The Organization
The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation is a private grant-making foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. With assets in excess of $3 billion, it is among the largest foundations in the United States. The Foundation’s Scholarship Program enables low-income students in Nebraska to attend college in-state at no cost. It is the Foundation’s longest-standing program, reflecting its commitment to equal access to higher education. The Foundation’s other programs support access to family planning services and reproductive choice, in the U.S. and internationally.
Position Overview
A hallmark of the Foundation’s culture is to constantly challenge itself and grantees to “think big” while doing so critically and carefully – by questioning, testing, learning, and putting that learning to use. The Foundation has built an environment in which staff are not afraid to fail or change course in light of new information. Moreover, the Foundation approaches investments as partnerships, which they pursue thoughtfully and with humility.
The new Research and Evaluation Officer (REO) will be a core member of the Research and Evaluation Unit (R&E Unit). Working under the Director of Research and Evaluation, the REO will provide strategic guidance and technical expertise to the Scholarship Program; monitor and leverage learning across large-scale research studies; steward relationships with external stakeholders; and share Scholarship Program lessons with the education sector. The REO is a newly created position; as such, this is an opportunity to help the R&E Unit develop in new directions.
The REO will bring deep knowledge and experience related to higher education, including in financial aid, living and learning communities, and other areas related to college access and success among low-income students. S/he will have a broad mastery of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methodologies and a demonstrated ability to design and implement evaluations. S/he will be proactive and have excellent interpersonal skills. The REO will bring a team orientation, the ability to adapt to change, and demonstrated success working with a range of stakeholders. A doctoral degree is strongly preferred.
How To Apply
The Foundation is conducting this search with assistance from Allison Kupfer Poteet and Cara Pearsall of the national search firm NPAG. For a full position description, please visit: https://nonprofitprofessionals.com/job/stbf-reo
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actively seeks individuals who can offer broader perspectives to our organizational thinking and culture.
NPAG is a national executive search and consulting firm dedicated to serving the mission-driven community. We partner with global mission-driven clients to deliver highly-tailored, innovative, and strategic senior- and executive-level search services. www.nonprofitprofessionals.com.