Senior Program Officer at Chamberlin Education Foundation

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION  

Chamberlin Education Foundation (CEF) was founded to address systemic educational inequities and advance academic excellence for students in West Contra Costa public schools. Our mission is to support educators and community partners in creating equitable and inspiring outcomes for every student, particularly Black, Latinx, and historically under-resourced students. CEF has three grantmaking priority areas, all intended to improve TK-5 math and literacy outcomes across West Contra Costa public schools: School Partnerships, Talent Pipelines, and Informed Community Leadership.

We envision a public school ecosystem that values student intellect and identity, promotes enriching and engaging opportunities, and fosters collaboration among schools to amplify student success. Guided by principles of academic excellence, collaboration, racial justice in education, and continuous learning, CEF works to elevate students, educators, and communities.  

ABOUT THE ROLE  

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will play a key role in advancing Chamberlin Education Foundation's (CEF) grant strategy, directly managing a portfolio of CEF’s current grantees. The SPO will serve as a capacity builder and collaborative partner to the grantees in their portfolio, leveraging professional expertise and access to research to strengthen grantee impact and organizational effectiveness. The SPO will collaborate with CEF’s leadership team to refine due diligence processes, ensure alignment with CEF’s values, and contribute to driving overall organizational impact. This role requires a strategic and highly detail-oriented thinker, with expertise and experience in K-12 education, strong project management skills, and a demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships across diverse stakeholders.

The SPO will oversee grant evaluation strategy for two out of three of CEF’s grant categories, Talent Pipelines and Informed Community Leadership. The SPO’s responsibilities will include traditional grantmaking duties, including relationship management, due diligence, proposal and report review, and the design and execution of a grant allocation strategy that aligns with CEF’s strategic goals and organizational metrics. In addition, the SPO will have an active and present role in the West Contra Costa community, serving as a convener and connector with grantees and community partners. This body of work is intended to support the broader educational ecosystem with an emphasis on listening to community needs, bridging efforts across organizations, and identifying strategic opportunities that improve conditions for learning and accelerate academic momentum. 

The SPO will report to the VP of Programs and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and execution of grants. In addition, they will take the lead on CEF’s communications efforts related to grantmaking and community leadership, working closely with our staff writer to share stories of impact through our monthly newsletter and social media channels, ensuring our work and the voices of our grantees are elevated and connected to our broader mission.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Grant Capacity Building & Relationship Management

• Serve primary relationship manager for a portfolio of current CEF grantees, stewarding them through renewal processes.
• Build and maintain close, authentic relationships with grantee leadership and staff to ensure high levels of trust, partnership, and collaboration.
• Support grantee capacity-building by sharing data and information, connecting grantees to external resources, and strengthening their operations.
• Act as a connector across grantees, community partners, and advocacy efforts, fostering alignment and amplifying collective impact through shared learning and coordinated efforts.
• Convene grantees for shared learning and networking, promoting a supportive ecosystem.
• Partner with CEF Director of School Partnerships to assist Talent Pipeline grantees with recruitment and retention, including marketing of application timelines, 1:1 recruitment support, and participant engagement.

Grant Strategy & Evaluation

• Develop overall strategy, goals, and measurable outcomes for CEF’s Talent Pipeline and Informed Community Leadership grant categories.
• Establish evaluation criteria and develop associated due diligence processes intended to measure the effectiveness of grantees in alignment with CEF’s strategic priorities. Create and implement a system to evaluate grantee effectiveness in driving toward CEF’s organizational goals and measurable outcomes.
• Surface and integrate community-driven insights and on-the-ground realities into grant strategies by actively collaborating with grantees, partners, and stakeholders to identify emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities that strengthen conditions for learning and build system-wide momentum.
• Participate in site visits and fieldwork to assess the impact of grants and to gather data for continuous improvement of grant strategies.

Impact Communications 

• Take the lead on CEF’s communication efforts by partnering with our staff writer to shape storytelling strategy that elevates grantee and school partner success and showcases their alignment with CEF’s mission.
• Collaborate with grantee partners to identify and spotlight stories of impact, ensuring their voices and experiences are authentically represented across CEF’s newsletters, social media, and other communication channels.
• Work with grantees to amplify their work within the West Contra Costa community by supporting marketing efforts, promoting program offerings, and connecting them to relevant audiences and stakeholders. 

Grant Renewals and CEF Board Engagement

• Plan, prepare, and facilitate all Grants Committee meetings. Note: Grants Committee is a subset of the CEF Board; currently 3 board members are on the Grants Committee.
• Create and implement a project management system to ensure that all grant proposal renewals and reports have been sufficiently prepared and completed for quarterly Grant Committee meetings.
• In partnership with CEF leadership team, determine renewal funding allocations according to grant evaluation results and CEF’s organizational strategy and goals.
• Prepare written briefings and other presentational materials to CEF Board to establish a compelling and persuasive case for renewals of grantees according to staff allocation recommendations.
• Partner with CEF Grants and Operations Manager to ensure grants are distributed effectively and all grant organization and database systems are up to date.

