Careers

The Southern Education Foundation, Inc. (SEF), located in Atlanta Georgia, seeks an Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow to direct SEF’s emerging early childhood education initiative. Founded in 1867, SEF’s mission is to advance equity and excellence in education for all students in the South, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families. SEF uses advocacy, leadership development, research, and strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations to improve outcomes in early childhood through early adulthood. SEF believes education is the vehicle by which all students get fair chances to develop their talents and contribute to the common good. For more than 156 years, SEF has also substantially improved opportunities for young learners and students from birth through 16.  

The ideal Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow candidate will possess a robust understanding of prenatal, infant, childcare, pre-K, and other Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs and policies. The candidate must also have a history of effectively advocating for ECE policies at the local, state, or federal level.  

This position reports to the Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy.

The ECE Senior Fellow will elevate SEF’s portfolio of work to improve and increase support for young children in the South. This person will manage SEF’s ECE overall strategy and portfolio of work. In coordination with SEF’s Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, the ECE Senior Fellow’s primary responsibility will be to direct the Southern Early Childhood Education Justice (SECEJ) network, a new SEF-sponsored, multi-year, multi-state initiative that seeks to improve state and federal policies and make transformative educational improvements for the region’s youngest children of color. The ECE Senior Fellow will provide internal and external leadership for the SECEJ project, coordinate efforts with associated partner organizations, and provide technical assistance to a growing network of ECE advocates and policy partners.  

The ECE Senior Fellow will bolster SEF’s early childhood agenda by responding to the region’s most pressing policies and challenges by learning from and listening to partners, analyzing, and understanding relevant data and research, and determining when conditions are ripe for shifts in state and federal policies. The ECE Senior Fellow will also work collaboratively across the organization with other SEF leaders, such as the Director of Research and Policy, early learning staff members, and partner organizations, on strategy and the execution of workplans. 

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Lead a state and national network of early childhood education advocates to advance racial equity in the early childhood education sector. 
• Perform data analysis and coordinate community-based advocacy bootcamps. 
• Develop or coordinate a series of policy briefs and ECE related fact sheets.  
• Assist in the development of advocacy tactics tailored to six southern states and support the work of other network partners. 
• Develop a regional early childhood education advocacy agenda in collaboration with national and state-based partners. 
• Disseminate ECE data, research, and advocacy opportunities across communities, families, schools, ECE programs, and with other key partners. 
• Serve as a regional ECE leader and identify new opportunities to expand equity in early childhood education throughout the South.
• Connect and collaborate with other ECE organizations, forging strong external relationships that benefit young children and their families. 
• Provide guidance and advising on policy, build connections with policymakers, and work collaboratively across disciplines and with multiple partners. 
• Develop network programming, meeting agendas, and other relevant collateral to facilitate network convenings, and lead other capacity-building discussions with a diverse set of partners online and in-person. 
• Draft memos and grant-related reports, as needed, including midpoint, annual, and final summaries along with other associated materials for funders. 
• Educate SEF staff on key ECE issues, including notable benchmarks for improvement and collaborate with colleagues to align cross-sectional areas of work. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• A Master’s degree is strongly preferred in a related field such as early childhood development/education, public policy, public health, or a related social science field. A Bachelor’s degree is required.  
• Have a documented history of successfully managing state or federal ECE campaigns. 
• Possess government advocacy experience and an understanding of local, state, and federal policies that impact and govern ECE. 
• Have seven or more years of experience leading ECE or K-12 education advocacy efforts, conducting policy analysis, and leading advocacy coalitions.   
• Possess a deep commitment to educational equity and improving systems to support all children, but especially children of color and those who live in low-income households.   
• Demonstrate knowledge of the ECE policy landscape and key political factors, with a specific focus on program affordability, quality, workforce preparation, and retention. 
• Have a comprehensive understanding of the child development field.  
• Possess substantial knowledge of state and federal ECE policies and programs. 
• Demonstrate the capacity to translate ideas into action. 
• Possess excellent written, oral, and digital communication skills, great interpersonal skills, and the ability to distill and explain complex information to a variety of audiences and partners.  
• Have experience with private grants, grants administration, monitoring, and reporting requirements, along with tracking contracts and agreements. 
• Have stellar project management skills and the ability to facilitate the work of multiple teams, prioritizing competing demands in a fast-changing and highly collaborative environment. 
• Candidates should be able to organize and prioritize their workload effectively, complete multiple assignments, and meet various deadlines. 
• Advanced skills in Excel/Google Sheets, Word/Google Docs, PowerPoint/Google Slides, comfortable using database software applications, online data-collection systems, and remote video-conferencing via Zoom and Microsoft Teams. 
• Experience working independently and collaboratively with other staff members while displaying a positive demeanor. 
• Exhibit sensitivity to and respect for differences in personal, professional, and business relationships on behalf of SEF. 
• Have comfort with ambiguity and a sense of humor while exhibiting grace under pressure. 
• Effectively communicate and embody the values, beliefs, purpose, and equity-focused mission of SEF as an organization. 
• Effectively advocate for increased access to affordable, high-quality early learning environments for young children and increased pay and benefits for the ECE workforce. 
• Possess significant professional experience in the public, academic, and nonprofit sectors. 
• Fundraising experience and the skills to contribute to the program’s long-term financial sustainability and growth. 

