Program Specialist, College Success

At San Diego Foundation (SDF) we are committed to inspiring enduring philanthropy and enabling community solutions to improve the quality of life throughout our region. The Community Impact Division leads SDFs programmatic initiatives and strategic partnerships to build a vibrant equitable and resilient San Diego County.

The College Success team within Education Initiatives works to mobilize philanthropy to advance educational equity across San Diego County with a focus on improving K-16 outcomes so students are prepared for college career and life success.

The Program Specialist College Success supports a growing portfolio of programs that expand college access persistence and completion for students furthest from opportunity. This role provides programmatic operational and strategic support for SDFs college success investments including the Community Scholars Initiative (CSI) and supports the full lifecycle of grant programs scholarship administration partner engagement research data collection evaluation and reporting.

This position works collaboratively across the College Success team and with nonprofit partners schools and community stakeholders to support student-centered pathways and systems that improve post-secondary outcomes across the region. The role requires strong project management communication relationship-building and analytical skills along with an understanding of the barriers facing students furthest from opportunity and the regional education landscape.

This role requires frequent off-site engagement including community meetings partner site visits student-facing events and regional convenings.

This is a hybrid position with weekly onsite requirements at SDFs Liberty Station headquarters in San Diego.

Essential Responsibilities:

CSI Program Implementation & Partner Engagement

• Work collaboratively with the Manager of College Success to implement and support the Community Scholars Initiative (CSI) strategy and annual workplan including coordination of scholarship review and award processes partner engagement activities and initiatives that advance postsecondary access and success for students furthest from opportunity.
• Coordinate and support collaboration between SDF and CSI nonprofit partners by facilitating communication convenings stakeholder engagement activities and technical assistance efforts that strengthen partner capacity and advance shared program goals.
• Conduct research collect and analyze program and education data and support the development of metrics reports and evaluation efforts that inform continuous learning program improvement and data-driven decision-making related to CSI and broader college success strategies.
• Support grants management and program operations by maintaining tracking systems monitoring program activities and deliverables coordinating reporting processes and assisting with communications content development and storytelling efforts that highlight program impact and student success outcomes.
• Represent SDF at community meetings partner site visits student-facing events and regional convenings to support relationship-building stakeholder engagement and collaboration across the education ecosystem.

Program Research Evaluation & Insights

• Conduct research data collection analysis and evaluation activities related to higher education access persistence and completion to support program implementation continuous learning grantmaking and strategic decision-making across SDFs college success initiatives.
• Develop presentations reports data summaries and other materials that communicate program goals outcomes and community impact to internal and external stakeholders while supporting donor stewardship partner engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
• Support theCollegeSuccessteamin program planning grantmaking coordination evaluation reporting and project management activities; contribute research and insights that helpidentifypartnership opportunities and strengthen alignment between community-based organizations educational institutions and regional education initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Support

• Support cross-functional collaboration with internal departments and external partners by assisting with communications donor stewardship activities stakeholder engagement and coordination efforts that advance SDFs college success and educational equity initiatives.
• Represent SDF at community meetings partner site visits and stakeholder events to support relationship-building community engagement and collaboration across education and nonprofit sectors.
• Performadditionalresponsibilities and special projects as assigned by the ManagerCollege Success

• Bachelors degree in education social sciences or a related field preferred or equivalent professional experience
• Commitment to advancing educational equity and improving postsecondary outcomes for students furthest from opportunity across San Diego County with knowledge of the regions education and nonprofit landscape and familiarity with the opportunities and barriers impacting historically underserved communities.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in education nonprofit philanthropy government or community-based settings supporting program implementation stakeholder engagement grantmaking or cross-sector initiatives.
• Experience supporting or coordinating college access persistence success scholarship or other educational equity-focused programs and initiatives.
• Experience coordinating projects and collaborating with diverse stakeholders including schools nonprofit organizations higher education institutions donors and community partners to support cross-sector initiatives and partnerships.
• Strong organizational analytical and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities track deliverables support program operations and contribute to reporting evaluation and data-informed decision-making efforts.
• Experience collecting analyzing and synthesizing information and data to support program planning evaluation communications and continuous improvement activities.
• Strong written verbal facilitation and presentation skills with the ability to develop reports and presentations and engage effectively with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using databases grants management systems scholarship platforms or CRM systems such as Blackbaud or Foundant preferred.
• Experience supporting donor stewardship grantmaking processes program budgets grant tracking financial reporting or cross-functional engagement efforts preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity equity inclusion belonging and culturally responsive community engagement practices.

Core Competencies

• College Access Persistence and Success Knowledge
• Educational Equity and Scholarship Program Coordination
• Cross-Sector Collaboration and Partnership Support
• Data Collection Analysis and Data-Informed Decision Making
• Program Implementation and Project Coordination
• Grantmaking and Scholarship Administration Support
• Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
• Community Engagement and Public Presentation Skills
• Research Evaluation and Continuous Learning
• Organizational Operational and Reporting Support
• Written and Verbal Communication Skills
• Collaboration and Cross-Functional Team Support

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Professional hybrid work environment based in San Diego California.
• Fast-paced collaborative and mission-driven setting.
• Ability to sit stand walk or drive for extended periods with or without accommodation.
• Ability to view and use a computer screen for up to two hours at a time.
• Ability to type and enter data using a computer keyboard.
• Ability to communicate effectively by phone video or in person.
• May require evening or weekend work for events and partner engagements.
• Occasional travel within or outside of San Diego County as needed.

San Diego Foundation is committed to supporting the well-being growth and success of our employees through a comprehensive and competitive benefits package:

• Salaried Exempt $71000.00-$80000.00 (San Diego Foundation is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will be reflective of qualifications skills experience internal equity alignment with market data among other relevant factors)
• Supportive inclusive company culture; recognized as a Top Workplace by the San Diego Union-Tribune5 years in a row
• Hybrid work environment with support for home office setup
• Optionfor a 9/80 work schedule providing every other Friday off
• 100% employer-paid medical dental vision life AD&D and long-term disability insurance for employees
• 75% employer-paid premiums for eligible dependents
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match plus annual discretionary contributions
• Earned Incentive Program
• Three weeks of paid time off annually plus anadditionalorganization-wide paid week off in July
• 13 paid holidays plus 2 paid volunteer days each year
• Extended Health Care Time accrual for sick leave family care and parental leave
• Four-week paid sabbatical after every five years of service
• $100 monthly cell phone and internet reimbursement
• $75 quarterly wellness or gym reimbursement
• Annual $600 match to a nonprofit of your choice through a Donor Advised Fund
• Annual service recognition with a $100 donation to a nonprofit of your choice

This job description is not designed to cover orcontaina comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities requiredofthe employee. Duties responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Required Experience:

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