Ers STEM Leadership Institute Program Director

49ers STEM Leadership Institute Program Director (Full time)

Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SV[e]F) is the largest educational nonprofit in Silicon Valley. Our mission is to deliver and advocate for equitable STEM education that inspires and prepares students for college and careers. We are guided by the belief that all students are capable of pursuing higher education and boosting their future economic mobility regardless of their background. SV[e]F has an established legacy of providing proven STEM programs and being profoundly committed to empowering students to graduate high school career and college ready.

The impact of our work is evident in our strong partnerships with districts and donors in closing the achievement gap and the creation of a workforce that has the skills to meet 21st century needs.

Program Overview

The 49ers STEM Leadership Institute (SLI), created in partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SV[e]F), and the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD), is a six-year program that will prepare students with high academic potential to be outstanding.

SLI began in Summer 2014 with a cohort of 60 incoming seventh grade students. A new cohort of 60 incoming seventh graders is selected through a competitive application process each year, and students advance with their cohort to the next grade level. By the end of the six-year rollout process, there will be a total of 360 students from grades 7 – 12 involved in the program, located at two state of the art digital fabrication labs at Cabrillo Middle School and Santa Clara High School in the Santa Clara Unified School District.

Students complete a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, engage in STEM projects and competitions, and participate annually in 300+ hours of additional learning time.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SV[e]F), the Program Director provides strategic, operational, and programmatic leadership for the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute (SLI). The Director oversees the program in its entirety across grades 7–12 and works closely with SV[e]F leadership, Program Managers, Program Coordinator, SCUSD administrators and teaching staff, the 49ers Foundation, corporate and university partners, students, and families.

The Program Director serves as the central point connecting the many organizations and individuals involved in SLI and is responsible for ensuring that the program remains student-centered, operationally strong, financially sustainable, innovative, and aligned with the goals of SV[e]F, SCUSD, and the 49ers Foundation.

Strategic Leadership & Program Direction

• Own the overall strategy, direction, priorities, and continuous improvement of SLI.
• Translate SV[e]F and partner priorities into actionable annual and multi‑year program plans.
• Evaluate existing programming and identify opportunities to continue, improve, expand, redesign, or discontinue initiatives based on impact and available resources.
• Develop and refine the student journey from 7th through 12th grade, ensuring intentional progression in STEM skills, leadership, design thinking, project‑based learning, career exploration, and student development.
• Identify emerging STEM, technology, education, and workforce trends and determine how they should influence SLI programming.
• Contribute to SV[e]F organizational strategic planning and represent the needs, opportunities, and priorities of SLI.

Program Operations

• Oversee the day‑to‑day operation of the entire SLI program across middle and high school.
• Develop and maintain sustainable policies, SOPs, workflows, calendars, systems, and accountability structures.
• Coordi…