This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday. Compensation for this role begins at $80,000 and is commensurate with experience including a competitive benefits package. This is a grant-funded position with funding currently in place for three years. Extending the position will depend on raising additional project funding beyond 2026. The Southern Education Foundation, Inc. is an Atlanta-based organization. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the organization.  

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest 2) a current resume 3) names and contact information of three professional references to hr@southerneducation.org with Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow in the subject line of the email. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  

The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Southern Education Foundation (SEF), located in Atlanta, GA, seeks a Research and Policy Analyst to join its research and policy team in advancing evidence-based education policies and communicating policy solutions in ways that inform federal, state, and local policy development. For more than 156 years, Southern Education Foundation has made substantial contributions to improving education at all levels, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. SEF works to improve equity, excellence, and opportunity in education nationally. Research, policy analysis, advocacy, and programs are the primary means through which SEF pursues its mission.

The right candidate should have working knowledge of the P20 continuum, and genuine interest in improving educational opportunity and working to ensure that education is the vehicle through which all students get fair and equitable chances to develop their talents and contribute to the common good.

This position reports to the Director of Research and Policy.

The Research and Policy Analyst will play a lead role in conducting and reviewing research and analyzing data to highlight trends and current inequities in education, elevate promising solutions, and create compelling narratives to advise policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders on issues of policy and practice. This person will work collaboratively with the Director to promote and support an organizational culture that values research and learning in a way that is both actionable and useful for improving overall educational effectiveness and driving impact across the early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary policy and advocacy landscape.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collect, identify, organize, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data in support of SEF’s policy and advocacy goals.
• Support the development of policy recommendations and the analysis of policy, including the development of policy documents.
• Support and/or manage the creation of periodic research reports and syntheses.
• Distill complex policy and research findings into effective, understandable products (i.e., data tools, blogs, fact sheets, and social media communications) for lay audiences.
• Collaborate with the Director of Research and Policy to assist in developing a work plan for research and policy initiatives that advance SEF’s mission to improve outcomes for all students in the South.
• Respond to federal and state legislative requests with current research and evidence-based recommendations.
• Under the direction of the Director, Research and Policy, engage a range of researchers, institutions, and other key partners and stakeholders to build and maintain networks that support SEF priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree or higher in education, education policy, or related field, or a bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience.
• Familiarity and experience with quantitative and qualitative research and experience conducting evaluation and/or policy analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Distill and explain complex information, data, and technical details to a variety of audiences and partners.
• Preferred experience in statistical analysis and research packages and tools such as STATA, SPSS, NVivo, and R along with expertise in Microsoft Office required.
• Ability to identify equity and opportunity gaps in datasets and build clear arguments rooted in principles of equity.
• Experience working independently and in cooperation with other staff members while displaying a positive and cooperative attitude.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, including strong social listening (in person and virtually) to understand sentiment, needs, and questions of staff, partners, and stakeholders, and diplomatically communicate complex messages to a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and/or local policies and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work across multiple priorities and to connect multiple topics and issues in service of improving equity outcomes.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload effectively and comfort with ambiguity while completing multiple assignments with various deadlines.
• Capacity to translate ideas into action.
• Strong project management skills and strategic thinking; ability to facilitate the work of multiple teams and prioritize competing demands in a changing, highly collaborative environment.
• Exceptional written, oral, and electronic communication skills and interact with diverse external audiences at multiple levels within the education system.
• Have a sense of humor and exhibit grace under pressure.
• Available to travel up to 20%.
• A deep commitment to educational equity and high achievement for all students, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families and the ability to effectively communicate and embody the value, belief, purpose, and equity-focused mission of the organization.

