Senior Learning & Impact Officer

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management fall conference.; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascendium Education Philanthropy in Madison, WI is seeking a Senior Learning and Impact Officer to lead a portfolio of research and evaluation grants. You will apply your expertise to understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions, strengthening grantmaking and advancing pathways to upward mobility for learners from low-income backgrounds.

You will report to the Director of Learning and Impact, shaping learning strategies across programs, collaborating with grant partners and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in research/evaluation within philanthropy or education.
• Experience leading large portfolios of grants.
• Strong ability to translate findings into program improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of research and evaluation grants.
• Shape learning strategies across Education Philanthropy.
• Collaborate with partners to translate findings into practice.

Skills

Grantmaking Excellence

Research & Evaluation

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Salary: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00 Annually

Application Deadline: Sep 15, 2026

Strong grantmaking requires more than investing in promising ideas. It requires asking the right questions, building evidence, and applying what we learn. As a Senior Learning and Impact Officer with thePlanning, Learning, and Impact team , you’ll put your research and evaluation expertise to work within Ascendium’sExpand Opportunity strategy , working alongside colleagues and grant partners to understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions. Your work will help strengthen our grantmaking and advance approaches that create more pathways to upward mobility for learners from low-income backgrounds.

Reporting to the Director of Learning and Impact, you’ll lead a portfolio of research and evaluation grants and help shape how we learn from our investments. Your expertise in workforce development, apprenticeships, sectoral training programs, or related areas will help inform investments in approaches that create more options for learners to access postsecondary education and workforce training that lead to living-wage employment in high-growth, high-demand fields. You’ll also collaborate across strategies and contribute to broader learning priorities throughout Ascendium’s Education Philanthropy.