Specialist, Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research

Foundation for California Community Colleges; California (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first

Fully remote roles

Tuition reimbursement

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

CalPERS retirement

Job summary

The Foundation for California Community Colleges is seeking a Specialist, Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research to advance equity-centered student success. The role is primarily remote with some travel, and involves policy development, research, and collaboration with diverse partners to drive state- and system-wide goals.

Responsibilities include developing policy briefs and research outputs, executing multiple initiatives, and maintaining relationships with partners and government

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years in stakeholder engagement, policy development, research, or project management.
• Experience in higher education systems with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience conducting secondary research and writing professional reports.
• Experience in higher education reform or nonprofit/public sectors preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized, self-starting, able to work independently.
• Strategic and creative thinker, adaptable in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop policy briefs, reports, and presentations translating research into actionable insights.
• Support design and execution of research to improve student success.
• Collaborate with senior team on qualitative and quantitative research.
• Build relationships with FoundationCCC partners, the Chancellor’s Office, and others.
• Attend Chancellor’s Office events and meetings virtually or in-person.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Policy development

Research

Project management

Higher education experience

Communication skills

Organization

Strategic thinking

Job description

Specialist, Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research

Remote within California, Must reside in California, some travel required.

We are seeking a Specialist to join the Foundation in its mission of benefitting, supporting, and enhancing the California Community Colleges—the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the nation. The Foundation for California Community Colleges is on a mission to double its impact in the next 10 years. We are a group of relentless optimists and innovators in education, working collaboratively with public and private partners to help improve the student experience and expand pathways to economic and social mobility in communities across California.

What You’ll Do

The Success Center at the Foundation for California Community Colleges supports California Community Colleges in advancing equity-centered student success through policy development, research, strategic innovation projects, field engagement, and professional development. This work is engaging, fast-paced, and ever evolving and requires a flexible personality who enjoys working in a team-based environment. The Foundation for California Community Colleges is the trusted partner of the California Community Colleges—facilitating collaboration, accelerating innovation, and increasing system-wide resources. The Specialist-Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research will contribute to advancing student success and equity in higher education. This role involves strategic planning and implementation of multiple initiatives that drive state- and system-wide goals, while fostering strong relationships with diverse stakeholders. The position is primarily remote with some travel required.

Support the project team lead by assisting in the development and execution of project plans, including tracking deliverables, milestones, and outcomes. Develop clear and compelling policy briefs, reports, presentations, and communication materials that translate complex research, policy analysis, and project conclusions into actionable insights and recommendations for diverse audiences. Support the design and execution of research to improve student success. Collaborate closely with senior team members to conduct qualitative and quantitative research, including supporting data collection activities (e.g., interviews, focus groups, case studies), conducting data analysis using publicly available data, conducting secondary research and synthesizing findings from higher education research and policy. Build and sustain strong relationships with FoundationCCC partners, the Chancellor’s Office, and other higher education, government, and nonprofit partners. Stay attuned to federal, state and system office policy development efforts by attending Chancellor’s Office events, Board of Governors meetings, legislative hearings and briefings, and other relevant meetings, virtually or in-person.

Attributes for Success

• Minimum of three (3) years of related work experience in stakeholder engagement, policy development, research, or project management.
• Experience working within higher education systems and structures, including working with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience conducting secondary, applied research, writing in-depth reports in a professional setting, and managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Experience in higher education reform, systems change, or nonprofit/public sector environments is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, professional, and audience-appropriate reports, briefs, and presentations.
• Highly organized, self-starting, and able to work independently while managing multiple priorities effectively.
• Strategic and creative thinker, adaptable in fast-paced environments, able to problem-solve and respond swiftly to emerging needs.

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.

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

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.

Budgeted Annual Salary Pay Range: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [e-mail].

Learn more about working at the Foundation > Read the Foundation's Double Impact Strategic Plan >

Location

The Foundation’s main headquarters are based in Sacramento, California, though we offer remote opportunities throughout the entire state. We aim to hire a workforce reflective of the California communities we serve.