This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday. Compensation for this position begins at $65,000 and is commensurate with experience including a competitive benefits package. The Southern Education Foundation is an Atlanta-based organization. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the business.

If you think you might be a good fit for our team, we would love to hear from you. Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest; 2) a current resume; 3) a writing sample; and 4) names and contact information of three references to hr@southerneducation.org with Research and Policy Analyst in the subject line of the email. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

A joint project of SEF and SPLC, the Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellowship is a two-year program designed to help early-career attorneys develop the skills and experience they need to advance racial justice in education through impact litigation and state and federal advocacy.

Candidates are expected to commit to the full two years from September 2024 to August 2026. Fellows must be based in Atlanta for the duration of their fellowship and will work at least part-time at the SEF office.

Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to SEF’s mission, education justice, racial equity, and civil rights, and liberties for all. The fellowship is open to third-year law students and recent law school graduates who have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher. Candidates are required to pass bar exam in any of the 17 states in SEF’s primary region. Fellows receive an annual stipend of $90,000.

Interested applicants should complete the online application form at southerneducation.org/lwh-fellowship/apply.

The Southern Education Foundation (SEF), located in Atlanta, Georgia seeks a Director, Business Development and Donor Relations to oversee SEF’s donor relations program and manage its fundraising initiatives. For more than 156 years, Southern Education Foundation (SEF) has made substantial contributions to improving education at all levels, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. SEF works to improve equity, excellence, and opportunity in education nationally. Research, policy analysis, advocacy, and programs are the primary means through which SEF pursues its mission.

The right candidate will be someone committed to the belief that education is the vehicle by which all students have access and opportunities for fair chances to develop their talents and attain school success. This candidate should possess a sound understanding of education issues across the P-12 pipeline.

This position will report to the President and CEO with a dotted line to the Chief Financial Officer.

The Director, Business Development and Donor Relations is an essential leader in SEF’s development operations and the strategic management of the organization’s relationship with its top donors. The successful candidate will be responsible for oversight of Southern Education Foundations fundraising campaigns and communicating with current and prospective donors. This position involves directing philanthropic grants, individual, foundation, corporate gifts, and planned annual giving campaigns. The Director, Business Development and Donor Relations will curate new partnerships and expound upon relationships ensuring reporting, compelling experiences, and tailored opportunities to help advance SEF’s work.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

You will establish processes to track, measure, analyze outcomes, and evaluate business partnerships value. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned strategic partnership/business development professional that has a proven track record of success within the non-profit space.

• Identify and develop new business opportunities while leveraging key client relationships.
• Build and evaluate existing relationships with funders, customers, and partners with an eye towards building on what works and changing what doesn’t.
• Collaborate with the Communications Team on strategies to optimize advertising through social media and the delivery of campaigns.
• Write and edit compelling donor communications and marketing materials.
• Develop and strengthen internal and external relationships that leads to increased lead generation and grants.
• Has the ability to influence and negotiate through proven sales skills and has unique insights aligning to key funders and with the mission of SEF.
• Able to clearly articulate actionable feedback and guidance to senior stakeholders regarding potential funders.
• Maintain a consistent ‘pipeline’ that enables meeting and exceeding company’s strategic goals.
• Some travel is included but not limited to meeting with partners to maintain current business and/or obtain additional business while participating in industry specific events.
• Help shape the company’s long-term objectives and determine plans for how to meet them.
• Identify sponsorship and grant opportunities and increases partner engagement.
• Conduct meetings and presentations to raise SEFs brand profile.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, or related field; MBA a plus.
• 5-10 years’ sales or marketing experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• 3-5 years’ supervisory or management experience.
• Communicates effectively to prospective customers, clients, partners, vendors, and press both written and verbally as a polished presenter who can successfully articulate the vision and strategy of SEF.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues, Board members, and staff to achieve fundraising goals.
• Possess relationship management, public relations, and strategic planning skills.
• Uses financial and business acumen along with negotiation skills.
• Maintains effective organizational, research, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to fundraising strategies in response to changing circumstances or unexpected events.
• Works well under pressure and meets tight deadlines, while maintaining a positive and solutions-oriented approach.
• Familiarity with technology and platforms used in the field.
• Big-picture thinking encompasses strong interpersonal skills for effective decision making.
• Have a deep commitment to SEFs mission and making an impact in the South.

