Our work in K-12 education covers four distinct but related focus areas, including the Networks for School Improvement, Cross-Cutting Solutions, A Healthy Charter Schools Sector, and Big Bets in Education. Through these areas of focus, the K-12 Education Team aims to significantly increase the number of Black, Latinx and low-income students who earn a high school diploma, enroll in a post-secondary institution, and are on-track in their first year to obtain a credential with labor-market value. Using credible and appropriate measurement and evaluation tactics, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) for the Measurement, Learning, and Evaluation (MLE) team will support K-12 investment teams in the planning and execution of measurement and learning efforts to: monitor and test strategy, collect appropriate measurement data, and use those data to drive effective decision-making by grantmakers and leadership.
The ideal candidate is a measurement and learning expert with excellent analytic skills and a performance minded, project management disposition. He or she believes (and understands how) data can be a powerful tool for improving outcomes for students. This individual should also be able to understand and interpret multiple kinds of data and evidence, and more importantly, knows how to motivate and exercise leadership in the use of data with others.
This role will provide measurement and evaluation support across our portfolios that support place-based investments to drive outcomes for Black, Latinx, and low-income students. This role will offer significant support to the Networks for School Improvement (NSI) portfolio serving as a manager and implementer of MLE deliverables among a team of experts supporting the NSI team.
This role is responsible for executing strong strategy-aligned measurement and evaluation work while coordinating multiple and varied stakeholders both internal to the foundation and in the field. Other responsibilities include:
- Measurement and Evaluation: Lead engagement and collaboration with grantees on issues of measurement, evaluation, and use of data in relation to our investments. Create tools and training to help colleagues use data to make decisions to achieve our strategy goals.
- Learning & Evaluation: Scope and execute research and evaluation that contributes to testing and improving critical investment hypotheses
- Grantmaking: Manage contracts and grants focused on improved learning, measurement, and use of data in support of program officers across the strategy as well as in service of the field. Review contract, RFP & grant proposals; provide clear, concise & insightful written analyses & recommendations for funding including drafting & editing proposal summaries, managing complex RFP processes.
- Targeted Support: Coordinate and deliver multiple strands of MLE work across the Networks for School Improvement team working closely with team leadership, program officers, and grantees.
- Engagement with the Field: Provide support and consultation to grantees and other key partners to maximize impact of projects and ensure optimal learning. This may include: site visits, meeting with key stakeholders, shaping reports on key findings and coordinating on dissemination plans.
- MLE Team Leadership: Work with other members of the MLE team to improve the approaches, processes, and tools used to support effective MLE work across the entire strategy, especially as it’s related to how MLE work is effectively executed in place. Mentor colleagues through coaching, technical guidance, and thought partnership
- Represent Our Foundation: This role is responsible for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field.
The ideal candidate will not only be proficient in strategy-aligned measurement and evaluation but will also be an expert in at knowing how to work with people critical to program planning and execution. Application of these skills in large scale change efforts, networks, and continuous improvement efforts is strongly desired. He or she should have equally expert project management skills anchored on strengths in communication and collaboration. To be successful with our team, this person will need to have a strong work ethic, a focus on strong implementation, be solutions-oriented, entrepreneurial, flexible and a strong team player. This individual should be comfortable working in a matrixed environment with multiple, sometimes competing, stakeholders. Other core knowledge and skills includes:
- In-depth knowledge of how to lead the development of strategy-aligned with performance measurement and evaluation plans.
- Expertise in complex project and program management, as well as project management methods
- Expertise in statistics, research and evaluation design and ability to synthesize research and evaluation findings and apply to programmatic strategies.
- Effective as a collaborator with internal and external stakeholders
- Excellent written & oral communications skills effective with a broad & diverse audience.
- Be adept working diplomatically with diverse internal and external audiences who have varying degrees of experience and comfort with using data and managing performance.
Education and Experience
- Experience working in or closely with a school district, state education agency or charter management organization.
- Experience working directly with and/or with practitioners serving Black, Latinx and low-income students is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating measurement and evaluation plan development with programs serving students in schools or districts by facilitating conversations with practitioners, researchers, community organizers, and policy-makers.