Senior Specialist, Policy and Outreach

The California AfterSchool Network (CAN) believes the Out-of-School-Time (OST) field, including Expanded Learning, plays an essential role in advancing the health and well-being of every child. To achieve this, CAN and our partners focus on fundamentally redesigning systems to expand access to high-quality programs, support and nurture our workforce, and strengthen and align resources for children, families, and communities. CAN envisions compassionate communities that collaborate with OST programs to support whole children, families, and communities so that every young person, and every family is well-known, well-cared for, and supported to thrive. 

CAN is a Collaborative Impact partner (fiscally sponsored project) of the Foundation for California Community Colleges (the Foundation). For more information about CAN, visit our website: www.afterschoolnetwork.org.

What You’ll Do

The Senior Specialists primary responsibility, under the supervision of CAN’s Director of Policy and Outreach, will be to oversee and manage a strategic design process resulting in an “Ecosystem Plan to Leverage California’s Expanded Learning Infrastructure.” This strategic design process and plan will build on the foundation of A Vision for Expanded Learning in California, Strategic Plans 1.0 and 2.0. This role will work with the CAN Director Team to hold the primary responsibility for oversight of the design process including garnering data from multiple interest-holders, designing, implementing, reflecting on, and continuously improving implementation efforts for maximum impact. This includes completing associated financial and administrative tasks, convening multiple teams, and providing leadership, guidance, and support for different configurations of interest holders with unique roles and responsibilities to ensure the success of this process.

A successful candidate will possess the qualifications and skills necessary to manage their assigned projects including extensive facilitation and design competencies, ability to manage event and convening logistics, coalition building and relationship development capacities, communication and outreach competencies, and ability to oversee committees/work groups and their processes and products. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of state and national OST systems and its partners and will contribute to building and sustaining key relationships amongst these partners. The ideal candidate will also possess the ability to manage a diverse, multi-faceted, multi-interest-holder, multi-year project. This will require strong project management skills, and the ability to catalyze action among a diverse set of interest holders.

• Work closely with the CAN Team and statewide Expanded Learning and Out of School Time (OST) interest holders, and practitioners to co-develop, lead, and support multi-faceted, multi-sector initiatives and events (statewide, regionally, and locally).
• In partnership with the CAN team and strategic design partners, identify, develop, and retain key relationships with the System of Support for Expanded Learning, California Department of Education Leadership, County Office of Education and School District Leadership, higher education leadership, non-profit and CBO Leadership, Expanded Learning/OST program staff, CAN Leadership Team, Site Coordinator Network, other multi-sector partners within the education, health and human services, and workforce sectors, and other committees/work groups.
• Co-develop and oversee all aspects of a strategic design process and development and dissemination of the final strategic plan.
• Utilizes data-driven methodologies to collect and analyze a variety of complex data and information to advance the strategic design process. Performs statistical analysis and summarizes findings in applicable reports or other communication mediums.
• Develop and maintain reporting/planning tools and documentation to communicate the progress of the strategic design process to key leadership/partners.
• Organize, lead, and facilitate meetings, committees, and/or communities of practice composed of interest holders and practitioners including funders, California Department of Education Leadership, County Office of Education and School District Leadership, higher education leadership, non-profit and CBO Leadership, Expanded Learning/OST program staff, and others.
• Represent CAN publicly, including participation in meetings, workgroups/committees, providing statewide and national conference workshops and presentations, designing and delivering training and professional development.
• Oversee, manage, organize, and implement Strategic Design related convenings, meetings, and other events that may be hosted virtually, in-person, or in a hybrid format. 

Attributes for Success

• A passion for Positive Youth Development and dedication to support thriving children, families, schools, and communities.
• A commitment to value and embrace diversity and equity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, income level, national origin, physical ability, sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression.
• Ability to plan, manage, and prioritize projects while keeping appropriate personnel apprised of status on a regular basis.
• Capacity to support ongoing organizational activities including task tracking, expense reporting, grants/contracts documentation and other identified activities.
• Effective and context responsive written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively design content, present information, and facilitate meetings/trainings to a wide range of audiences in varying sizes/scope.
• Effective organizational and problem-solving skills including planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation.
• 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

This posting is a condensed version of the full job description. To request the full job description, please email us at [email protected].

Budgeted Annual Salary Pay Range:

$70,000.00 - $95,000.00

Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.