This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday with a competitive salary and benefits package. The Southern Education Foundation is an Atlanta based organization. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the business.

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest; 2) a current resume; 3) names and contact information of three references to hr@southerneducation.org with Director, Business Development and Donor Relations in the subject line of the email.

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The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Southern Education Foundation, Inc. (SEF), located in Atlanta Georgia seeks a Technical Assistance Lead for the Equity Assistance Center-South. For more than 156 years, Southern Education Foundation has made substantial contributions to improving education at all levels; from pre-kindergarten through higher education for low-income and students of color in the southern states. SEF works to improve equity, excellence, and opportunity in education nationally. Research, policy analysis, advocacy, and programs are the primary means through which Southern Education Foundation pursues its mission.

The Equity Assistance Center-South works in the areas of civil rights, equity, and school reform to help ensure that equitable educational opportunities are available and accessible for all children. EACs provide technical assistance and training upon request, in the areas of race, sex, national origin, and religion to public school districts, school boards, state and local education agencies, and other governmental agencies to promote equitable education opportunities.

This position will report to the Director, EAC-South Region II.

The Technical Assistance (TA) Lead oversees a variety of projects within the Equity Assistance Centers including providing design, instruction, and project management expertise. The TA Lead is responsible for building and maintaining the EAC-South’s portfolio of technical assistance work and supporting related activities like needs sensing, relationship building, and federal reporting. You will oversee cross-functional teams across SEF and partner with organizations who will be asked to provide training and technical assistance at the invitation of school boards and other governmental agencies on issues of equity related to race, national origin, sex, or religion. Such technical assistance is designed to improve and sustain a public education system’s capacity to address issues occasioned by desegregation and inequities and increase equitable opportunities for all students. This position will forge and expound upon partnerships that align with the mission of the EAC and of Southern Education Foundation, Inc.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Apply human-centered design principles and continuous improvement framework to help state, local education agencies, and educators unpack and address the challenges they face.
• Use evidence-based research to create self-paced modules, courses, and other online content that cover issues under the four desegregation areas (race, national origin, sex, or religion).
• Develop and maintain project plans, communicating project status to internal and external teams, and supporting decision making and execution to meet project goals and timeline.
• Work with the Evaluation lead to ensure that data collection and assessed outcomes are tied to project goals.
• Collaborate with project leads to understand and discuss the scope of various projects.
• Assess the needs of partners and collaboration with education constituents.
• Co-create and maintain a fully accessible, responsive regional website with an online repository containing resources including but not limited to, research syntheses, rubrics, briefs, training manuals, newsletters, webinars, and other TA tools and products.
• Provide remote and in-person expert consultation or training to address equity issues including but not limited to reducing implicit bias, improving cultural competencies, implementing nondiscriminatory policies to prevent and counter prejudice and insensitivity and creating safe and supportive learning environments that are free from harassment, bullying, teasing, and hate crimes based on race, national origin, sex, or religion for groups of educators, coaches, school, district, and state leadership.
• Provide training at conferences designed to improve the ability of teachers, supervisors, counselors, parents, community members, community organizations, and other elementary or secondary school personnel to deal effectively with special educational problems occasioned by desegregation.
• Present confidently about effective strategies for change management and capacity building and bringing both innovative and proven solutions to common challenges in K-12 education.
• Establish as appropriate, communities of practice (CoP) and peer-to-peer exchanges on equity topics which could include managing cohort or project-based leadership academies or implementing a series of professional development activities to respond to regional requests by school boards and other responsible governmental agencies.
• Assist school boards and other responsible governmental agencies in conducting needs assessments, including equity audits, and developing comprehensive implementation plans and policies for addressing issues under the desegregation areas (race, national origin, sex, or religion).
• Assist school boards and other governmental agencies in advancing district desegregation efforts by engaging in community asset mapping including but not limited to coordinating with State and local entities in order to implement effective methods of coping with special education problems occasioned by desegregation.
• If requested by school boards or other governmental agencies, collaborate with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other federal agencies, as appropriate, to provide TA to school boards and other responsible governmental agencies that support compliance with federal civil rights laws and address civil rights, desegregation, and equity issues, including working directly with local educational agencies (LEAs) that are implementing Resolution Agreements.
• Complete other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• A master’s degree in education or a related field required. Doctorate degree preferred.
• Five years of technical experience in an educational environment.
• Knowledge of the Technical Assistance processes and theory.
• Experience coaching and managing individuals or teams is required.
• Demonstrates a high level of comfort with technology, with experience using technology in an educational context preferred.
• Experience as an evaluator, as a project researcher or analyst, or in coordinating with an evaluator around technical assistance work.
• Manage multiple, complex projects simultaneously, and can navigate ambiguity to achieve exceptional outcomes.
• Exceptional skills as a communicator and synthesizer.
• Demonstrates a high level of comfort with technology, with experience using technology in an educational context preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 30-50%.
• Excellent writing skills and deliverable creation and review experience.
• Exceptional people skills understanding that this position will require working with teams across many partner organizations as part of the TA team.
• The ability to demonstrate grace under pressure and to prioritize tasks effectively.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Knowledge of education sector, with 5+ years of experience leading projects and/or a team of educators in a school or district environment.
• Prior experience working with federal education grants.
• Demonstrated experience managing and/or conducting quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed methods research.
• Knowledge of research methods and familiarity with statistical analysis packages and other research tools.

