Responsible for providing support to Early Learning through relationship management, strategy monitoring, reviews and updates of internal strategy documents, performance management and tracking milestones related to strategy progress. Responsible for grant-making, providing research and analysis work in support of grant-making and the field; as well as support for strategy development, coordination, communications and advocacy.
All work in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) division is rooted in a commitment to the belief that race, gender and income should not be the determinants of success in life. The Program Officer for Early Learning on the PNW team will be part of a national strategy focused on improving quality in early learning. With special emphasis on students who are disproportionately low income and/or from communities of color, the Early Learning strategy is focused on building high quality public, state-funded Pre-K systems for three and four-year-old children in pre-school settings. Our goal is to assure that gains made in these setting are cost effective and sustained into elementary school.
The role with help to monitor and manage the Early Learning strategies’ programmatic processes through the use research, strategic engagement and practical knowledge of the field. This role will provide support for the overall early learning strategy, as well as grant-level management. This person will help to strengthen our capacity for performance management and continuous improvement; helping us all to ultimately improve our work.
The ideal candidate will have programmatic knowledge and progress monitoring skills. He or she will have strong communication skills. To be successful with our team, this person will need to be solutions-oriented, flexible and a strong team player, skilled collaboration with a diverse set of colleagues and external stakeholders.
- Plans, manages and executes a wide range of activities in support of strategic planning, prospect and develop complex investment opportunity, grant management and external relationship management.
- Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals, provide clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding, including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing grants for review by foundation leadership.
- Consult with grantees to achieve desired impact of grants; conduct site visits when appropriate, provide technical guidance, convene meetings and apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives.
- Mange internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting, and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Prepare and write briefs and synthesize existing literature. Provide written analysis of key topics for foundation management. Fulfill data request from leadership.
- This role is responsible for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field.
- Knowledge of relevant practical early learning and/or education concepts, systems building, strategic planning, development and implementation.
- Experience in designing, managing and executing on-going processes related to tracking progress of strategy, grant portfolios and project management.
- Experience with research methodologies, data mining, visualization and analysis.
- Strong analytical, writing and verbal skills for communicating with a broad and diverse audience.
- Effective as a collaborator in a complex internal and external organization who values receiving and giving feedback for improvement, growth and development.
- Self-initiates ideas and action, works with efficiency and diplomacy, and brings energy and openness.
Education and Experience
- Experience in early education and/or education preferred, as well as experience in strategic organizations aimed at systems-level improvements.