Program Officer, Policy and Advocacy

Sobrato Philanthropies; Mountain View, Sacramento (CA, CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Retirement with employer match

PTO and holidays

Transit benefits

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Sobrato Philanthropies seeks a Program Officer for Policy & Advocacy to advance educational equity through strategic grants and policy work in California and nationally. You will monitor policy developments, research local and national opportunities, and partner with grantees to strengthen organizational capacity.

The role involves collaboration with the policy team, managing grant portfolios, and engaging with government and nonprofit leaders to drive impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with 5–7 years in philanthropic strategy, grantmaking, or policy research.
• Experience evaluating nonprofits, diligence, and developing grant metrics.
• Strong writing and analytic skills for policy and advocacy work.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Grow collaboration with grantees via check-ins, site visits, and learning opportunities.
• Identify aligned organizations, evaluate proposals, and draft grant recommendations.
• Monitor California education policy and surface insights to inform strategy.
• Coordinate with program officers to align educational equity grantmaking across geographies.
• Represent SP in conferences, roundtables, and public venues; build stakeholder networks.

Skills

Policy analysis

Grantmaking

Strategic thinking

Communication

Project coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Writing

Team collaboration

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Asana

Job description

Title: Program Officer, Policy & Advocacy
Business Unit: Sobrato Philanthropies

Status: Full-Time

FSLA Status: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

The Sobrato Philanthropies has adopted a bold new Theory of Impact that seeks to build the conditions for low-wage and housing-insecure communities to thrive. To achieve this vision, SP will deploy grants and other philanthropic tools in the Silicon Valley region, at the state level in California, and nationally, focused on critical issue areas impacting these communities, including Economic Mobility, Educational Equity, and Housing Security.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

50% of Time:

• Grow and deepen ongoing collaboration with grantees through check-ins, site visits, technical assistance, and thought partnership, among other tools.
• Develop and implement virtual and in-person grantee learning and convening opportunities with the policy & advocacy team.
• Stay abreast of new and significant developments in policy, research, and practice related to educational equity for MLs in California and nationally.
• Proactively surface critical insights, trends, needs, and gaps on education policy, systems change, and organizational capacity building from our grantees and the field to inform our grantmaking strategy and practice. Bring findings back to grantees to strengthen their capacity.
• Regularly monitor education policy in California and track policy and funding wins to which our team and grantees have contributed. Provide updates to the policy & advocacy team and facilitate discussions about the impact on MLs and any grantmaking implications.

Job Responsibility 2: Partnership & Strategic Support

• Identify and research organizations that would be well-aligned with our educational equity priorities, evaluate grant proposals, conduct due diligence and financial analysis using our rubrics, determine priority funding areas, draft agreements with key metrics, and present grant recommendations.
• Lead on educational equity grants in the state policy strategy and partner with the Senior Program Officer on grants in our teacher workforce and parent demand strategies.
• Participate in, inform, and advise grantee coalitions as appropriate, including the Multilingual Education Policy Partners coalition of our educational equity anchor grantees.
• Participate in funder coalitions and learning spaces to inform philanthropic agendas.
• Build and maintain networks with key leaders from government, philanthropy, nonprofit, and other sectors to coordinate efforts and funding opportunities.
• Regularly engage stakeholders in Sacramento, including policy leaders, researchers, and advocates, to stay informed about education policy discussions.
• Represent SP and the policy & advocacy team with various constituencies, including in conferences, roundtables, and other public venues.
• Collaborate with Program Officers and Senior Program Officers at SP to strategically align educational equity grantmaking across geographies (Silicon Valley, California, and nationally).

Job Responsibility 3: Coordination and Communications

• Build collaborative and positive working relationships with all staff across The Sobrato Organization (TSO). Maintain effective communication channels.
• Contribute to annual planning, goal setting, and budgeting cycle.
• Participate in policy & advocacy, SP, and TSO all-staff meetings to coordinate work, report on progress, flag challenges, and offer insight and expertise.
• Provide regular updates and briefings on the educational equity work to SP leadership in coordination with the Director of Policy & Advocacy.
• Partner with grants management team to ensure effective grantmaking processes and practices are in place from start to finish.
• Support TSO’s communications efforts by providing educational equity stories and examples for public dissemination.

Other Responsibilities as Assigned

10% of Time

QUALIFICATIONS

Education / Training

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of 5-7 years of related experience in philanthropic strategy, grantmaking, and grant portfolio management. Experience in policy research and analysis is a plus.

