Program Officer - Education

The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation is seeking a dynamic, highly knowledgeable education professional as its new Program Officer - Education
. Reporting to the Senior Program Officer, Education, the Program Officer will be a key member of the Education team and will have the opportunity to help shape the implementation and evolution of the Foundation's education strategy.

The Program Officer - Education will:
1) manage day-to-day relationships with and progress of a set of the Foundation's grantees;
2) source and conduct due diligence on prospective new grantees, including making funding recommendations to the CHSF team and our trustees;
3) collaborate and build partnerships and coalitions with peer funders and other key stakeholders; and
4) work with the CHSF team as a whole to ensure we are effectively supporting our grantees, maintaining alignment and fidelity to the Foundation's mission and strategy, and maximizing our impact.

The new Program Officer, Education must believe in the Foundation's mission and vision and be passionate about the power of public education to be an instrument of racial equity, economic mobility, and individual and community transformation. Candidates must also have:
1) at least eight years of professional experience in K-12 public education, in particular working directly with or in service of low-income students, families, or communities;
2) a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting K-12 public education in the United States, with particular knowledge of the public charter school movement, teacher professional learning, and evidence-based instructional improvement strategies;
3) a track record of accelerating innovation in K-12 schools through instructional models, technology, and learner-centered approaches that elevate student agency and real-world preparedness;
4) experience building career-connected learning programs and connecting the K-12 education system to postsecondary pathways to c

The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation (CHSF) envisions a world in which all people lead fulfilling and choice-filled lives. CHSF funds solutions in education, housing, and employment that increase economic power and well-being in historically marginalized communities. We prioritize innovative approaches that advance racial equity and remove systemic barriers that perpetuate generational cycles of poverty. The Foundation has a long history of supporting K-12 and higher education, human services, civic and cultural life, and programs serving students with learning differences.

In March 2023, the Foundation's board of trustees approved a new strategic plan that focuses on public education nationally and housing and homelessness in the Bay Area. CHSF is a private family foundation and is independent from the Charles Schwab Corporation and from the Charles Schwab Corporate Foundation.

Our education work is anchored in the belief that all families, especially those from historically marginalized communities, should have the power to choose from a diverse set of schools that meet their children's academic and emotional needs. We focus on the creation and growth of public charter schools that are driving significant learning gains for low-income children of color. To complement our schools-focused work, we fund human capital programs, advocacy efforts of parent-led and community-based organizations, and innovations in school design and the future of learning.

We also focus on ensuring students have the preparation and agency to pursue pathways of their choosing to post-secondary success by supporting better, faster, cheaper, and more equitable routes to a degree and/or professional credentials and certifications.

We believe in the promise of public education as the great equalizer. For too many, that promise remains illusory. Educational attainment dramatically impacts positive life and societal outcomes. Yet student outcomes remain unacceptably low, and the pandemic worsened the achievement and opportunity gaps that have persisted for decades.

• Schools. Our education work is anchored in the belief that all families, especially those from historically marginalized communities, should have the power to choose from a diverse set of schools that meet their children's academic and emotional needs. We focus on the creation and growth of public charter schools and networks that are driving significant learning gains and long-term outcomes for low-income children of color.
• Human Capital. We believe that great schools are reflections of great educators and that the educators in our schools should better represent the backgrounds and experiences of the students and families they serve. Our human capital work focuses on efforts to diversify the educator workforce and better recruit, support, and retain teachers and leaders.
• Innovation. We believe that the one-size-fits-all industrial model of public education is inequitable and inadequate to prepare…