Communications Officer - Environmental Focus; WFHF

Posted on November 09, 2020

Chaloner has partnered with the Hewlett Foundation on their search for a Communications Officer.

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation – a nonpartisan, private charitable foundation that advances ideas and supports institutions to promote a better world – is seeking a Communications Officer to join its Communications Department. The Communications Officer works collaboratively with the Communications team, internal partners and clients, and external partners, including grantees and consultants, to contribute to the development and achievement of the foundation’s communications objectives.

This Communications Officer will serve as the primary communications partner for Hewlett’s Environment Program, which represents the foundation’s largest philanthropic commitment, and will take on other internal clients or cross-foundation communications projects, as needed, in order to achieve the foundation’s communications objectives. They will contribute to and, in some cases, manage cross-foundation institutional projects and activities, such as communications trainings, email newsletters, digital content, and events.

As in-house communications adviser to the foundation’s Environment Program, the Communications Officer will develop and execute strategic communications plans, helping amplify the voices of our staff and grantees, advising on media relations, coaching on social media, and managing external contractors. They will also participate in Environment Program strategy conversations relevant to communications and provide advisory counsel on communications-oriented grantmaking, as needed, building relationships with program officers and internal and external partners to advance the foundation’s work.

The ideal candidate is a skilled, mission-driven problem-solver with comfortable developing strategy and rolling up their sleeves to execute tactics; with a strong client orientation and ability to manage projects and external partners; knowledge of issues, voices and narratives in Western conservation and the U.S. and international climate arenas; and a deep belief in in the power of communication to do good in the world.

This position reports to the Director of Communications.

For more than 50 years, the Hewlett Foundation has supported efforts to advance education for all, preserve the environment, improve lives and livelihoods in developing countries, promote the health and economic well-being of women, support vibrant performing arts, strengthen Bay Area communities, and make the philanthropy sector more effective. In addition, we also make grants for special projects and to address other timely problems, such as challenges related to  2020 the foundation established an ongoing program focused on U.S. democracy and announced a new grantmaking commitment focused on racial justice.

The foundation is one of the largest philanthropic institutions in the United States, awarding roughly $400 million in grants in 2019 to organizations across the globe to help people build better lives. Established through the personal generosity of the Hewlett family, the foundation is wholly independent of the Hewlett Packard Company and the Hewlett Packard Company Foundation.

The foundation has approximately 120 employees, in programmatic, operational, and investment roles, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The foundation’s eight-person communications team ensures that we and our grantees use effective communications strategies to advance the fields in which we work and realize the foundation’s charitable goals. Effective communication is an essential tool for powering the ideas and institutions that are the foundation’s primary vehicles for creating positive change in the world.

Among the team’s operating values are openness, authenticity, and empathy, as hallmarks of trustworthy communication; partnership and collaboration, critical for working with our peer funders, nonprofit grantee partners and internal colleagues; a culture of learning, including building and sharing our knowledge; and a commitment to…