Human Rights Program Director

Unlocking Knowledge, Opportunity, and Possibilities

The Heising-Simons Foundation is a family foundation that works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people. The Human Rights program at the Foundation is focused on two main issue areas: criminal justice reform and immigrant rights in the United States.

The Foundation operates with the following core values:

• Humility: We recognize that we don’t have all the answers, and we seek to be open-minded and responsive as we continually learn.
• Courage: We do not shy away from tough issues. We stand with our grantees and partners and speak out on the issues we care about as a foundation.
• Justice: We believe all people should be treated fairly, with dignity and respect.
• Opportunity: We believe all people deserve the chance to live up to their full potential.
• Sustainability: We commit to long-term progress and solutions.
• Innovation: We believe in creativity and novel approaches driven by curiosity, research, and strategic collaborations. We are willing to take risks on potentially breakthrough initiatives.
• Relationships: We care about the people we work with and support. We seek to build relationships in which our partners will be open with feedback and hold us accountable as much as we do them.
• Integrity: We believe in honesty, transparency, and living up to these values.

The Foundation is seeking a Human Rights Program Director (Director).

The Human Rights program is rooted in a belief in the inherent dignity of all people. In the United States and around the world, too many people are denied full and equal rights and participation in the political, social, and economic institutions that shape their lives.

In its grantmaking, the Foundation works toward achieving a more just world where people are equally valued regardless of gender, race, class, or citizenship. The Foundation feels a sense of urgency to be responsive to human rights abuse and inequity in the United States, particularly around the issue areas of criminal justice reform and immigrant rights. Their grantees serve communities directly and build power to improve lives.

The Director will work with members of the Board and the Human Rights team, which currently consists of two Program Officers and a Program Associate, to establish and implement a creative vision for grantmaking and activities. There is a clear plan for significant growth of both the program budget and team capacity.

The Director will report to the President and CEO, Deanna Gomby, and can be based in Los Altos or San Francisco, CA.

The Director is responsible for the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of Human Rights grantmaking strategies and initiatives, including the development of a strategic plan for the program. They will manage and grow the Human Rights program team and serve as an essential member of the Foundation’s senior leadership team.

Other specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop annual administrative and grants budgets for the Human Rights program area and monitor progress and use of resources.
• Maintain a grantmaking portfolio, including soliciting proposals, conducting site visits, summarizing proposals for review by the Board, and reporting on progress to Foundation management and the Board.
• Regularly report to the Board and the President and CEO on the overall effectiveness of funding in the Human Rights program area.
• Participate in the Foundation’s overall strategic growth as a highly collaborative and supportive member of the senior leadership team.
• Develop and implement activities designed to amplify the effects of Foundation grantmaking (e.g., convenings, communications and dissemination of results, connecting with relevant public and private stakeholders).
• Provide non-financial support to grantees, including advice concerning capacity-building, fund development, projects, and evaluation.
• Forge partnerships and collaborations with partner foundations and other stakeholders.
• Remain abreast of current policy discussions, grassroots activities, trends, and research in the Human Rights field.
• Represent the Foundation, its Human Rights grantmaking, and Human Rights issues to external audiences through speaking, writing, and other opportunities.
• Work with the Foundation’s communications team to broaden the impact of the program.
• Grow, supervise, and manage members of the Human Rights team toward achievement of program area and professional goals.

Strong candidates will offer the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Ideal candidates will offer content knowledge around the issues related to criminal justice reform and immigrant rights, as well as an understanding of the landscape and key players, a relevant network, and facility with evolving thinking and research relevant to these areas. This expertise should be rooted in an understanding of both communities and of policy and law, and the impact of each on the other. While not a prerequisite for the role, strong candidates may also bring experience in philanthropy, particularly with growing high-impact funding programs.

The Director will be driven by a personal and professional mission of social change and will have the ability to serve as a credible, respected, and inspirational voice in the philanthropic and grantee communities. They will have a reputation for a commitment to social justice and equity, as well as a proven ability to think transformationally and design and implement successful, innovative, bold strategies for sustainable and scalable reform.

With a track record of field and people leadership, the Director will be able to build on the existing foundation of the Human Rights program by creating a cohesive strategy for long-term impact and helping the Foundation hone its place and voice in the Human Rights field. Strong candidates will offer 10+ years of experience leading strategies, people, and teams.

The Director will offer exceptional oral and written communications skills, including the ability to be an excellent listener and connect with a wide range of stakeholders. They will have a track record of developing trusting, productive relationships in the field, and will operate with a deep sense of authentic respect for grantees and the individuals they serve.

Molly Brennan of Koya Leadership Partners has been exclusively retained for this search. To express your interest in this role, please submit your materials here. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

The Heising-Simons Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. The Foundation welcomes a diverse pool of applicants and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Foundation policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital or caregiver status, physical disability, mental disability, military service, legally protected medical condition, prior record of arrest or conviction, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified applicants with disabilities may participate in the application process. Please advise, in writing, any special needs at the time of application.