Program Specialist, Education Initiatives

About the Organization 

At San Diego Foundation, we value our diverse and experienced staff who are committed to our mission of improving the quality of life within all of San Diego’s communities. We strive to be an employer of choice, offering a competitive compensation package, and a professional and vibrant work environment for those who have a passion for our mission that is carried out every day by providing leadership for effective philanthropy and promoting community solutions. 

The Community Impact (CI) Division of San Diego Foundation collaborates with donors, local education agencies, community-based educators and organizations, government, business, policy analysts, and researchers to create new strategies and solutions for the region’s most pressing challenges. CI’s impact is measured with data, as well as the difference we make in the lives of people throughout San Diego County.  

Education Initiatives, within the Community Impact Division of San Diego Foundation, mobilizes philanthropy to advance educational equity in San Diego County. We do this by focusing on strategies that improve educational outcomes in K-16 so students are prepared for college and career success. Nothing like access to a quality K-12 education and post-secondary degree or certification can do more to level the playing field and ensure all our young people have what they need to dream and succeed. Advancing educational equity means providing quality education and college/career success for all students – especially those who sit furthest from opportunity in San Diego. Our region’s ability to realize educational equity is critical to building a robust and ready workforce and strengthening our regional economy. By advancing educational equity through key strategic efforts, San Diego Foundation is better preparing our region’s students for college and career with support for their postsecondary pathways, so they are poised to achieve their aspirations.  

About the Role 

San Diego Foundation is seeking an experienced, mission- driven Program Specialist, Post-Secondary Pathways and Success, to join the Education Initiatives Team, within our Community Impact division. This person will be a vital contributor to the Foundation in leading and supporting the essential programmatic and administrative activities of the Education Initiatives department with a specific focus on college success strategies such as the Community Scholars Initiative (CSI), a data-driven approach to scholarship philanthropy that pairs need-based scholarships with college readiness support to student groups facing the greatest barriers to persistence and college completion. This position will work in coordination with the entire Education Initiatives team, CSI and other nonprofit partners and regional education stakeholders.  

The experienced Program Specialist will draw on their considerable knowledge of the local K-12, post-secondary and community-based educational landscape to support strategic regional efforts towards better post-secondary outcomes for San Diego County students. Efforts include, but are not limited to, the implementation of CSI programming and the implementation of the CSI scholarship program. Support with grantmaking strategies, conducting research and sourcing data for evidence-based program design and decision-making, and supporting convening and collaboration between diverse stakeholders working to achieve shared, long-range objectives. 

These efforts require a deep understanding of the barriers facing students furthest from opportunity, proven community-building experience, research and data analytics skills, project management experience, strong written and verbal communication skills, specialized knowledge of the regional and statewide education sector, some knowledge of the philanthropic sector, grants and reporting experience, and experience supporting stakeholders, partners, and collaboration. 

In addition, the specialist is responsible for supporting the implementation of a select number of educational equity strategies and will also support departmental operations, working as a cohesive part of the Education Initiatives team is an important part of the Specialist’s responsibilities.  

This is a hybrid role with weekly onsite requirements at our San Diego Headquarter Office in Liberty Station.  

Essential Responsibilities: 

Implement and Execute the Community Scholars Initiative (CSI) program (60%): 

• Work collaboratively with the Sr. Manager of Education Initiatives to implement the CSI grant program strategy and advance postsecondary opportunities for students furthest from opportunity with a focus on increasing postsecondary student outcomes with an intersectional equity lens. 

• Conduct needs assessments and regular consultations with CSI partners to identify their specific technical assistance needs and challenges to develop customized technical assistance plans and strategies for the CSI cohort, ensuring alignment with program goals and objectives. 

• Analyze data and feedback from CSI cohorts to identify common learning areas for capacity building to design and implement a structured learning arc tailored to the developmental stages and needs of CSI partners.  

• Coordinate with subject matter experts and external trainers to deliver targeted learning sessions and workshops aligned with the learning arc. 

• Support and monitor the CSI workplan, including managing the annual scholarship review and award process. 

• Utilize content knowledge, experience in regional efforts, and research to identify alignment and partnership opportunities between community-based organizations and local educational institutions. 

• Utilize knowledge of education data sources and systems to support the development of baseline and aspirational metrics demonstrating the impact of Community Scholars Initiative 

• Facilitate the collaboration between the Foundation and the Community Scholars Initiative nonprofit partners and coordinate logistics related to convenings and stakeholder engagement, supporting the development and presentation of related program data and messaging. 

• Support the financial tracking of all contributions to the Community Scholars Initiative.   

• Oversee and maintain systems and processes to support effective and successful communications with internal and external partners, grantmaking, grant writing and reporting activities, research and content development.   

• Work with CSI partners and community stakeholders to monitor progress and track impact of investments in collaboratives, as well as to identify and document lessons learned and best practices. 

• Collaborate with CSI partners and SDF’s Communications team to tell stories of grantmaking that will inspire others to support the CSI model. 

• Participate in community and stakeholder events, as necessary and appropriate. 

Research, analysis, and information gathering to support programmatic priorities (25%): 

• Support SDF’s strategy implementation with subject matter insight related to higher education access, persistence, and completion. 

• Conduct research and data analysis that informs strategy setting for fundraising, grantmaking and community leadership activities.   

• Conduct, propose, and monitor research in support of postsecondary education strategy learning and advocacy. Uses research process and products to support the informing of strategies and advocacy partners.  

• Craft data-driven documents and presentations that convey program goals and impact. 

