Racial Justice Program Officer

David & Lucile Packard Foundation; Los Altos (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation seeks a Program Officer within the Just Societies goal area, reporting to the Director of the Racial Justice Initiative. The role leads a grantmaking portfolio defending and advancing constitutional rights as a core strategy for racial justice, translating theory into actionable funding strategies.

You will build relationships with legal experts, advocates, and community leaders, shaping partnerships to enhance impact across litigation, enforcement, and

Qualifications

• Requires strong knowledge of civil rights law and the 14th Amendment framework.
• Experience translating theory into actionable grantmaking strategies.
• Ability to identify legal strategies that create opportunities for racial justice and shape funding partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead a grantmaking portfolio focused on defending and advancing constitutional and civil rights as a core strategy for racial justice.
• Design and manage a portfolio across litigation, enforcement, community leadership, and public narrative.
• Build relationships with legal experts, advocates, and community leaders; collaborate with funding partners to strengthen impact.

Skills

Civil rights knowledge

14th Amendment framework

Grantmaking strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Juris Doctor or equivalent law/public policy degree

Tools

Grant management systems

Job description

Located within the Just Societies goal area and reporting to the Director of the Racial Justice Initiative, this Program Officer will lead a grantmaking portfolio focused on defending and advancing constitutional and civil rights as a core strategy for racial justice. They need to bring strong knowledge of civil rights, particularly the 14th Amendment framework, and the ability to translate theory, application, and strategy into clear, actionable grantmaking approaches. They will be able to identify which legal strategies create meaningful opportunities to advance racial justice and shape funding partnerships that advance the work.

The Program Officer will design and manage a portfolio that supports work across litigation, enforcement, community leadership, and public narrative. They will build relationships with legal experts, advocates, and community leaders, and collaborate with colleagues and funding partners to strengthen impact.