Experience/Technical Skills

• A background in philanthropy that demonstrates a deep knowledge of what it takes to build and expand support for equitable, community-centered systemic change. Policy expertise is a plus.
• Grantmaking experience at a private foundation that includes diligence on nonprofits, assessing capacity, program and financial needs for scale, and developing agreements and metrics that align with shared goals.
• Passionate about uplifting the assets and experiences of low-wage and housing-insecure residents and communities, including immigrant and multilingual families and youth.
• Strategic thinking with robust quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to conduct thorough due diligence of an organization’s program model, financial models, and organizational capacity.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to develop and refine processes that enhance team efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities amid ambiguity and to leverage creative thinking and resourcefulness.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely to reflect rigorous analysis of complex issues.
• Agile learner and do-er who can quickly get up-to-speed and form productive relationships.
• Works well independently and in a team, demonstrating initiative, flexibility, and collaboration.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Exercises good judgment and comfortable with giving and receiving feedback.
• Brings a strong sense of self-confidence, self-awareness, and a sense of humor.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in the Asana project management tool is a plus.

ORGANIZATION

Reports to: Director of Policy & Advocacy

Direct Reports: N/A

Alignment to our Mission, Culture, and Values

We hire individuals who share our vision of building a better future through business and philanthropic leadership, impacting the lives of countless fellow residents of our region in a way that could be replicated in other major metropolitan regions around the country and affecting the lives of millions.

Our Mission and Values

The Sobrato Organization’s mission is to build a more equitable and sustainable world through business and philanthropic leadership. We work to inspire current and future generations to steward family resources in service of others around the world. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community, and our values honor and promote this legacy:

Mutual Accountability: We earn trust by taking ownership of our work and honoring our commitments to each other, our partners and our communities.

Collaboration: We believe in the value of collaboration and partnership in achieving effective solutions. We treat people with respect and value the diverse experiences and perspectives of our partners, colleagues and investees.

Engagement: We recognize that lasting impact requires building deep relationships with our stakeholders and getting proximate to our communities and the work. We act with humility, respect and compassion.

Excellence: We focus on results, maintain a strong work ethic, and persist through challenges. We innovate, take risks, and embrace creativity and continuous learning.

Integrity: We endeavor to deal transparently, honestly and fairly. We strive to do what is right, especially when it is hard.

Medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents on the first of the month following the hire date

• Short and long-term disability and life insurance
• Fertility program benefits
• Comprehensive mental health benefits for employees and dependents
• Retirement savings account with matching contributions of up to 10%
• Twenty PTO days in the first year of service in addition to paid year-end closure days between Christmas and New Years Day
• Eleven paid holidays
• Transit commuter benefits
• Tuition assistance and professional development initiatives for growth
• Technology allowance
• Employee matching gifts program
• Generous parental leave
• Flexible and inclusive work environment
• Enjoy a professional yet comfortable work environment with our business casual dress code
• Catered lunches, healthy snacks and beverages
• Acknowledgement for exceptional work as well as important moments in the lives of those we work with

Compensation Transparency

At TSO, base pay is part of a broader compensation package and is set within a range, allowing for growth as you advance in your role. The pay range for this role is between 125,000 and 150,000.

Salary offers are determined based on various factors, including experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, internal equity, and specific business and organizational needs. TSO is fully committed to complying with California's pay transparency laws to ensure fair and equitable compensation practices.

About Us

Founded by John A. Sobrato in 1979 and led by CEO Tony Mestres, The Sobrato Organization remains a family-owned firm known for integrity and dedication, with no outside investors or joint venture partners. Since 1953, the Sobrato Family has played a pivotal role in shaping Silicon Valley through its real estate development. Its office, and R&D projects comprise 7.5 million square feet, most of which are Class A, mid-rise office buildings. TSO also owns 30 apartment communities totaling 6,700 units along the West Coast. Through Sobrato Philanthropies, the firm has donated more than $379 million in cash and real estate to the Silicon Valley community. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community and our values honor and promote this legacy.

The Sobrato Organization is committed to its mission of building strong and vibrant communities where we live and do business. To achieve this, we embrace becoming a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization that empowers our people. Our team remains at the core of what we do. We strive to consistently lead from a space of learning and strengthening our capacity for change. We understand our responsibility to cultivate a culture of belonging, appreciation, and respect. We believe that TSO must be a place where staff feel at ease in expressing themselves honestly and openly. Advancing these important initiatives is mission-critical to our ability to maximize our impact in the world.

The Sobrato Organization is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to building a team that represents a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills and to creating an environment and inclusion and belonging for all employees regardless of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. The Sobrato Organization is expanding, and we are passionate about growing our staff with people who have diverse voices with different lived experiences.