Chief Program & Learning Officer

The Chief Program & Learning Officer (CPLO) is a senior executive responsible for shaping, leading, and scaling the programmatic vision of the Umoja Community Education Foundation. As a core member of the Executive Team, the CPLO provides strategic leadership that drives organizational effectiveness, programmatic excellence,statewide and emerging national impact. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CPLO oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of all academic, curricular, research, student success, and leadership initiatives across the Umoja network. A major component of this role is the oversight of the Program and Regional Coordinators who support Umoja campus programs serving more than 16,000 students, faculty, and administrators across over 80 colleges, universities, and high schools in California and Washington. The CPLO also plays a critical role in planning and supporting the expansion of the Umoja model to additional campuses and school systems nationwide.

In addition, the CPLO leads emerging organizational initiatives, including the Umoja Global Institute, the Center for Policy and Research, and the International Student Fellowship Program, ensuring each grows with coherence, rigor, and strategic alignment.

This position requires a full-time on-site presence in Sacramento, with travel across California and nationally.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development, Oversight & Expansion

• Oversee all programmatic units, including Programs, Curriculum & Instruction, Research & Evaluation, and Regional Coordination.
• Provide leadership and supervision to Program and Regional Coordinators responsible for supporting 83+ campus programs and 16,000+ students across two states.
• Ensure campuses receive high-quality coaching, technical assistance, and culturally grounded support rooted in Umoja’s 18 Practices.
• Design, negotiate, and implement innovative partnership models with higher education institutions, K-12 partners, non-profits, and foundations.
• Maintain and expand contracts, MOUs, and/or formal agreements that advance shared partnership goals.

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Impact

• Serve as a member of the Executive Team, contributing to organization-wide strategy, culture, and decision-making.
• Serve as an active member of the Executive Team, supporting successful implementation of UCEF's strategic plan and organization-wide priorities.
• Lead the programmatic direction of Umoja in alignment with Umoja Forward 2025–2030 Strategic Plan.
• Guide for development and scaling of the Umoja Global Institute, Center for Policy and Research, and International Student Fellowship Program.

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy & Online Learning

• Champion culturally responsive pedagogy, African-centered teaching practices, and equity-driven leadership across all programs.
• Lead the development and quality assurance of online learning, hybrid course offerings, virtual professional development, and digital instructional tools.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Supervise directors and regional staff, providing coaching, evaluation, and professional growth pathways.
• Supervise, support, develop, and evaluate the Programming & Learning team, while also providing strong team leadership to all UCEF staff members so that they are positioned to deliver high-quality programs and services.
• Build a high-performance, collaborative, equity-centered team culture.
• Ensure cross-departmental alignment, communication, and operational cohesion.
• Foster a healthy, inclusive, high-trust culture within UCEF and help shape positive organizational culture.

Research, Evaluation & Data-Driven Improvement

• Oversee research, evaluation, and data systems that drive continuous improvement and measure campus impact.
• Ensure findings support program design, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.
• Promote the dissemination of Umoja’s research and best practices statewide and nationally.

Fiscal Stewardship & Grant Management

• Manage large-scale budgets for programs, research, and special initiatives.
• Ensure compliance, accuracy, and responsible use of grant funds.
• Partner with Finance and Development on forecasting, grant writing, and reporting.
• Collaborate with the Development team to identify resource gaps and design proposals or funding strategies that strengthen UCEF's program sustainability.
• Liaise with UCEF's Development and Communications team members, as needed, to support fundraising, messaging, and organizational storytelling.

Statewide & National Engagement

• Represent Umoja in statewide and national partnerships, professional convenings, and system-level meetings.
• Strengthen relationships with educational systems, foundations, state agencies, national organizations, and philanthropic partners.
• Build and steward relationships with policy makers, institutional leaders, administrators, and community partners to address systemic barriers and improve student outcomes.
• Support growth strategies that expand Umoja’s visibility, impact, and influence.

Requirements

About You

You are a strong candidate for the Chief Program & Learning Officer role if, above all, you are a champion for increasing social and economic opportunity through educational attainment. You are a servant leader and feel at your best in deep relationship with the communities in which you serve and in collaboration with others you work and partner with. You love to design and build, comfortable with being a leader of a team executing current services and also preparing for growth. You bring content expertise in education, programming, postsecondary readiness and persistence, and partnership development. You will also bring experience or demonstrated capacity to:

• Lead in a foundation, district, higher education institution, or college-success nonprofit, including knowledge of best practices in leadership and evidence-based postsecondary access and success practices.
• Drive innovation and develop programs from idea to impact to scale, particularly initiatives that involve collaboration with postsecondary partners.
• Build partnerships by establishing clear collaboration protocols, cultivating trust, and communicating shared goals and outcomes effectively.
• Create and improve systems that support program efficiency, effectiveness, and performance management.
• Manage complexity by exhibiting sound judgement and thoughtful decision making in ambiguous situations, responding with flexibility and a bias toward thoughtful action.
• Approach conversations and decisions with openness and humility, and awareness of identity, power, and privilege.
• Create the conditions for high performance and talent retention by setting priorities, delegating effectively, managing conflicts, stewarding team culture, and coaching the team to ensure progress toward goals.
• Lead collaboratively with other teams and department heads to set strategic vision, ensure alignment, maintain operational efficiency, and create meaningful impact.
• Align systems, structures, and resources to support student success, and organize complex projects to achieve defined outcomes.
• Communicate UCEF's mission, student stories, and community strengths to diverse audiences through compelling and inclusive messaging strategies.
• Prioritize effectively and consistently deliver commitments in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; doctoral degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive leadership in higher education, student success, nonprofit management, or related fields.
• Deep expertise in culturally responsive pedagogy, African-centered learning, and equity-driven leadership.
• Experience designing and managing online learning, digital platforms, or hybrid instructional models.
• Demonstrated success leading high-performing teams of five or more in complex, multi-layered environments.
• Proven ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets, grants, and cross-institutional initiatives.
• Strong skills in program development, curriculum design, research, evaluation, and data-informed planning.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and strategic thinking abilities.
• Ability to work full-time on-site in Sacramento, with statewide and national travel as needed.

Travel

In State and National travel will occur related to organizational needs and for professional learning, as needed. The amount of travel will be monitored to ensure it is appropriate for both the organization and the CPLO but could be up to 40%

Physical Requirements

Work is normally performed in an office environment including, but not limited to standing and sitting for long periods of time; and fine-finger and hand manipulation to operate a computer and keyboard. Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing electronic information, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading. This person will travel by car, air, or other transportation (as indicated in the Travel section) and should be able to physically withstand the demands of such travel. Employee may be required to walk for long distances at retreat venues or other relevant sites.

Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience, with a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, and professional development.

Range of $125,000-$145,000

Umoja Community Education Foundation does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.