Program Officer

Under general direction, the Program Officer provides strategic leadership in program development, management, and implementation. Working closely with program leadership, this position translates program vision into actionable plans, uses data to improve delivery, and advances equity, sustainability, and continuous improvement. The Program Officer advises the Chief Program Officer and/or Executive Leadership Team, works with considerable independence, and may provide technical and functional direction and training to staff. This position will focus on public health, training and community programs, including place-based investments, fatherhood, birth equity, and CalAIM-related initiatives, while advancing coordination and integration with early care and education and the broader early childhood system.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with program leadership to set strategic goals and develop plans for program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Develop and monitor program plans with measurable outcomes, using data, research, and evaluation to recommend improvements.
• Help put the agency’s equity commitment into practice across programs and support organizational change.
• Align day-to-day program operations with strategic objectives; identify delivery challenges and risks and implement solutions with program leadership.
• Strengthen communication and collaboration among program staff, agency teams, and external partners.
• Prepare and review briefs, reports, and other written materials; represent program leadership in meetings and collaborations as needed.
• Provide leadership, training, and capacity-building support to staff, promoting accountability, high-quality work, and continuous learning.

Minimum Qualifications:

Any combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

A typical path includes five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in program management and implementation, including at least three years of supervisory experience, and the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree with major coursework in public policy, public health, business administration, or a closely related field.

Additional relevant experience may substitute for college coursework or a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree may substitute for one year of experience.

Knowledge of:

• Early childhood and systems of care; systems thinking and systems change.
• Program and project management, implementation, leadership, and training.
• Using data for continuous improvement and decision-making.
• Equity and social, racial, and economic justice; cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Microsoft Office Suite, preferably Office 365, and familiarity with Smartsheet.

Ability to:

• Translate vision into short-, medium-, and long-range plans and manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders, deliverables, and deadlines.
• Analyze complex problems, synthesize information, evaluate alternatives, and exercise sound judgment within broad guidelines.
• Write persuasively, distill technical information into clear content, and interpret professional publications, policy documents, and financial reports.
• Lead, coordinate, and supervise staff in a collaborative environment and build staff capacity through varied learning approaches.
• Build effective relationships with multidisciplinary stakeholders, demonstrate cultural awareness, and promote teamwork across the agency.
• Organize competing priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Requirements

Travel within Alameda County is necessary to carry out job duties. Some travel outside Alameda County is occasionally required.

Please note

• We currently work a hybrid schedule and this position requires an on-site presence three days per week, with additional in-office attendance for meetings or as requested.
• All First 5 employees must live and work in California.
• The annual salary range for this position is $126,500 to $182,000. As an independent government agency, this is the set salary range for the position. We cannot offer salaries above this posted range.
• We conduct reference and background checks for all potential employees.

About First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County believes every child in Alameda County should have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential. Through innovative programs and policy advocacy, we help provide children and their families access to resources that support their first five years of development.

Join our mission-driven team that in partnership with the community, supports a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves peak years of child development.

First 5 Alameda County Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package with health care options to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. These benefits include but are not limited to Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage, $1,500 credit per year to spend on benefits, Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Employer Paid & Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Retirement Plans including the ACERA Pension Plan, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Plan and more.

We also offer paid vacation, paid time off and sick time. We have 17 paid holidays including the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day as paid time off.