Over the next five years, our vision is that all students graduate from high school with the knowledge, skills and agency needed to succeed in a postsecondary experience, obtain gainful employment and function as citizens in a democratic society. We propose to support this vision by increasing the number of Black, Latino, and low-income students who (a) earn a high school diploma, (b) enroll in a postsecondary institution, and (c) are on track in their first year to attain a high-quality credential.
We are currently seeking an exceptional Associate Program Officer (APO) to support the Networks for School Improvement (NSI) strategy with the K-12, Place Based Delivery team. The APO will be responsible for utilizing research, data analysis and project management to support the NSI Request for Proposal (RFP), and the NSI Community of Practice, as well as other work meant to further the goals of the PBD team. The (APO) will report to the Deputy Director (DD) and support Senior Program Officers (SPOs) and Program Officers (POs) as follows:
- Support the Networks for School Improvement (NSI) RFI and RFP processes with a specific focus on data analysis, process creation/execution and coordinating IT work associated with RFP design and learning. Provide specific support to the Senior Program Officer leading the RFP work as needed
- Strengthen the NSI Community of Practice in general with project management support as needed.
- Assist with the management of a portfolio of grants including: support grantees through managing, monitoring and evaluation components, support internal processes including: pipeline development, portfolio progress, documentation, budget information and reporting.
- Facilitate, coordinate and manage a range of projects and activities related to evaluating, developing, preparing, and monitoring specific grants, and/or other Place Based Delivery team activities.
- Help design and implement processes and systems, which will feed data and analysis from grants and research back into key strategy and portfolio management decisions.
- Provide ongoing research, background information and analytical support for program management including: drafting new proposals, scheduling and conducting interviews, scheduling meetings, developing and coordinating surveys and writing briefs and literature reviews. Analyze dynamics of networks of schools, districts, and intermediaries to identify needs, opportunities and trends.
- Capture data coming in from grants, contracts and partners. Analyze data in excel and other programs. Use data to interrogate team hypotheses and support better decision making.
- Effectively project manage key meetings and external events from initial design to follow-up actions, keeping stakeholders informed of progress as appropriate.
- Participate in meetings, coordinate programmatic input and write and review briefs to prepare Foundation Leadership for high-profile events.
- Draft sections of key documents, reports and presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences, summarizing developments and recommendations for program areas and external partners.
- Lead special projects as needed. Work with a small number of grants under the guidance of senior program staff.
- This role is responsible for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field including senior-level individuals.
We are looking for people who enjoy the opportunity of working on complex problems and collectively creating solutions that have the potential for transformative change. You must be prepared to work with flexibility, efficiency and diplomacy in an exciting, challenging environment. The responsibilities of this role require that you should have some demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: continuous improvement, instructional tools, teacher practice/pedagogy, teacher professional development, human capital management systems, education policy, education research and evaluation. Additionally, we seek a candidate with:
- Strong background in data analysis, statistical analysis skills and effective written and verbal communication.
- Creative, broad knowledge and out-of-the-box thinking. Able to maintain positive grantee, partner and stakeholder relationships during challenging times.
- Ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative to solve unstructured problems with little oversight.
- Growth mindset and ability to adapt in a dynamic and feedback-rich environment.
- Ability to think strategically and wrestle with complex and multi-dimensional problems while working with critical stakeholders.
- Strong writing and proofing skills and able to track and manage projects and grants.
- High-degree of organization able to work efficiently, managing multiple priorities and tight timelines.
- Ability to work with efficiency, diplomacy, discretion and integrity.
Education and Experience
- Experience working in or closely with a school district, state education agency or charter management organization is preferred.