Education Program Officer

Description

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION 

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation (Rainin Foundation) is a family foundation that collaborates with creative thinkers to enhance quality of life by championing the arts, promoting early childhood literacy, and supporting research to cure chronic disease. Founded in 2008, the organization believes in taking smart risks to achieve breakthroughs. Today, with a team of over 30 and total annual grants of approximately $19.0 million, the Foundation supports visionary artists in the Bay Area, creates opportunities for Oakland’s youngest learners, and funds researchers at the forefront of scientific discoveries to cure chronic disease. Through grantmaking and operations, the Foundation embraces the values of collaboration, leveraging of all assets, innovation, responsibility, and equity. Inherent in our core values is a belief in compassion, respect, humor and joy. 

To learn more about the Rainin Foundation, please visit . 

ABOUT THE TEAM 

The Rainin Foundation seeks a self-motivated, analytical and highly organized Education Program Officer to support grant-making strategies and relationships in Oakland’s early literacy ecosystem. The Education team consists of the Director of Education, Strategies and Ventures and a shared Administrative Assistant. The Education Program is under the Programs Department. 

The primary role of the Program team is to steward a compliant, efficient, equitable and interconnected grantmaking practice that is responsive to the learning and strategic needs of applicants, grantees, Foundation staff and the broader literacy and early childhood community. The Program team is integral to achieving the Foundation’s mission in partnership with other Foundation teams, including Grants Management, Communications, Accounting and the Executive Team.

ABOUT THE POSITION 

The Education Program Officer works collaboratively with the Director of Education Strategy and Ventures to execute effective evaluation of the Education Program, early childhood literacy program delivery, and grantmaking strategies. The collective work of the Education Department helps to break down systemic barriers, leveraging equity to co-design comprehensive solutions that help to develop learners and end generational poverty among Oakland’s marginalized communities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Impact and Evaluation

• Implement the Program’s learning plan
• Conduct grantee check-ins to evaluate progress and impact against grantee goals and program metrics
• Conduct site visits and observations to evaluate progress and impact against grantee goals and program metrics
• Effectively organize grantee and partner interactions, data, artifacts, and reports for progress monitoring and evaluation
• Provide grantees technical assistance to collect, track, analyze and report on critical progress indicators
• Gather evidence about the ROI of the Foundation’s grantmaking, analyzing, benchmarking, and messaging the impact and cost-effectiveness of grant strategies
• Use data, data visualization and other tools to interpret, report, and present the Foundation’s grantmaking
• Research trends, data, and issues in the early literacy field and provide logical and well-written findings to inform program direction
• Contribute to the Foundation’s overall learning and evaluation processes

Strategy and Program Execution 

• Implement the strategic direction of the Education Program
• Conduct grantmaking activities with logistical efficiency, ensuring compliance with policies and processes, and maintaining integrity and accuracy
• Optimize workflows by managing grantmaking and project timelines
• Effectively organize and ensure accuracy of internal information for knowledge management

Team and Sector Leadership

• Collaborate with internal departments to execute grantmaking and projects
• Engage stakeholders prior to decision-making using a collaborative decision-making framework
• Represent the Foundation in written communications, presentations and more 

Communication 

• Maintain clear, effective, and collaborative communication 
• Demonstrate transparency in communication and the exploration of new ideas to solve complex problems
• Effectively communicate strategic priorities, opportunities, timelines, and requirements
• Draft communications, including blogs, announcements, and website content considering audience, objective, and context
  

WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE 

Who brings…

• Experience with program evaluation, including collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data, measuring progress and impact
• Enthusiasm for reading research and analytical, detail-oriented work
• Bachelors degree in Education - a teaching credential, literacy specialist certification, or administrative credential is a plus
• 5+ years’ experience in early literacy education (PreK-2nd grade)
• 2+ years’ experience in philanthropy and/or non-profit management is a plus
• An understanding of the impact of systemic oppression on marginalized communities

Who is…

• A self-directed operator
• Adept at managing projects and timelines
• Able to take initiative and drive work with minimal supervision and guidance
• Able to handle confidential information with complete discretion
• Capable of using a variety of tech tools and software applications with fluency

• A continuous learner 
• Committed to continuous development, reflection, and growth
• Able to integrate constructive feedback
• Able to engage in conflict with kindness and navigate tensions by seeking understanding
• Committed to the Foundation’s mission, open and committed to honest, candid conversations and self-reflection about race, racial justice and equity

• An evidence enthusiast 
• Committed to evidence and research-based approaches
• Adept at making connections across organizations and systems, anticipating roadblocks, and proactively identifying solutions
• Capable of applying insights to influence outcomes