Portfolio Lead: K-12 Coalitions, Partnerships, Movement Building

What You'll Do

The Portfolio Strategy Lead is an influential and strategic practitioner driving transformative change in public education (K-12) across New England. This role is integral to advancing excellence in youth development, and community advocacy, working at the intersection of philanthropy, policy, and systemic innovation. Reporting directly to senior leadership, this position requires a visionary approach to addressing systemic inequities, fostering collaborative partnerships, advancing knowledge-sharing, and cultivating strong partnerships with policymakers, educators, and community-based organizations (CBO).

The ideal candidate will have a track record of successfully influencing change in the K-12 space either through policy transformation or having built infrastructures that foster equitable education systems. Strong candidates will demonstrate compelling communication skills with a track record of successfully influencing, collaborating, and building relationships with key leaders and conveners in the education transformation and policy space. Candidates should be such an expert in their field that they are able to create hypotheses and learning agendas that lead to systems-level impact and conduct landscape analyses to identify opportunities and gaps informed by ongoing trends in the education and philanthropic space. Deep expertise in supporting systems change and efforts that accelerate knowledge dissemination, connectivity, and coordination via community engagement and advocacy or issue organizing is critical to the success of this role.

Content Expertise: K-12 Systems Change via Relationship Organizing and Coalition Building

• Relationship Organizing: Has a track record of building durable coalition(s) across lines of difference; developing infrastructure and an organizing base to influence policy and practice shifts.
• Proximity: Has an existing network of relationships (or track record for developing) strong ties to a range of youth, educator, researcher & scholar, parent & community member, policymakers, CBOs, and funders committed to student success.
• Design: Possesses a track record of successfully leading the design of content-based strategies and plays a key role in thought leadership within their area of expertise, building relationships and coalitions in the K-12 space to advance educational equity at the systems level.
• Advocate: Demonstrates strong experience advocating for evidence-based educational system change and operates with a high level of independence, utilizing diplomacy, innovation and creativity when resolving non-routine matters that impact achievement of goals and objectives.
• Analyze: Is an autonomous, credible, and knowledgeable broker in the field with a (1) strong reputation, (2) capacity to create, execute, and implement innovative ideas around transforming education, and (3) ability to conduct market analyses and identify gaps and opportunities in the field.
• Strategize: Has successfully created and iterated on initiatives that advance equitable student outcomes, and prioritize student-centered learning on a national level in the K-12 space.
• Engage: Has a holistic view of community (including youth, educators, researchers & scholars, parents & community members, policymakers, CBOs, and funders) with intimate knowledge and a track record of advancing a shared vision for an excellent and equitable public education system that prepares every child to succeed and thrive in community.
• Influence: Possesses experience working in philanthropy and understands the nuances of working with and deepening relationships with funders in alignment with NMEF's vision and mission.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership and Grantmaking

• Lead the development and execution of grantmaking strategies that promote equitable student outcomes and dismantle systemic barriers.
• Identify and support high-impact grantmaking opportunities that drive policy transformation, community capacity-building, and coalition-strengthening efforts.
• Conduct research, landscape analysis, and stakeholder engagement to inform grantmaking priorities and policy recommendations.
• Align philanthropic investments with a broader theory of change that supports sustainable impact in education transformation and racial equity.
• Provide strategic guidance, technical assistance, and capacity-building support to grantees and partners.
• Monitor grant-funded initiatives, ensuring alignment with impact goals and learning from grantee experiences to drive continuous improvement.
• Foster an environment of continuous learning by leveraging research, evaluation, and data to refine strategies.

Coalition Building and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a credible knowledge broker with a holistic understanding of the education ecosystem, building and sustaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, including youth, educators, researchers, grantees, policymakers, parents, community-based organizations (CBOs), and funders.
• Facilitate learning sessions, convenings, and discussions to foster dialogue and shared knowledge as well as amplify the voices and insights of historically marginalized communities to ensure their perspectives shape strategy development.
• Lead efforts to align and unify stakeholders around a shared vision for equitable transformation.
• Facilitate learning networks and convenings to strengthen partnerships, elevate diverse voices, and align strategies across sectors.
• Represent the organization in external settings, advocating for policies and practices that lead to impactful education reform

Systems Level Impact & Philanthropic Strategy

• Design and manage a grant portfolio focused on policy, systems change, community-driven solutions, and field-building initiatives focused on eliminating educational disparities and improving student outcomes.
• Provide strategic counsel and capacity-building support to grantees to strengthen their programs and influence policy, advocating for equitable K-12 funding, educator diversity, culturally responsive curricula, and student-centered policy solutions.
• Oversee learning and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of philanthropic investments, synthesizing emerging research, policy trends, and community perspectives to inform regional grantmaking and funding strategies.
• Conduct due diligence, assess grant applications, and develop funding recommendations in collaboration with internal teams.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment between grantmaking and organizational priorities.

Organizational Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to align initiatives with the organization's broader strategy and contribute to internal learning and organizational development.
• Serve as a liaison to relevant board committees (e.g., equitable outcomes, education strategy) and present strategic recommendations and impact updates to senior leadership and the board of directors.
• Provide mentorship and support to junior staff, fellows, and interns to strengthen their expertise in policy and grantmaking.
• Manage budget allocations for assigned initiatives, ensuring financial accountability and strategic alignment.

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to the Director of Grantmaking.
• You will frequently collaborate with NMEF Program Staff, NMEF Grants Administration & Operations Staff, Anchor Partners, and external field actors.

• 12+ years of experience in K-12 education, education policy, community organizing, government relations, philanthropy, or youth development, with a focus on equity and systems change.
• Deep understanding of equitable student outcomes and community-driven change, with a holistic view of community that includes students, educators, researchers, parents, policymakers, and grassroots organizations.
• Deep knowledge of public education funding, governance structures, and policy levers that influence equitable outcomes.
• Strong expertise in policy engagement, regional education landscapes, and coalition-building strategies.
• Strong background in grantmaking, nonprofit leadership, and large-scale initiative management.
• Ability to navigate complex policy environments and influence change at local, state, and regional levels.
• Track record of building coalitions, centering community voices, and fostering cross-sector partnerships.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with experience presenting to executives, funders, and policymakers.
• Experience working with school districts, advocacy organizations, philanthropic entities, and policymakers.
• Commitment to continuous learning, racial equity-driven philanthropy, and impact-driven grantmaking.
• Master's degree (e.g., EdM, MS, MBA) in education, public policy, community organizing or related fields strongly preferred.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $125,000 to $175,000 and will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

Travel and Work Environment

This hybrid role offers a unique opportunity to lead transformative initiatives while maintaining strong connections with communities and stakeholders across New England. It combines flexible work arrangements with purposeful travel, empowering a senior leader to advocate for a shared vision for student success, equitable student outcomes, and policies and practices that set enabling conditions for all students.

Candidates must maintain residency in the target geography, New England, and are expected to participate in in-office meetings on Mondays and during the monthly Home Week (calendar published annually). You can expect to travel up to 40% in order to be in community with local, regional, national, grantees, partners, and stakeholders.

The Nellie Mae Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or current employment status, in alignment with federal, state, or local law.