Program Research Analyst (Philanthropy Fellow) - U.S. Racial Justice Initiative

About Berkeley

The employer is the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff. The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world’s leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

About the David and Lucile Packard Foundation

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is where the Program Analyst will work. The Packard Foundation was established in 1964. The Foundation has three overarching, interdependent goals to guide its work: Protect and Restore Our Natural World, Invest in Families and Communities, and Build Just Societies.

About the Partnership

The UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business (through the Center for Social Sector Leadership) offers this unique fellowship in philanthropy at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to provide next generation leaders the opportunity to engage with philanthropic and nonprofit leaders and work with a grantmaking team serving diverse issues and populations in the Just Societies program.

The vision for this partnership is to strengthen the future of philanthropy and civil society by providing recent graduates from diverse disciplines and backgrounds a professional-level introduction to philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. The goals of the fellowship are to 1) introduce recent graduates to philanthropy and the role of nonprofits to strengthen their impact in a future career and 2) introduce the Foundation to fresh ideas, new skills, and diverse perspectives. The fellow will join a cohort of five other fellows at the Foundation working on conservation & science, families and communities, reproductive health, civil society and leadership, and democracy and governance. There will be quarterly activities for the cohort of fellows.

The position will support the U.S. Racial Justice initiative’s strategy.

About the U.S. Racial Justice Initiative 

The U.S. Racial Justice Initiative is a core part of the Packard Foundation’s goal to “Build Just Societies,” essential to supporting thriving families, strong communities, and a sustainable natural world.

The Initiative aims to advance solutions that strengthen systems, expand access, and remove barriers to opportunity—particularly for Black people and communities, because when we eliminate obstacles for those most impacted, we drive progress that benefits everyone.The grantmaking of the Initiative focuses on three strategic priorities:  1) Strengthening the leadership and voices of those most affected by injustice in the U.S. South, so they can help shape our collective future;  2) Investing in efforts to defend the constitutional and legal rights guaranteed to all; 3) Catalyzing big ideas that propel us toward a more just and equitable future.   

Together, these efforts contribute to more resilient communities and a nation better aligned with its highest ideals.

About the Role

This role will lead efforts to implement the initiative’s third strategic priority of catalyzing big ideas that propel us toward a more just and equitable future. With a focus on bold thinking and creative approaches, the position will manage grantmaking and partnerships that amplify underrepresented voices, unlock new ways of working, and reimagine systems to build a more just and equitable future. Ideal candidates will bring experience in innovation, racial justice, and cross-sector collaboration, along with a strong equity lens and a willingness to explore unconventional pathways to change. This position will take day-to-day direction from the U.S. Racial Justice Director. The Foundation currently operates on a hybrid schedule, with staff going to the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

While placed at the Packard Foundation and receiving day-to-day supervision from the U.S. Racial Justice Director , the fellow will also enjoy full support from UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business’ Founder and Faculty Director of the Center for Social Sector Leadership. The Berkeley supervisor will provide context for the foundation world, access to resources for fellowship success, and personal coaching and supervision for the fellow. Since the purpose of the fellowship is to develop leaders, the fellowship also includes a professional development budget for the fellow to attend reproductive health and philanthropy conferences, take relevant workshops and seminars, receive professional career coaching, and develop specific skills and knowledge particular to the fellow’s next career goal. More information about present Research Analysts placed at the Packard Foundation is available here: https://haas.berkeley.edu/cssl/programs-events/philanthropy-fellows/.

Primary job responsibilities

• Work with the Foundation’s U.S. Racial Justice Initiative on activities including co-leading strategy implementation for “Catalyze Big Ideas”, identifying and supporting visionary individuals, organizations, and networks advancing racial equity through transformative approaches.

• Manage a learning agenda to assess the impact of investments and identify pre-conditions that help transformative ideas take root and scale.

• Design and manage open calls to surface unconventional, early-stage, or underfunded ideas that have the potential to make transformative change.

• Complete grant summaries and contribute to grant portfolio reviews

• Monitor field trends in racial equity innovation, narrative change, and emerging technologies to inform strategy adaptation and learning. 

• Interact with the Foundation’s staff, build and steward relationships with a diverse range of partners, including artists, academics, technologists, organizers, and funders working at the intersection of racial justice and innovation.

• Engage in both university and foundation professional development opportunities related to the work. Travel to meet with new and existing partners, and attend relevant conferences.

• Provide project management support to the director, including preparation of materials and agendas for program meetings, grantee meetings, and field convenings; participate in grantee meetings and site visits, preparation of meeting summaries, and management of follow-up actions.

Qualifications

• Graduate level education in the social sciences, public policy, business or a related social justice field.

• Minimum of 4 years experience working in a full-time professional position. 

• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and equity, with an interest in innovation, creative problem-solving, and/or systems change.

• Ability to apply insights from the lived and learned experiences of Black people and communities.

• Deeply capable as a strategic thinker and creative problem solver.

• Strong research, analysis, and organizational skills, with the ability to synthesize information and track emerging trends across sectors. 

• Outstanding interpersonal skills, a collaborative mindset and an ability to work effectively with colleagues, grantees, and external partners.

• Demonstrated curiosity, strong initiative, and ability to efficiently manage multiple tasks and projects.

• Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions in evolving situations while showing curiosity, initiative and the capacity to manage multiple projects effectively.

• Willingness to travel.

Education/Training

• Master’s degree in the social sciences, public policy, business or a related social justice field.

Salary & Benefits

This is a 2 year, 100% full-time (40 hrs a week) exempt position, which is paid monthly and eligible for full UC Benefits. Annual salary is commensurate with experience up to $90,000.00. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html