We are seeking a Senior Program Specialist to join the Foundation in its mission of benefitting, supporting, and enhancing the California Community Colleges—the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the nation. The Foundation for California Community Colleges is on a mission to double its impact in the next 10 years. We are a group of relentless optimists and innovators in education, working collaboratively with public and private partners to help improve the student experience and expand pathways to economic and social mobility in communities across California.
What You’ll Do
The Senior Program Specialist manages the day-to-day activities necessary to achieve program goals, takes ownership of stakeholder needs, and leads meetings to drive project advancements. They ensure effective coordination with cross-functional teams and product specialists to deliver technology solutions. They also keep the Senior Manager informed of progress, challenges, and any necessary adjustments.
A critical component of this role is serving as a knowledgeable, confident resource for users of assigned technology platforms. The ideal candidate will develop deep functional knowledge of the tools they support, quickly learning products inside and out in order to train users, walk them through workflows, document and recreate bugs, submit tickets, and follow through on issue resolution. This role requires comfort operating within a dynamic, evolving product environment. The ability to stay steady and solution-focused when features, timelines, or workflows shift is essential.
This position also requires strong change management skills, particularly in guiding users through platform transitions with tact, empathy, and professionalism. The Senior Program Specialist will provide mentorship and support to Program Specialists and may supervise the training, development, and evaluation of staff. A growth mindset, high-level professionalism, and a deep commitment to stakeholder success are essential to this role.
- Manage technology-focused programs and projects from planning through completion, ensuring objectives, timelines, and quality standards are achieved while driving continuous progress and stakeholder engagement.
- Develop deep expertise in assigned technology platforms and provide user support, training, workflow guidance, troubleshooting, and issue resolution for diverse stakeholders.
- Partner with internal teams, product specialists, vendors, and clients to gather feedback, address business needs, and ensure successful implementation of technology solutions.
- Guide users through platform transitions and technology enhancements by delivering clear communication, training, and support that promotes successful adoption and minimizes disruption.
- Identify, document, and track platform issues; coordinate resolutions with technical teams; implement quality assurance processes; and recommend improvements to enhance user experience and program effectiveness.
Attributes for Success
- Minimum of 3+ years of related work experience in program support or coordination
- Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Zoom, and other digital systems, platforms, and tools that support collaborative work required
- Experience with Atlassian products: JIRA, Confluence, and Service Desk; experience using JIRA to track project tasks is preferred
- Experience developing and achieving Key Performance Indicators
- Experience managing projects required
- Experience applying an agile methodology to project management activities preferred
- Familiarity with the California Community Colleges and system partners, public education environment, or other state agency is a plus
- Demonstrated experience in change management practices, including stakeholder communication, transition planning, and user adoption strategies; skilled at navigating resistance with patience and professionalism
- Demonstrated comfort working with evolving technology products; able to stay effective and confident with users when features, workflows, or timelines are subject to change
- We’re recruiting for mission-driven, passionate, equity-minded individuals with a strong desire to impact and change people’s lives for the better
- Our work holds great weight and responsibility, and the opportunity to impact the lives of millions
- Innovation, creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship are encouraged as employees work to achieve organizational goals
- FoundationCCC blends the impact of a non-profit, the culture of an entrepreneurial start-up, and the scale of a state agency
- Team members are hired for their expertise in niche areas across our areas of impact and higher education overall, and for their knowledge of business, philanthropy, technology, communications, and more
- We have a commitment to professional development and an emphasis on shared leadership, to ensure growth for employees and the organization overall
What we Offer
FoundationCCC is fully committed to a “remote-first” philosophy, and recruits and hires talent across the state in fully remote positions, where virtual work is possible. Our headquarters are located in Downtown Sacramento, just blocks from California’s State Capitol.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation, generous PTO, holidays
- Medical, dental, and vision plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Wellness offerings
- CalPERS retirement program and optional 403(b) and 457 Retirement plans
- Tuition reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].
Budgeted Annual Salary Pay Range:
$80,000.00 - $90,000.00Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.
Skills Required
- Minimum of 3+ years of related work experience in program support or coordination
- Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Zoom, and other collaborative digital systems
- Experience with Atlassian products: Jira, Confluence, and Service Desk
- Experience using Jira to track project tasks
- Experience developing and achieving Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Experience managing projects
- Experience applying an agile methodology to project management activities
- Demonstrated experience in change management practices, including stakeholder communication and user adoption strategies
- Comfort working with evolving technology products and troubleshooting user issues
- Familiarity with California Community Colleges, system partners, public education environment, or other state agency
What We Do
The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) works to benefit students, colleges, and communities by reducing barriers to opportunities for all Californians and accelerating paths to economic and social mobility. The organization was founded in 1998 and serves as the official statewide nonprofit organization supporting the California Community Colleges, the largest system of higher education in the nation. FoundationCCC operates just over 70 programs and services that improve educational access and affordability, address basic needs, connect students to work-based learning, and tackle local climate change effects. These programs are organized across six priority Areas of Impact: Student Success, Workforce, Development, Equity, Community Impact, Climate Action, and System Support. The organization’s work is made possible through funding from and partnerships with philanthropy, public agencies, corporations, and donors. Since inception in 1998, FoundationCCC has grown to be one of the largest operating foundations in higher education, with over 550 full-time employees and annual revenues of over $167 million.