This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday. Compensation for this role will start at $100,000 with a competitive benefits package. The Southern Education Foundation is an Atlanta-based organization. Atlanta-based candidates are preferred. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the business.

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest 2) a current resume 3) names and contact information of three references to hr@southerneducation.org with Technical Assistance (TA) Lead in the subject line of the email. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Southern Education Foundation, Inc. (SEF), located in Atlanta, Georgia seeks an outstanding candidate to fill our Restricted Funds Accountant position. For more than 156 years, Southern Education Foundation has made substantial contributions to improving education at all levels, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. SEF works to improve equity, excellence, and opportunity in education nationally. Research, policy analysis, advocacy, and programs are the primary means through which SEF pursues its mission.

The right candidate will be someone committed to the belief that education is the vehicle by which all students have access and opportunities for fair chances to develop their talents and attain school success. The Restricted Funds Accountant should also possess an understanding of education issues across the P-12 pipeline. This position reports to the CFO and to the Accounting Manager.

The Southern Education Foundation, Inc. is hiring a Restricted Funds Accountant to support the overall SEF financial operations. This position will work with all levels and functional areas of the SEF team. The chosen individual will possess some full cycle knowledge of financial accounting and operations. This professional should be self-motivated to learn about the Southern Education Foundation, Inc. operations, and support SEF’s strategy for strengthening relationships with donors and partners who support the work and mission of Southern Education Foundation, Inc.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Focus on restricted fund accounting and reporting trends.
• Assist with managing all grants and reporting to all donors.
• Review restricted funds cash flow analysis.
• Work with the Accounting Manager to ensure the appropriate coding of contributions, gifts, and grants to the appropriate budget, grant, and restriction codes.
• Analyze data by reviewing and comparing restricted funds budget vs actual dollars.
• Process journal entries to ensure all business transactions are recorded accurately.
• Manages accounts payable paid by restricted funds and performs balance sheet reconciliations.
• Assist in the preparation of SEF balance sheets, income statements, and other financial statements according to non-profit fund accounting.
• Review all general ledger expenses as assigned.
• Update financial data in accounting software, ensuring that the information is updated timely and accurately.
• Ensure grants are recorded according to appropriate revenue recognition rules.
• Assist the Accounting Manager in the preparation of SEF monthly financial statements and various financial reports.
• Supports the CFO in identifying and reporting of financial trend information.
• Assist in preparation and management of annual budgeting process.
• Assist in the preparation of the PBC audit schedules and annual financial audit reports.
• Champion automating processes to enhance financial reporting.
• Maintenance of financial records in compliance with retention policy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree required in Accounting or a related field.
• Possess five years of work experience in general ledger and financial statement preparation.
• Experience in analyzing and interpreting data.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively on multiple projects.
• Commitment to cost containment.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Possess excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrates ethical behavior at all times.
• Knowledge of Sage or Abila a plus.
• Maximize the use of technology when applicable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly with Excel using v-lookups, and creating pivot tables.
• Have a sense of humor and the ability to exhibit grace under pressure along with being comfortable with ambiguity.
• Support equity and excellence for low-income students in the South.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• CPA highly preferred or seeking to obtain CPA certification.
• Prior non-profit, restricted funds accounting, and reporting experience.