• Support and participate in writing, reporting and content creation, including data visualization, that serves to communicate the community impact of the strategies and bolsters fundraising activities.   

• Support donor stewardship through effective coordination of strategic grantmaking programs, information sharing, and community-oriented engagement opportunities. 

• Collaborate with the Director and Sr. Manager of Education Initiatives and CI team to craft strategy and identify priorities, define process for grantmaking, evaluation, reporting, evaluation and project management. 

Other Related Responsibilities (15%): 

• Establish and maintain systems to engage in active and continuous learning and deepening subject matter expertise. Track emerging field issues and developments that are relevant to our work.  

• Establish and maintain comprehensive filing systems for grants and departmental documents, ensuring easy access and retrieval of information.  

• Collaborate and contribute to a strong learning culture across the Community Impact division and entire Foundation.  

• Collaborate with internal departments to devise communications and resource strategies to achieve mission, values, and strategic priorities. 

• Engage donors (individual, corporate and other foundations) to leverage SDF discretionary funds and advance understanding of a collective impact model. 

• Participate in relevant funder affinity groups. 

• Additional responsibilities as assigned by the Sr Manager, Education Initiatives 

Requirements

• Mission-aligned professional with a demonstrated commitment to advancing educational equity in San Diego. 
• Knowledge of San Diego County public education and nonprofit community, familiarity with the geography and diverse neighborhoods throughout the region, and experience in working effectively with diverse and broad-based community stakeholders. 
• A minimum of 3 years of experience coordinating processes and collaborating with community stakeholders. 
• Bachelor’s degree in education or social sciences field, preferred; or comparable experience 
• Demonstrated postsecondary content expertise and/or related program design and implementation. 
• Regional content expertise in the range of community assets, challenges and opportunities facing the diverse and vibrant San Diego region.  
• Demonstrated experience and success in program implementation in a private or community foundation, educational setting or position in a corporate, government or nonprofit organization. 
• Ability to facilitate meetings and group processes for the purposes of fact-finding, decision-making, peer learning and problem solving. 
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to write clear, concise analyses and narratives. 
• Superior interpersonal and proven client services skills. Ability to prepare and give presentations, and to comfortably interact with diverse audiences including donors, Board members, civic leaders, and nonprofit and community groups. Multilingual competency desired. 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to lead and manage projects, prioritize work effectively and adjust to multiple demands, with consistent attention to timelines. Demonstrated time and project management skills.  Ability to “right size” projects. 
• Ability to make well-reasoned decisions in the best interests of the organization for the present and future, and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds.  
• These efforts require strong project management experience, and administrative capabilities, including financial administration, proposal writing, timeline creation and management, database utilization, and progress reporting. 
• Ability to work well independently and as a team member. Ability to take initiative and follow tasks through to completion.  
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to foster and encourage collaboration. 
• Proactive nature to recognize and anticipate opportunities and challenges and to address them on a timely basis. 
• Proven ability to triage and solve problems, including referring and escalating as necessary and appropriate. 
• Proven ability to participate in a variety of projects requiring use of various skills and capabilities. 
• Interest in and knowledge of philanthropic trends both locally, statewide and nationally. 
• Knowledge of and interest in advancing the collective impact model of cross-sectoral collaboration. 
• A lifelong learner with natural curiosity and ability to apply learning. 
• A voracious reader of and participant in community engagement. 
• Interdisciplinary, analytical, innovative and critical thinking. 
• Emotionally intelligent with the ability to effectively manage conflict. 
• Use of good judgment
• Culturally competent
• Strong ethical standards and integrity  
• Technologically competent and confident user of Microsoft Office Suite and database applications.  
• Passion for the work and mission of San Diego Foundation to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. 
• Must live in San Diego County

Language Skills

• Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently 
• Additional language proficiency is helpful  

Work Environment & Physical Demands 

• Professional, hybrid work environment in San Diego 
• Fast-paced work with multi-level distractions 
• Ability to safely lift 25 pounds 
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time at meetings, desk, computer, driving 
• Ability to sit at a desk and view a computer screen for up to two hours 
• Ability to type using a computer keyboard 
• Ability to speak into and use a telephone 
• Ability to bend and stoop 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Background check required.

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Benefits

Pay Range: $67,000 - $75,000 per year

San Diego Foundation is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will be reflective of qualifications, skills and experience, internal equity, alignment with market data, among other relevant factors.

• Supportive, inclusive company culture; awarded Top Workplace by the San Diego Union Tribune 4 years in a row
• Flexible 9/80 Alternative workweek schedule, with every other Friday off
• Hybrid work environment with support for at home office setup
• 100% Employer paid medical, vision, dental, life, AD&D and long-term disability premiums; 75% Employer-paid premiums for all dependents on your benefits
• 403B Retirement plan match up to 4% + Annual retirement plan bonus contribution based on total annual salary
• Earned Incentive Bonus Program
• 3 weeks of paid time off + 1 additional week off with pay in July for all staff
• 4-to-6-week sabbatical for every 5 years of service
• 13 paid holidays + 2 paid volunteer days off each year
• Extended Health Care Time accruing at 2.77 hours per pay period to a cap of 480 hours: use for sick time, family care, and parental leave baby bonding
• $100 monthly cell and internet reimbursement
• $75 quarterly gym reimbursement
• Donor Advised Fund contribution with no minimum and $600 annual match from the Foundation to a nonprofit of your choice
• Annual Anniversary Gift of $100 donation per year of service to a nonprofit of your choice