Program Officer for Education
Barberton, OH
Full-Time | Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director
ABOUT THE BARBERTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Barberton Community Foundation (BCF) is a nonprofit organization providing funding, systems, and support to the Barberton community in order to build a stronger, more vibrant Barberton for generations to come. We invest in people, places, and systems, working alongside residents, donors, community partners, and elected officials to drive lasting change.
Our 2025–2031 Strategic Plan is organized around four pillars: Birth-to-5 Early Learning, Downtown Revitalization, Workforce & Career Development, and Basic Needs.
THE SOUL OF THE ROLE
BCF believes that a child’s path from a healthy start in life to a meaningful career is one continuous system - and that a community’s strength depends on how well that system works for every family. The Program Officer for Education is the person who understands that system deeply, maps where it’s working and where it’s broken in Barberton, and builds the partnerships and funding that move it forward.
This is a mid-career role for someone who can think in systems and plan for long-term change, while still being energized by the hands-on work of building partner relationships, tracking outcomes, and making things happen on the ground. This is not a senior executive role - it is a role for an experienced professional who thinks strategically and executes with discipline.
The Program Officer for Education is BCF’s internal expert on early childhood and workforce development - the person the Executive Director turns to for analysis, the person grant partners turn to for relationship, and the person responsible for ensuring BCF’s investments in these areas (birth-5, out-of-school time, career pathways) are well-managed, well-measured, and moving the needle toward defined outcomes.
What can we offer YOU:
- PAY: Starting at $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience
- Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance benefits
- 401(k) match
- 11 paid holidays
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Systems Thinking
- Develop deep expertise in both the early childhood system (birth-to-5, childcare access, school preparedness, kindergarten readiness) and the workforce and career pathways system (employer partnerships, training providers, career navigation, post-secondary connections)
- Understand what a high-functioning version of the system (e.g. birth-5 early learning system, career pathways system, out-of-school time system) looks like - the outcomes, benchmarks, and indicators that signal real progress
- Become BCF’s expert on the Barberton community context: how these evolving issues show up locally, who the key players are, where the gaps are, and where leverage exists
- Stay current on research, policy, and practice in early childhood and workforce development at the local, state, and national levels
- Bring regular analysis and insight to the Executive Director to inform BCF’s strategy and investment decisions
Partnership Development & Management
- Build and steward day-to-day relationships with early childhood providers, the school district, childcare networks, workforce boards, employers, training organizations, and career pathway partners
- Identify organizations doing strong work in BCF’s focus areas and assess their potential as grant partners or collaborators
- Facilitate connections between partners where BCF can play a convening or catalyzing role
- Represent BCF at relevant community tables, coalitions, and sector meetings as directed by the Executive Director
Grantmaking - Education & Workforce Cycle
- Manage BCF’s Cycle 2 grantmaking for education and workforce - conducting outreach, reviewing applications, performing site visits, and synthesizing analyses
- Package completed grant applications and all supporting documentation for the Director of Community Impact, who administers applications through the grants committee - ensuring materials are organized, complete, and committee-ready before handoff
- Monitor active education and workforce grants throughout their lifecycle - tracking milestones, reviewing reports, identifying issues early, and documenting outcomes
- Maintain accurate records of all education and workforce grantmaking; support organizational learning from grant data
- Coordinate with the Director of Community Impact on grant process alignment and with the Director of Finance on grant accounting and payments
Funding Development
- Proactively identify grant opportunities from foundations, government agencies, and other funders aligned with BCF’s early childhood and workforce priorities
- Write and submit grant proposals to support BCF’s education and workforce investments - both for BCF’s own programmatic work and in support of partner organizations where appropriate
- Build relationships with program officers and funders in the early childhood and workforce space, in coordination with the Executive Director
- Track funding pipeline, deadlines, and reporting requirements for all education and workforce grants received
Policy Landscape & Advocacy
- Monitor federal, state, and local policy developments affecting early childhood systems, workforce development, and post-secondary access — including funding structures, program regulations, and legislative priorities that shape what is possible in Barberton
- Serve as BCF’s internal expert on the policy environment relevant to the cradle-to-career continuum, ensuring the organization’s systems-building investments are designed to align with current policy structures and positioned to take advantage of structures to come
- Build and maintain relationships with elected officials and their staff at the local, county, state, and federal levels specifically around education and workforce policy — familiarizing them with BCF’s work, its community partners, and the outcomes the cradle-to-career portfolio is working to achieve
- Help tell BCF’s story to policymakers: translate the on-the-ground reality of what BCF and its partners are doing into clear, compelling narratives that help elected officials understand both the need and the progress
- Represent BCF at relevant policy tables, advocacy coalitions, and government convenings in the education and workforce space, in coordination with the Executive Director
- Identify policy opportunities and risks on the horizon — bringing analysis and recommendations to the Executive Director so BCF can be proactive rather than reactive in how it positions its work
Note: As a 509(a)(3) supporting organization, BCF does not engage in lobbying or attempt to influence legislation. Advocacy work in this role is focused on nonpartisan education, relationship-building, and policy monitoring — ensuring BCF and its partners are informed, visible, and well-positioned within the policy landscape.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Right Person
- Systems thinker who understands that sustainable community change happens through connected ecosystems, not isolated programs
- Mid-career professional - experienced enough to lead independently, still energized by the field work
- Relationship-driven and genuine - proven track record of building trust with partners and community members
- Analytical and intellectually curious - digs into data and research, brings insight back to the team that can turn into actionable work
- Organized and accountable - manages a complex portfolio without dropping details
- Mission-aligned with authentic commitment to Barberton’s children, families, and working adults
Right Seat - Experience & Skills
- 5+ years of experience in early childhood systems (related experience in social services, social work, etc.), workforce development, education policy, community development, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated understanding of systems change principles and long-term community investment strategy
- Experience building and managing relationships with community organizations, providers, or government partners
- Grant writing or grant management experience preferred
- Familiarity with the early childhood and/or workforce landscape in the State of Ohio preferred
- Strong written and verbal communication skills - able to translate complex work so it is accurately interpreted by different stakeholder groups
- Experience with data, outcomes measurement, or program evaluation a plus
Does this sound like the position for you? Apply with a current resume today!
Work schedule
- Monday to Friday
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Disability insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off