Hartford, CT

The Organization
As Greater Hartford’s communitywide charitable endowment, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is permanently committed to improving the quality of life for residents throughout the region. To achieve this goal, we:

Provide financial and other support that enables people and institutions to serve the community effectively;

Promote informed charitable giving in order to expand the region’s philanthropic resources; and

Participate actively in efforts to identify important community needs and opportunities, as well as the means to address them.

Position Overview
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Extended Learning Officer
(Temporary 18-month position)

This is a grant funded position supporting the More and Better Learning Time Initiative (MBLTI), a multi-year investment by the Ford Foundation in the development of high-quality and cost-effective expanded learning opportunities for public schools’ students. The Hartford Foundation has partnered with the National Center for Time and Learning (NCTL), Connecticut State Department of Education, United Way of Wallingford and Meriden, and others to bring more and better learning opportunities to three of Connecticut’s Alliance Districts – school districts with the lowest district performance index scores statewide. Efforts currently are underway, in East Hartford, Meriden and New London, to extend the school day and/or year by a minimum of 300 hours. This system-building involves rethinking curriculum and instructional practices, developing new community partnerships, and increasing parent engagement to support expanded and enriched learning time.

Responsibilities of this position include:
•Research and analysis of local, state and federal policy and funding streams that support or pose barriers to high-quality expanded learning time and partnership between schools districts, schools and community based organizations to provide high-quality expanded learning opportunities; publish whitepapers highlighting findings
•Partnership and capacity building among schools, school districts and their partners engaged in system building to increase or improve quality of expanded learning opportunities
•Coordination of knowledge building opportunities for schools, school districts and their partners, including convenings, training and technical assistance to schools and community based organizations
•Providing staff support to the Connecticut Expanded Learning Time Collaborative, including meeting planning and agenda development, as well as identifying knowledge building opportunities and new partners
•Providing administrative support in planning and implementing expanded learning time communications
•Providing grants management support for the Hartford Foundation’s grant from the Ford Foundation through December 31, 2016, including ensuring payments and monitoring progress for grants to Wallingford-Meriden United Way

Requirements for this position include:
•Deep commitment to the issues of educational equity and opportunity
•A passion for the work involved , proven mastery of a significant body of related knowledge, along with a portfolio of proven accomplishments
•5+ years’ experience conducting research and analysis of educational issues and educational policy, preferably related to expanded learning
•Successful experience working with public school systems and staff, including schools’ partners, while achieving excellent results for all
•Deep knowledge of challenges and opportunities encountered by nonprofit organizations seeking to become effective partners with schools and school districts
•Earned reputation for intellectual leadership, building consensus and commitment, engaging potential partners as co-creators of educational initiatives, delivering promised results
•Proven ability to listen for understanding and communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
•Working knowledge of budgeting and budget management for grants