Senior Program Officer, Black Student Success

Oregon Community Foundation•Portland, OR

9d•$115,000 - $123,500

About The Position

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) for Black Student Success works directly with the Director of Culturally Responsive Programs (DCRP), playing a critical lead role in OCF’s efforts to advance statewide education initiatives. The SPO executes the strategies and investments that drive OCF’s Black Student Success initiatives across Oregon and nationally. The SPO implements strategic partnership approaches that support improvements in educational outcomes for Black students from pre-K through post-secondary education. This work aligns with the strategies and goals set by the Community Engagement and Equity Department (CEED) and is informed by student success priorities advanced by the Oregon Department of Education. The SPO is responsible for identifying, developing, and leading proactive education initiatives from pre-K through post-secondary, ensuring OCF’s strategic grantmaking investments strengthen the most effective student support systems and drive measurable outcomes for Black student success. In partnership with senior leaders across CEED and Philanthropic Services Department (PSD), the SPO also serves as the Foundation’s subject matter expert on issues related to Black student success. This senior leader works to elevate the visibility of equity in education and career pathways through strategic community engagement, identifying and advancing solutions that support Black student success across Oregon and nationally. The SPO promotes the dissemination of effective research and promising practices to student-serving networks, facilitates learning communities, and cultivates opportunities for policy advocates and funders to engage directly with organizations that serve Black students. The SPO communicates the impact of Black student success initiatives to OCF’s executive team, Board of Directors, and key funding partners, strengthening OCF’s leadership presence in advancing educational and career pathway success across the state and nationally.

Requirements

Seven or more years’ progressively responsible and relevant work experience in grant making or nonprofit program evaluation, and/or program planning and management, resulting in strong knowledge of nonprofit sector, grant programs, and initiatives.
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field; equivalent experience in lieu of degree is acceptable.
Three or more years’ prior supervisory experience – building, leading, mentoring, and inspiring team members to strategize, set priorities, and accomplish shared goals.
Experience coordinating team efforts within an organization or community involving staff, volunteers and/or community members.
Travel IS REQUIRED for performance of job duties. Requires ability to travel throughout Oregon to conduct site visits and attend meetings outside regular work hours. Requires up to 300 miles per day and some overnight stay.

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of the $1-2 million/year multi-year Black Student Success Initiative, including providing oversight for the activities of the Black Student Success network; creating and implementing grantmaking programs, including a capacity-building grantmaking program; planning convenings for the funders collaborative.
Develop a communications plan in partnership with OCF’s Marketing and Communications Department that engages external community stakeholders and elevates the visibility of OCF’s commitment to Black student success across the state and nationally.
Work with evaluation experts to implement method for evaluation of the impact of OCF’s Black Student Success program.
Create and maintain systems to track the progress and ensure that timelines and benchmarks are met in line with community engagement and equity department’s education strategic plan.
Lead the development and implementation of donor education initiatives in collaboration with donor relations staff to increase awareness of opportunities to support Black Student Success and Black communities more broadly.
Collaborate and engage with program staff across the community engagement and equity department to maintain high quality programs that address regional needs and collaborate with statewide staff to fulfill the broader, overarching mission and community impact goals of the foundation.
Serve with an Associate Program Officer (APO) as a contact for potential grantees.
Work directly with APO of Black Student Success to respond to inquiries for grants, manage application processes, communicate with grantees, and conduct site visits and nonprofit outreach.
Partnering with DCRP and APO, apply equitable grantmaking practices that ensure accessibility, reach and distribution of funding based on population or community need and intended impact.
Keep abreast of research and trends about effective and innovative practices and community needs related to Black Student Success to increase impact and identify opportunities for OCF investments.
Create data-informed impact reports and regular communications that educate key stakeholders across the state about the issues and successful solutions for Black students.
Collaborate with staff across CEED to manage initiatives and grant programs across the full education continuum, from early childhood through post-secondary education to career—ensuring that Black Student Success goals and strategies are integrated in other programs where aligned.
Develop knowledge and expertise about organizations, people, and issues in related to Black communities across Oregon.
Serve as a resource for OCF Board members, Leadership Council members, community members, foundation partners and OCF colleagues who have broad informational needs related to nonprofit and community needs related to Black Student Success.
Ensure that funds under management by this position are consistently and effectively meeting donor intent, funds are being spent down, and that best practices are performed in grant proposal review.
In collaboration with the DCRP, lead the strategic planning and execution of OCF’s Black Student Success initiatives, including advancing strategic investments and promoting best practices that support improved educational outcomes for Black students.
Partner with staff and philanthropic partners to advance investment strategies that leverage the full range of available tools, including grantmaking, advocacy and policy, and community engagement.
Identify policy and advocacy opportunities that positions OCF to best support systems change and improve educational experiences for Black students.
Oversee the implementation of a statewide coalition of leaders to develop, share and promote evidence-based practices and advocacy efforts supporting Black students.
Engage funders in learning activities and collaborative strategy development to strengthen philanthropic investment in Black Students Success across Oregon.
Conduct research in partnership with CEED and Marketing and Communications Department to inform leadership priorities, targeted program interests, and grantmaking strategies related to Black students and their families.
Identify opportunities and strategic partnerships with private funders, state government agencies, and other key leaders in the education and youth development field to further OCF’s Black Student success initiative.
Collaborate with PSD to support prospective donors, provide high quality donor stewardship, and support donor engagement in OCF’s priorities.
Act as a public representative and communicate with the Board, Leadership Councils, staff, outside stakeholders, media, about OCF’s Black Student Success Initiative.
Represents OCF at meetings with public agencies, policy makers and other key stakeholders; serve on statewide or regional committees or task forces that promotes OCF role in shaping student success.
Represent OCF at local and national conferences and events in order to share OCF's work and impact.
Conduct outreach, communicate with, and develop relationships with grant seekers and other constituents statewide about foundation priorities, guidelines, grant opportunities and grant decisions.
Create reports to externally communicate progress, successes, challenges, and future directions, as applicable to funders supporting Black student success through OCF networks and programs
Deepen our existing and generate new partnerships with other foundations, businesses, nonprofits and schools to advance OCF's strategic priorities.
Work with DCRP to collaborate with other foundations and ensure approaches are coordinated when appropriate.
Guide, support and supervise APO.
Develop and oversee with APO coordination of contracts with consultants, statewide convenings, and partnership development associated with Black Student Success programming.
Participate and build with APO trainings and opportunities for collaboration with other staff and senior leadership across the CEED and PSD