The Foundation
We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, weโre committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The TeamOur US Education programs support young people along the PK-16 continuum, from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary. In Washington state, we work with local and regional partners to help students see a clear path to success in the careers they choose, with an emphasis on young people who face the highest barriers, including Black, Latino, Indigenous and rural students, and students from low-income backgrounds.
With only 50% of Washington students pursuing any type of postsecondary credential, the Washington team has focused its investments squarely on education. The Washington State Initiative focuses on supporting the transitional point in a studentโs education journey: enrollment after high school in a postsecondary program that will lead to meaningful employment. The Washington team plays a unique role in the United States Program (USP), leading and grounding the foundationโs national work in place and facilitating learning and synergy between the Washington State team, community partners, and the foundationโs national strategies.
The Washington team works in close coordination with the USP divisionโs program and functional strategies (US Charters, Early Learning Solutions, K-12 Education, Pathways, Postsecondary Success, Economic Mobility and Opportunity, and Data). This cross-team approach aspires to drive greater collaboration, synergy, and coherence between national strategies and the foundationโs strategic investments in Washington State.
Your Role
As Senior Officer, Washington State Data, you will lead a body of work focused on strengthening demand, systems, governance and use of education data in Washington State, with a particular focus on high school to postsecondary and workforce transitions. You will manage a portfolio of grants and contracts that strengthen the Washington State data ecosystem and improve the flow of data, research, and insight to state policymakers, regional partnerships, researchers, practitioners, students, and families. Reporting to the Deputy Director, you will also support the WSI teamโs efforts to identify, advance and deploy technology-enabled solutions that can expand postsecondary enrollment in Washington. You will also collaborate closely with the USP Data and Pathways teams, helping bridge WSIโs place-based work with national assets and resources.
* This position is based in our Seattle, WA offices where employees work a hybrid scheduled, as well as participate in our generous benefits and total rewards offering. Relocation is available if the hired individual is not currently residing in Seattle, WA.
What You'll Do
Develop, manage, and lead a complex portfolio of grants and contracts that support Washingtonโs P20W data modernization efforts, statewide data policy and governance improvements, development and implementation of data solutions, regional data and research capacity-building, and local data use.
Build strong partnerships with state agencies, regional intermediaries, research organizations, community leaders, and practitioners, aligning partners towards shared vision and goals to catalyze systemic improvements in data access and use.
Identify and evaluate new technology (particularly AI) from the field and other USP investments, finding opportunities to improve data use and expand postsecondary enrollment in Washington.
Develop and implement annual investment plans; identify potential partners; solicit and review investment concepts; and provide clear, concise, and insightful analyses and recommendations for funding.
Implement and monitor performance-based grants and contracts, identifying and managing key portfolio risks and developing mitigation strategies and contingency plans as needed.
Assess and communicate strategic progress and pivots using data. Identify policy implications and leverage strategic intersections with other bodies of work.
Represent the foundation externally in strategic convenings, learning networks, and partnerships related to the body of work.
Contribute thought leadership and local expertise to USP's broader data and solutions strategies as a close, place-based collaborator with the USP Data and Pathways teams.
Gather intelligence and develop insights on education data issues and trends in Washington State and nationally that contribute to policy and advocacy strategy and execution.
Apply a data-driven approach, grounding work in logical and analytical frameworks to support a data-for-decision-making mindset and culture.
Work in a collaborative partnership with team members to take collective ownership for shared goals, measurement, progress, impact and culture.
Your ExperienceAdvanced degree with 10+ years of relevant professional experience (preferably at education-related organizations supporting students from low-income backgrounds and students of color).
Deep understanding of and experience with P20W data, particularly related to high school to postsecondary and workforce transitions. Specific knowledge of Washington State and its education data systems and actors is preferred.
Familiarity with the market of technology (particularly AI) enabled solutions, including the necessary data architecture across K12, postsecondary, and other sectors to integrate those solutions to improve data use and expand postsecondary enrollment.
Experience related to effective advising, financial aid, and dual credit as strategies to support postsecondary enrollment.
Proficiency with data collection, analysis, synthesis, and visualization.
Strong understanding and utilization of AI tools in both personal and professional contexts.
Proven track record of developing strategy; driving effective communication, alignment and collaboration within and across teams; and leading through ambiguity.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence rather than authority, building and sustaining collaborative relationships.
Success developing, planning and implementing projects with a regional or state-wide scale.
Ability to learn new concepts quickly and communicate effectively with different audiences.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively synthesize information to reach diverse audiences and build consensus. Clear and coherent writing style.
Ability to effectively alternate between thinking strategically and high-quality execution.
High standards of personal integrity; and comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diversity of people.
Effective as a collaborator in matrixed organizations, including the ability to remain calm under pressure and work with efficiency and tact through ambiguity and change.
Other Attributes
Adaptability: Is flexible, maintains effectiveness by adjusting behavior, work routines, and habits to meet a goal and/or changing circumstances. Is seen as balanced despite the conflicting demands of the situation. Highly self-activating and efficient; goes to where the work is; brings others along.
Analytical Thinking: Uses facts and available information to develop logical assumptions. Discriminates between important and unimportant details, recognizes inconsistencies between facts and/or data, and draws correct inferences from information (includes differentiating, comparing, contrasting, linking, researching).
Business Innovation / Strategic Agility: Looks for new or alternative ideas from a wide range of sources; monitors developments and looks for applications to support current and future business needs and opportunities. Anticipates future consequences and trends accurately, has broad knowledge and perspective; verbalizes and projects credible pictures and visions of possibilities.
Collaboration/ Relationship Building: Develops and maintains effective working relationships with team members, internal partners and others using strong interpersonal skills. Seeks input and benchmarking. Encourages win-win alternatives. Works effectively with people outside formal authority to accomplish goals. Solicits participation, challenges ideas and summarizes accomplishments and planned actions.
Inclusive Mindset: Seeks input from and values the uniqueness of people of different groups and cultures. Works effectively with individuals of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, abilities, motivations, or backgrounds. Challenges practices or policies that may be exclusionary; proven commitment to race and income equality; knowledge of student success strategies that close attainment gaps by race and income in education.
Presentation Skills: Presents ideas in a clear, succinct, organized, and engaging manner. Is effective in a variety of presentation settings inside and outside the organization (formal and informal, one-on-one, small and large groups, with peers, direct reports and leadership).
Problem Solving / Results Orientation: Asks good questions and probes all sources for answers; sees underlying or hidden patterns; looks beyond the obvious and doesn't stop at the first answers. Uses rigorous logic and methods to analyze and understand why problems occur; generates and implements creative, cost effective and realistic solutions.
* Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $186,400 to $288,800 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $203,100 to $314,900 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidateโs job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.
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Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Candidate Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion โ of voices, ideas, and approaches โ and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.