This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday. Compensation for this role will start at $60,000 along with a competitive benefits package. The Southern Education Foundation is an Atlanta-based organization. Candidates located in the Atlanta Metropolitan area are encouraged to apply. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the business.

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest 2) a current resume 3) names and contact information of three references to hr@southerneducation.org with Restricted Funds Accountant in the subject line of the email. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Southern Education Foundation (SEF), located in Atlanta, GA seeks an outstanding candidate to fill our Program Manager position to oversee and execute multi-district cohorts that use outcomes-based contracts as the basis of the contracting arrangement between academic service providers and participating school districts. For more than 150 years, SEF has made outsized contributions to improving education at all levels, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. SEF works to improve equity, excellence, and opportunity in education nationally. Research, policy analysis, advocacy, and programs are the primary means through which SEF pursues its mission.

The right candidate will be someone committed to the belief that education is the vehicle by which all students have access and opportunities for fair chances to develop their talents and attain school success. This candidate should possess a sound understanding of education issues across the P-12 pipeline.

This position reports to the OBC Project Director.

The Program Manager will be responsible for executing all elements of the project, including managing relationships with districts, tracking district progress through the 5 steps of OBC, collecting relevant data, ensuring a series of tools and communications resources are developed and disseminated, and reporting to funders on the cohort progress. TheProgram Manager will have a keen understanding of K-12 district environments alongside an entrepreneurial and can- do flair for getting things done. They will work collaboratively with the Project Director to promote and support an organizational culture that pursues improving student outcomes with evidence and passion.

The Program Manager will oversee all day-to-day operations of the OBC project, ensuring the project meets all deliverables, is on-time, and within budget. This role will support participating districts to problem-solve on the ground and glean information across districts both to share lessons learned and to identify ways to strengthen OBC teaching over time. The Program Manager will seek ways to bolster capacity for and understanding of outcomes-based contracting in K-12 broadly. This candidate will work collaboratively across the organization with Program and Communications staff at all levels, as well as directly with partner districts and providers.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop project management structure, ensuring visibility to team members of status and progress of project elements.
• Track progress against outcomes and goals of project, helping to ensure we have time, capacity, and adequate planning time to ensure we are able to achieve project goals on time and within budget.
• Track district coaching sessions with each assigned OBC facilitator, ensuring timely follow-ups and feedback is provided by facilitators to each district.
• Represent the OBC project in other networks of education advocates (Chiefs for Change, tutoring networks, research networks, etc.).
• Manage reporting to funders regarding the OBC cohort progress; drafting updates in collaboration with OBC project leadership.
• Coordinate and oversee vendors on this project, including technical assistance providers, and OBC Facilitators.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, cultivating trusting relationships with district partners and tutoring providers and maintaining close contact with funders. The Program Manager will have a collaborative approach to problem-solving between districts and providers. This takes a deft hand; creative approaches; and a respectful, risk-taking posture.
• This project has lots of moving parts. The Program Manager should have a vision for how complex projects come together, have comfort in managing complex projects, and demonstrate flexibility when things do not go as planned.
• Keen ability to organize and prioritize workload.Extremely strong skills in Google Docs and/or Word; Google slides and/or PowerPoint; Google sheets and/or Excel.
• Ideally, this Program Manager sees opportunities for expansion (to more districts) and for showcasing the work (representing OBC in conferences, helping people write about it, and identifying opportunities for education media to write about OBC).
• It would be wonderful for this Program Manager to have reasonably good knowledge about district purchasing process experience.
• Depth or willingness to quickly develop depth in outcomes-based contracting and pay-for-success work (primarily in the public sector).
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree is preferred.

Compensation for this role will start at $80,000 along with a competitive benefits package. This is a grant-funded position with funding in place for three years. Extending the position will depend on additional fundraising. The Southern Education Foundation is an Atlanta based organization. This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the business.

