support data and knowledge management.

Organizational Learning

• Promote and create a culture of strategic learning and knowledge sharing regarding grants and grant practices, both internally and externally.
• Lead organization-wide programs and develop curriculum for staff at all levels and experience to engage in continuous learning around the operational grantmaking process.
• Ensure grant data systems support foundation goals for learning and monitoring; strengthen links between knowledge sharing and information systems and tools.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is recognized in the field for their commitment and expertise in grants administration. They are inspired by the reach and impact of the foundation’s work and driven to contribute their skills to a team at the forefront of philanthropic grants management practices. Their systems orientation and high-level understanding of grants processes allow them to improve and enhance tools and processes, develop new solutions, and stay well-informed of new and emerging options. They are knowledgeable regarding best practices, current issues, and trends in the philanthropic sector.

Known as a thought partner and for their collaborative approach, the ideal candidate has an established track record of straightforward, productive relationships grounded in respect for different perspectives and opinions. Working across all levels of the organization and in close partnership with other senior leaders on learning and cross cutting initiatives, the Director needs to bring diplomacy, professionali