Program Officer, Postsecondary - North Chicago, Steans Family Foundation

Who We Are :

The Steans Family Foundation (SFF) concentrates its grant making and programs in North Lawndale, a community on Chicago’s west side; North Chicago, a city forty miles north of Chicago; and on aligned policy and ecosystem initiatives. By dedicating time, resources, and skills, the Foundation works in partnership with local residents and institutions to build and enhance both communities. The Foundation’s work supports the idea that effective revitalization can occur within the embedded social and economic networks that create and sustain communities. The Steans Family Foundation also supports policy efforts that bolster the work on the ground, specifically focused : on Education, Economic Opportunity, Housing, and Safety and Community Well-being.

For more information on the Steans Family Foundation, visit

What You'll Do :

The Program Officer, Postsecondary will lead efforts to strengthen college and workforce pathways, ensuring improved access, persistence, and completion for historically under-resourced students from North Chicago. Reporting to the Co-Managing Directors—North Chicago, the Program Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy that advances equitable postsecondary opportunities and success. This role requires both strategic vision and hands-on execution. The Program Officer will partner with high schools, colleges, community-based organizations, and other funders to identify barriers, design interventions, and ensure alignment across initiatives. The Program Officer will manage a grantmaking portfolio, oversee program implementation, monitor outcomes, and use data to drive continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a collaborator who brings deep knowledge of the postsecondary landscape, experience with diverse student populations, and the ability to build strong partnerships across sectors. This person will play a key role in shaping and advancing initiatives that support students to persist and complete a degree or credential and access clear pathways from high school into college or the workforce leading to a meaningful career.

Primary Responsibilities (the “What”)

The Program Officer,  Postsecondary  will be accountable for the following areas of responsibility :

Strategic Leadership and Alignment

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to improve college access, persistence, and completion, along with workforce pathways, leading to successful outcomes for North Chicago youth.
• Align postsecondary initiatives with community goals and the Foundation’s mission, strategic plan and theory of change.

Manage Program and Grants Portfolio

Continuous Improvement through Data Review, Collaboration, and Evaluation

Engage Community and Partners in Support of Student Success

Reporting, Budget Management, and Sustainability

Organizational Contribution

Other Activities In Addition to the Above Work

Key Competencies (the “How”)

The ideal Program Officer of  Postsecondary Initiatives - North Chicago candidate will demonstrate the following attributes :

Passion to Serve the Young People and Families of North Chicago

Collaborative Approach

Strategic Thinking, Decision Making, and Execution

Data Analysis and Continuous Improvement

Communication, Relationship Building, and Professional Excellence

Requirements

Benefits

The annual salary for this position is $120,000-$135,000 and commensurate with prior experience. A comprehensive benefits package also is included.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

While employed in this position, the employee may be required to perform other assignments not listed in this job description. The employee is an employee at will, meaning that either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time by written notice to the other. Nothing in this job description creates a contract of employment for a specific period.