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest; 2) a current resume; 3) names and contact information of three references to hr@southerneducation.org with Program Manager Outcomes Based Contracting in the subject line of the email. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

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Salary: $80,000.00 per year

The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Southern Education Foundation (SEF), located in Atlanta, GA, seeks outstanding candidates to fill a Director of Leadership Development position. This position is dedicated to the advancement of a comprehensive, proactive leadership development strategy that furthers the mission and goals of SEF to advance creative solutions to ensure equity and excellence in education for low-income students and students of color in the south. The Director will use knowledge of leadership best practices, pedagogy, racial equity, DEI, and data analysis to create content for and facilitate leadership development workshops and professional learning offerings. This individual will lead the development of the SEF’s current fellowships, as well as be the thought-leaders on expansion opportunities. Also, the Director will provide leadership and support, through supervision, project and budget management, and engagement with partners, practitioners, and other education stakeholders. To be successful, this individual must be a team player and a proactive manager of processes and people with stellar interpersonal skills.

This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer and is the point of contact for SEF’s Leadership Development strategy.

Candidates interested in this position should possess a robust understanding of racial equity, public education, education equity, and education policies and practices across the P-20 continuum and working to ensure that education is the vehicle by which all students get fair chances to develop their talents and contribute to the common good.

For more than 150 years SEF has made outsized contributions to improving education at all levels, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. SEF works to improve equity, excellence, and opportunity in education nationally. Research, policy analysis, advocacy, and programs are the primary means through which SEF pursues its mission.

A bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s degree is preferred. Candidates should: be able to organize and prioritize workload to effectively complete multiple assignments; have experience in designing programs with developing professional communities leveraging multiple approaches (e.g., virtual, cohort-based, networked, etc.); effectively communicate and embody the value, belief, purpose and mission of the organization; have experience working both independently and in cooperation with other staff members while displaying a positive, cooperative attitude; and exhibit sensitivity to and respect for differences in personal, professional and business relationships on behalf of the Foundation.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Development and ownership of leadership development offerings, including curriculum, scope and sequence of the program, and programmatic outcomes.
• Amplify leadership development efforts and strategic programming of SEF through partnerships with national nonprofits, local education agencies, philanthropic organizations, universities, press, think tanks, and community partners.
• Provide leadership, strategic direction and financial oversight of the leadership grants and funds.
• Manage and coordinate all related program logistics for fellowships.
• Design interactive curriculum that addresses the integrated foci of our Leadership Development strategy.
• Organize and facilitates meetings with fellowship participants, Leadership Development team, Design Team members, external partners, and/or key program stakeholders.
• Recruit, manage and retain a cadre of high-quality prospective fellows in support of the leadership development curriculum.
• Develop in partnership with Communications Director and manage all leadership development marketing and communications efforts, especially with an eye for recruitment of fellowship participants.
• Build relationships with education equity and social justice experts, faculty and national thought leaders to develop and enhance SEF’s leadership development programming and agenda.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key contacts, program participants and partners.
• Prepare oral and written summaries on projects, including the development of progress reports, presentations, briefs, and background or research papers.
• Curate relevant resources, documents and materials to be accessible to participants and faculty.
• Work collaboratively with the program team to develop tools and resources that will help to refine and enhance the SEF’s leadership development curriculum and programs, and support SEF’s other strategy areas.
• Devise a sustainability plan, including identifying additional resources and evaluation.
• Additional duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree is required; a master’s degree is preferred in education or a related field
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in designing and implementing professional learning engagements or fellowship programs
• Organizational, project, and priority management skills for planning, executing, and following up on issues, tasks, and daily responsibilities to meet established deadlines in a changing, highly collaborative environment
• Possess a keen understanding of (and demonstrated experience with) the impact drivers of racial inequity, as well as the interplay of identities, biases, assumptions, power and privilege, and educational opportunity.
• Deep commitment to educational equity and high achievement for all students, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families
• Exceptional written, oral, and electronic communication skills, able to reach diverse external audiences are essential
• Proven ability to work with colleagues and partners across multiple departments in a collaborative and cooperative spirit
• Experience in developing and maintaining relationships with staff, key partners and grantees
• Demonstrates ability to establish project outcomes, goals, and expectations, and achieve results
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated capacity to translate ideas into action
• Sense of humor and the ability to exhibit grace under pressure
• Strong attention to detail
• Comfort with ambiguity
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office products and MS Outlook.
• Ability to travel (when permitted under CDC and expert guidance)

Compensation is $110,000 – $120,000 with a competitive benefits package.

This is an Atlanta based position, currently SEF is working remotely with limited office attendance in accordance with the CDC and other health guidance.

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest; 2) a current resume; 3) names and contact information of three references to (hr@southerneducation.org) with Director, Leadership Development in the subject line of the email.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.