Posted on January 11, 2013

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Senior Program Officer

Since its founding in 2003, the Rogers Family Foundation has aspired to increase access to high quality learning opportunities for Oakland students to ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college, career and community. The foundation is an organization that makes investments of time, money and capacity to organizations that are aligned with its vision and mission. The Rogers Family Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer who will be responsible for managing the various strategic initiatives being undertaken by the foundation, creating and maintaining key community relationships, and overseeing the grant making process that supports the foundation’s strategic goals.

SENIOR PROGRAM DIRECTOR POSITION

The Senior Program Director will serve on the foundation’s seven-person team, report to Brian Rogers, the Executive Director of the Rogers Family Foundation, and will directly manage the Director of Literacy Programs, the Director of Blended Learning and the Director of Grants and Evaluation.

The foundation shares an office with the Rogers Family Office, LLC, which provides property management, investment services, and general support to the T. Gary and Kathleen Rogers Family. Established in 2003 in Oakland, California, the office is located in the heart of Oakland’s Jack London Square.

1. Provide investment strategy and analysis in key priority areas to meet the goal of dramatically increasing student learning and achievement in Oakland

Manage and execute on an initiative strategy for blended learning models to increase student achievement, improve teacher effectiveness & satisfaction, and transform the funding model of Oakland public schools, including:

• Foster partnerships between current Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) blended learning pilot schools (Encompass, Korematsu, Madison and Elmhurst), funders, technology innovators and practitioners to create and execute a comprehensive blended learning model to be replicated across Oakland in the future.
• Recruit, vet and support the onboarding of a second cohort of pilot schools that will commence blended learning operations in Fall 2013.
• Outreach and collaboration with other local and national innovators to share best practices & strategies and leverage investments.
• Act as a hub of knowledge and resources for successful execution of blended learning models.
• Support the creation of high quality autonomous schools in support of the goal that all Oakland students can attend a quality public school, including:
• Work with the community to educate elected leaders, school board members, parents, educators, and community leaders to understand examples of excellence as the standard we should aspire to rather than the exception; create a network of support to provide political cover for new charters and charter school conversions and OUSD partnership schools.
• Partner with OUSD and charter school operators to provide support and expertise on conversions, including charter applications.
• Serve as a resource to school communities (principals, teachers, staff, parents, etc.) who are considering charter conversion as a means to improve the quality of education for their students.
• Provide support and expertise on support functions such as finance, human capital, operations, technology, special education, coaching, interventions, etc.
• Act as a hub of collaboration with other local and national funders, organizers & policy makers to share best practices & strategies for school choice reform efforts.
• Work with OUSD leadership to assist in the transformation of the school district into an organization that supports school autonomies with a transparent quality accountability evaluation system.

2. Manage the Rogers Family Foundation measures of success and Oakland education strategic cycle, including:

• Lead a continuous learning cycle to ensure that investments and initiatives have the intended impact.
• Review each major action taken by the RFF to ensure that there is a clear outcome that contributes to the “big goal” for students in Oakland.
• Engage in constant research, conversation and questioning of assumptions (e.g. root cause analysis) to reassess our strategy for education reform.
• Ensure that RFF resources are being leveraged through partnerships, joint investments, coalitions, and shared learning.
• Participate in the grant making and quarterly preparation of impact dashboards.

3. Be a respected and sought-out leader across education reform efforts in Oakland and California including:

• Proactive outreach and partnership with other local and national funders, organizers, & policy makers to share best practices & strategies and leverage investments.
• Engagement with education and community leaders – including teachers, principals and parents - to understand what Oakland families need and what Oakland teachers want in order to develop an effective teaching and leadership strategy for policy and school reform.
• Clearly communicate big, compelling goals that will inspire action and focus effort.
• Foster collaboration between school district staff, charter school staff, city and county agencies, community-based organizations, nonprofits, media, faith, business and philanthropic communities around a clear reform agenda.
• Seek out opportunities to build the understanding of state policy makers in the legislature and the department of education; research and invest in policy and advocacy in support of school quality & human capital initiatives.
• Coach and develop key community leaders and organizations within our investment portfolio.
• Through investments and other types of support, develop the constituency, leverage and power to support the required changes and improvements across the system.
• Look for ways to build on the momentum of reforms in other parts of the state to impact Oakland.
• Partner with other foundations to bring resources to Oakland education institutions.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Proven ability to build effective relationships with both supporters and detractors
• Clear and passionate written and oral communication; ability to speak as an expert across varied venues, audiences and topics
• Deep expertise in K-12 education practice, policy and reform strategies in order to make nuanced and effective investment decisions
• Advanced analytical and project management skills
• Prior education field experience preferred
• Proven ability as an effective manager; able to inspire, motivate and empower teammates
• Specific expertise in one or more investment categories (e.g. human capital, blended learning, charter operation, policy)
• Have an established local and national network of education researchers, policy makers and practitioners
• Advanced degree in education, business, policy or a related field preferred
• Understanding of the political landscape of Oakland, particularly in regards to education

This opportunity is a full-time position. Flexibility in hours is appreciated. Salary is commensurate with experience. A competitive benefits package is included.

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume, thoughtful cover letter and contact information for three references to Brian Rogers, Executive Director at info@redwoodcircle.org. Please include the reference “RFF Senior Program Officer” in the subject line. For more information, contact Christina Legg Greenberg at Redwood Circle Consulting (510.575.9635 or info@redwoodcircle.org).