Program Strategy and Implementation Officer

ROME GROUP; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

4 weeks paid time off

12 paid holidays

Job summary

ROME GROUP is seeking a Program Strategy and Implementation Officer committed to advancing high-impact educational initiatives in St. Louis. The role bridges strategic planning and program execution to foster educational equity and excellence.

The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience, strong project management skills, and a passion for community engagement. Benefits include health and retirement plans, along with generous paid time off.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in schools as a practitioner or educator.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in project management and strategic initiatives.
• Strong facilitation and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and implementation of initiatives that improve educational outcomes.
• Develop systems that support continuous improvement of programs.
• Manage multiple projects while maintaining timelines and budgets.

Skills

Project management expertise

Data-informed decision-making

Relationship building

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field

Job description

Program Strategy and Implementation Officer

The St. Louis Education Fund is dedicated to advancing equity and excellence across our public schools and we’re looking for passionate, skilled individuals to join us on this mission! Since 1997, we’ve been the bridge connecting community resources with the vital needs of St. Louis Public Schools, stewarding over $32 million to support groundbreaking initiatives from Pre-K classroom expansions to innovative academic programs and essential emergency funds.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Strategy and Implementation Officer serves as a cross-functional strategist and implementation leader responsible for advancing high-impact educational initiatives across the St. Louis region. This role bridges strategic planning, partnership development, data-informed decision-making, and program execution to strengthen educational outcomes and systems-level change.

The ideal candidate is a systems thinker and relationship builder who excels at translating vision into action. This individual will manage complex initiatives, coordinate stakeholders across school districts and community organizations, develop scalable practices, and ensure initiatives are implemented with fidelity and measurable impact.

The position requires strong project management expertise, experience navigating educational systems, and a commitment to collaborative leadership centered on students, educators, families, and community partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Program Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead planning and implementation of multi-year initiatives that improve educational outcomes and organizational effectiveness.


• Increase district capacity to effectively execute and sustain strategic initiatives, including project management systems, data strategy, and leadership development.


• Design systems and structures that support continuous improvement and sustainable program implementation.


• Develop implementation roadmaps and monitor progress toward strategic priorities and goals.


• Data Strategy, Evaluation, and Learning


• Establish and maintain consistent data and communication workflows between the Fund and district partners.


• Develop and oversee data priorities and measurement frameworks aligned with regional educational goals.


• Lead the creation and maintenance of public-facing dashboards and reporting systems to monitor educational progress and outcomes.


• Develop case studies and impact narratives to support learning, stakeholder engagement, and public communication.


• Utilize quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.

Community and Collective Impact Leadership

• Establish and cultivate a coalition of education-focused foundations and community organizations to advance collaborative regional initiatives.


• Serve as a partnership convener and broker by coordinating and funding collaborative efforts among nonprofit organizations and school-based partners.


• Facilitate stakeholder engagement with students, educators, families, community members, and district leaders to ensure initiatives are co-designed and responsive to community needs.


• Convene public forums and state-of-education discussions that foster transparency and collective action.

Project Management and Operational Excellence

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining timelines, budgets, deliverables, and stakeholder accountability.


• Facilitate cross-functional meetings and ensure effective communication across internal and external partners.


• Develop systems, processes, and tools that improve efficiency and project execution.


• Prepare reports, presentations, and strategic recommendations for leadership and external stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Public Administration, Nonprofit Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Business, or a related field.


• 3+ years of experience in schools as a practitioner or educator.


• 10+ years of progressive experience in project management, strategic initiatives, education, nonprofit leadership, or systems-level work.


• Demonstrated experience managing complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders.


• Experience using data to inform strategy, program development, and decision-making.


• Strong facilitation, relationship-building, and communication skills.


• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, Public Policy, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, or a related field.


• Experience working with school systems, foundations, nonprofits, or collective impact initiatives.


• Familiarity with educational data systems, dashboards, and continuous improvement methodologies.


• Experience securing funding, managing partnerships, or leading community engagement efforts.

Employee Benefits

This position will be eligible to participate in all of the STLEF benefit plans, including without limitation, group health, life, disability, dental and vision insurance and/or participation in the STLEF’s retirement plan, or other benefits. Health, Dental and Vision benefits are covered by the Fund. Additionally, the Fund offers a time off policy with 4 weeks per year, and 12 paid holidays.

Our organization’s culture is built on a foundation of putting people first. We thrive in a highly collaborative environment where each individual’s strengths are celebrated and leveraged to drive our shared goals and outcomes. Join us to be part of a team where your contributions are valued, and your unique skills are aligned with our collective success.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Nikki Doughty – [e-mail]