Additional Organizational Leadership

• Serve as CEF’s expert on K-12 grantmaking, staying current on trends and best practices. Learn from the field, including understanding and adopting best practices around grant due diligence and evaluation.
• Participate in funder convenings and professional networks, bringing insights to inform CEF’s strategy and enhance thought leadership.
• Establish and strengthen relationships with other funders who share CEF’s geographic and/or K-12 focus, creating opportunities for shared funding to deepen or amplify impact.
• Take a “roll-up-your-sleeves” approach to support any and all aspects of the foundation’s work.  

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH  

Internal  

• CEF Staff Team: Collaborate on strategy, grantmaking, and organizational priorities.
• CEF Grants Committee: Interact with Board members to prepare materials, facilitate meetings, and share updates on grants.
• COO/CFO: Work together on grant administration and financial oversight.
• CEF Staff Writer: Collaborate on execution of monthly newsletter, social media, and website to share grant-related information with a broad audience.
• CEF Board of Directors: Support Board with updates on grants and contribute to strategic discussions.

External  

• Grantee Organizations: Build and maintain relationships with grantee staff, conduct site visits, and ensure grant diligence and compliance.
• Community Stakeholders: Engage with educational leaders and community organizations to foster collaboration and collective impact.
• Education Funders & Policy Leaders: Engage with other K-12 funders and local/national policy leaders to learn from their experiences and stay up-to-date on best practices. 

WHO YOU ARE

Adaptable, Entrepreneurial Problem-Solver

You take initiative in uncertain or evolving situations, confidently identifying creative solutions. Navigating unclear or changing environments comes naturally to you, and you thrive in tackling challenges with agility and resilience.

Independent and Collaborative Leader

You have demonstrated success in achieving common goals within diverse teams. You are an outstanding project manager who juggles multiple organizational priorities, keeps track of multiple deliverables, and supports the entire team to effectively prepare for deadlines. You understand when to act independently and when to seek collaboration or input to ensure success.

Committed to Excellence

You are open to constructive feedback and committed to continuous improvement to achieve a high bar of excellence. You consistently refine processes and solutions in collaboration with others, ensuring they meet and surpass expectations. 

Focused on Student Success

You are driven by a commitment to achieving measurable results that improve student outcomes. Setting goals, monitoring progress, and delivering meaningful impacts are integral to your work. You have a proven ability to meet and exceed targets in student-centered initiatives.

Role-Specific Competencies

Relational and Trust-Building Communicator
You excel in building authentic, trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders, from grantees and community members to Board members and colleagues. Your ability to facilitate joint problem-solving with grantees and partners reflects your deep understanding of and care for diverse community needs. You approach every interaction with respect, sensitivity, and inclusivity, ensuring that every interaction is thoughtful and supportive of long-term success.

Detail-Oriented and Results-Focused

You are organized, with a sharp eye for detail, and take pride in ensuring every grant process is thorough, accurate, and efficient. You are committed to tracking progress, measuring impact, and achieving results that align with the Foundation’s objectives.

Connector and Visionary

You have a unique ability to connect the dots between community needs, organizational goals, and potential opportunities. Out in the field and in direct conversation with stakeholders, you actively listen, observe, and synthesize anecdotal and qualitative insights to create opportunities for growth. Your vision drives meaningful connections, supports grantee success, and strengthens grant frameworks that produce both qualitative and quantitative results.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Deep understanding of K-12 educational systems, challenges, and opportunities, particularly in under-resourced communities. Experience in a K-12 school or nonprofit preferred.
• At least 10+ years of professional experience, including 3 years in philanthropy, consulting, or leading education-related initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education, Public Administration, or a related field preferred.  
• Outstanding project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple initiatives at once.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort with evaluating both individual grants and broader portfolio impact.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Chamberlin Education Foundation is committed to paying competitive wages. The salary range for this role will be $140,000-$180,000. In an effort to increase equity, because we know that salary negotiations tend to have an unfair bias, we do not participate in a salary negotiation process. 

This position meets the exemption requirements as defined by state and federal law. Exempt employees are paid on a salaried basis, and their salary is intended to constitute their entire regular compensation, regardless of the number of hours they work; therefore, exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, flexible spending, paid time off, and retirement match after one year of employment.

EQUITY COMMITMENT  

CEF is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We value diverse experiences, perspectives, and talents and are dedicated to building a culture of belonging for all team members.