WEC National Portfolio Lead

WALTON ENTERPRISES & WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION; Bentonville (AR); On-site; USD 230,000 - 287,000; Full time

Job summary

Walton Enterprises seeks a seasoned National Portfolio Lead to drive strategy, development, and performance of the Walton Education Coalition's national advocacy and political investment portfolio. You will align national partners with WEC priorities and advance K-12 education policy opportunities across states.

You will lead portfolio planning, budgeting, diligence on national partners, and ensure measurable results while reporting to Walton Education Coalition leadership and the board.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in education policy, advocacy, philanthropy, government affairs, political strategy, or a related field.
• Deep understanding of national education policy, advocacy, political strategy, and related organizations.
• Experience managing investments, grants, or budgets preferred.
• Willingness to travel regularly.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex policy, political, organizational, and leadership dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead WEC's national investment portfolio and assess partnerships and performance.
• Direct investment recommendations and align with priority state opportunities.
• Oversee portfolio planning, budgeting, and partner accountability.
• Provide regular portfolio updates to the Director and the board.
• Develop annual national portfolio budget and investment plans.
• Engage with national advocacy organizations, policy groups, and funders.
• Set clear partner expectations and measure portfolio outcomes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Portfolio management

Communication skills

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

WEC National Portfolio Lead

Position Title: Walton Education Coalition, National Portfolio Lead

Department: Confluence Advocacy

Reporting to: Walton Education Coalition Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: DC, or Jersey City, or Bentonville, or Denver.

Walton Enterprises is seeking a skilled, highly motivated and entrepreneurial individual to join the team as a Walton Education Coalition, National Portfolio Lead. The ideal teammate will have the demonstrated ability to lead national advocacy and political investment strategies, assess complex policy and organizational dynamics, manage strategic partnerships and investment portfolios, and drive measurable results that advance K-12 education policy priorities.

About the Position

The National Portfolio Lead leads the strategy, development, management, and performance of the Walton Education Coalition's (WEC) national advocacy and political investment portfolio. The role aligns national partners with WEC priorities and state-level K-12 education policy opportunities, grounding investment decisions in clear strategic purpose, objective performance assessment, disciplined resource allocation, and measurable results.

What you will do

In this role, you will lead WEC's national investment portfolio, identifying and evaluating strategic partners, directing investment recommendations, and assessing portfolio performance. You will work closely with national advocacy, policy, and political organizations to advance education policy priorities, strengthen capabilities in priority states, and ensure investments deliver measurable results. You will also oversee portfolio planning, budgeting, partner accountability, and strategic recommendations to WEC leadership and the board.

Responsibilities

Lead the overall strategy and management of WEC's national portfolio.

• Maintain a comprehensive view of national partners and capabilities across policy, advocacy, politics, communications, research, and implementation functions; recommend where WEC should deepen, adjust, add, or exit investments.
• Concentrate resources in national organizations and capabilities that advance WEC's state and broader portfolio objectives, filling priority capabilities and gaps rather than simply expanding the number of organizations supported.
• Proactively identify national organizations, capabilities, and partnerships that can accelerate meaningful education policy adoption and implementation at scale.
• Monitor national policy, advocacy, political, and field developments that create opportunities or risks for WEC's strategy.
• Assess partner strength, strategic relevance, execution capacity, reach, comparative advantage, and ability to support priority state opportunities.
• Lead diligence on prospective national partners and recommend whether, when, and how WEC should engage.
• Develop and maintain objective tools and frameworks to assess national partner performance, strategic value, and portfolio gaps over time.
• Establish clear criteria for investment, expansion, adjustment, renewal, and exit; recommend portfolio shifts annually.
• Establish partner, investment, and portfolio goals, milestones, and measures of success; track progress throughout the year, identify needed adjustments, and address underperforming partners, strategies, or investments early.
• Provide regular portfolio updates to the Director and board on performance, risks, opportunities, gaps, and recommended changes.
• Lead development of the annual national portfolio budget in partnership with the Director; develop investment plans and budget recommendations across national partners and priority capabilities.
• Lead diligence and development of contribution recommendations for board consideration, explaining the strategic rationale, expected value, and connection to WEC's broader strategy.
• Serve as a senior relationship lead with national advocacy organizations, political partners, policy organizations, peer funders, and other key stakeholders.
• Set clear partner expectations for strategy, performance, timelines, outcomes, and support to WEC priority states.
• Identify where national partners can bring expertise, talent, infrastructure, or capacity into priority and emerging states where local infrastructure may be thin; partner closely with the State Portfolio Lead to integrate national and state investments.

Who we are looking for

Skills needed

• Strong analytical, strategic, and portfolio management skills.
• Ability to assess complex policy, political, organizational, and leadership dynamics.
• Ability to anticipate opportunities and risks, develop clear recommendations, and prioritize competing opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including clear and concise communication with the Director and board.
• Strong relationship-building skills and sound judgment.

Qualifications required for success

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in education policy, advocacy, philanthropy, government affairs, political strategy, or a related field.
• Deep understanding of national education policy, advocacy, political strategy, and the organizations that influence state reform.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex policy, political, organizational, and leadership dynamics.
• Experience managing significant investments, grants, or budgets preferred.
• Experience with education policy implementation preferred.
• Willingness to travel regularly.

Personal attributes that support success

• Operates as a senior strategic leader who anticipates opportunities and risks and brings forward recommendations, not just information.
• Exercises strong judgment in complex and fast-moving environments.
• Prioritizes effectively and maintains a solutions-oriented approach to partner and strategy challenges.
• Demonstrates discretion, integrity, and responsible stewardship of WEC's resources and the Walton family's interests.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Benefits Information

Compensation Range: $230,000-$287,000

We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations will be made, provided they do not pose an undue hardship to the company.

Work is generally performed in a standard office or remote office environment. Duties typically require sitting for long periods; prolonged use of a computer, phone, and other standard office productivity equipment; participating in meetings, communicating by phone, video, and email; and occasional movement within the office or between meeting locations. Occasional lifting of boxes, files, or paperwork may be required. The role is not normally subject to extreme environmental conditions or unusual physical demands.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs.

About Walton Enterprises

Walton Enterprises supports the personal, philanthropic, and business activity for the Walton family. We are a family-led organization, supporting multiple generations of Sam and Helen Walton's family.

We value trust, mutual respect, and a workplace where every associate belongs and can do their best work. We bring together talented people with different backgrounds and viewpoints, support their growth, and empower them to contribute meaningfully.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.