Washington, DC

Sr. Strategy and Learning Officer, The Walton Family Foundation
The Organization

The Walton Family Foundation is seeking an experienced and skilled individual to join the foundation’s Washington, DC office as a Senior Strategy and Learning Officer (Sr. S&L Officer) supporting strategy and learning efforts across the Foundation’s grantmaking programs and other departments. This is a new position, and it is being added to support the foundation’s growing strategic learning practice as well as its current 5-year strategic planning process.

Position Overview

The Senior S&L Officer will play a pivotal role at WFF. Working in close partnership with SLED’s Director, Deputy Director, and other leaders across the Foundation, you will provide data analysis and strategic insights, generate draft strategy memos and PowerPoint presentations, and design and facilitate strategy and learning meetings. You will work across different programs, with a particular focus on the Environment Program.  You will report to the Deputy Director for Strategy & Learning.

Specific duties include the following:

  • Working with SLED’s Director and Deputy Director to support the Foundation’s internal strategic planning efforts, including:
  • Serving as a thought partner to program leadership and staff (e.g., asking good strategic questions, identifying assumptions, testing theories of change)
  • Generating and/or reviewing draft strategy documents (e.g., strategy memos, PowerPoint presentations)
  • Co-designing and facilitating working sessions among program staff and/or other participants (e.g., external experts, Committee members)
  • Conducting targeted research and analysis in support of program planning
  • Co-managing third-party strategic planning consultants (with the Deputy Director and Director)
  • Managing the annual planning process across WFF programs and departments, including collaborating with program and department directors to articulate goals and objectives that align with five-year strategic plans
  • Working with SLED’s Director and Deputy Director to guide and support the Foundation’s strategic learning efforts, including:
  • Reviewing research and evaluation products and collaborating with SLED staff to identify and communicate key insights to internal and external audiences
  • Contributing to strategic reviews and programmatic deep dives with the Foundation’s program teams, Committees, and the WFF Board
  • Supporting the design and management of strategic learning events with grantees, funders, and other Foundation partners as requested
  • Increasing the adaptive learning capacity of Foundation program staff and supporting a culture of learning and reflection
  • Collaborating with SLED leadership to continuously improve the Foundation’s approaches to strategy, learning, and evaluation

Whom we are looking for:

Qualifications required for your success

  • Graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., MBA, MPP)
  • 10 years +  of experience in a professional setting, including five years of experience in a strategy consulting role and two years in a project management role
  • Intellectual agility, including the ability to quickly understand new issues, analyze qualitative and quantitative data, spot patterns, and make connections across topics/issues.
  • Proven ability to design and facilitate productive, engaging meetings

Characteristics needed to support your success

  • Demonstrated capacity to build relationships and work effectively across a complex organizational structure
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Proven organizational skills, including exceptional time management and prioritization skills
  • Sense of humility and willingness to pitch in as needed
  • Demonstrated passion for social change and the mission of the Walton Family Foundation

Additional helpful experience includes

  • Experience in philanthropy, including past experience working with senior leadership (including Board members)
  • Content knowledge related to at least one of the Foundation’s program areas, particularly the Environment
  • Experience or familiarity with strategic learning principles and practices
  • Experience and comfort working both independently and under close supervision, as required by the task
  • Diplomatic approach and an innate understanding of customer service
  • A high level of discretion and confidentiality for both business and personal affairs
  • Unquestionable ethics and personal integrity

How To Apply

Please send resumes to lmorris@weioffice.com .

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