Program Officer - Education

Program Officer - Education, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation

Posted on September 20, 2023

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 wellbeing in historically marginalized communities. We prioritize innovative approaches that advance racial equity and remove systemic barriers that perpetuate generational cycles of poverty. 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.

We are eager to add to our team at this exciting juncture in the Foundation’s history as we begin to implement our new strategy.

We are seeking a dynamic, highly knowledgeable education professional who is passionate about the power of public education to be an instrument of racial equity, economic mobility, and individual and community transformation. The ideal candidate has a:
1) demonstrated commitment to education equity and racial justice;
2) five to ten+ years of professional experience in K-12 public education, in particular working directly with or in service of low-income students, families or communities;
3) a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting K-12 public education in the United States, with particular knowledge and direct experience with the public charter school movement and related human capital and advocacy ecosystems. Experience with efforts to accelerate innovation in K-12 schools and improve post-secondary pathways for college and career success preferred.

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 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.