Director, Stockton Scholars

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Organization Context : The mission of Reinvent Stockton Foundation (RSF) is to build hope and expand opportunity by investing in our city's people. We do this by supporting students in their pursuit of a post-secondary education, ensuring a strong service ecosystem, and supporting innovative ways to address poverty. RSF operates and supports a portfolio of programs and initiatives focused on expanding opportunities for students and families, while strengthening community-based organizations and nonprofits. Its flagship programs are Stockton Scholars and Stockton Service Corps, alongside other initiatives such as Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and the Northern California College Promise Collaborative. RSF is a nonprofit subsidiary of the San Joaquin Community Foundation (SJCF), which provides organizational infrastructure and support for its work. To learn more about RSF, please visit www.reinventstockton.org.

Program Context : Stockton Scholars (SS) is a college promise initiative launched in 2018 by former Mayor Michael Tubbs through the Reinvent Stockton Foundation to increase college enrollment and success for students in Stockton, CA. The program provides scholarships of up to $1,000 per year for students attending four-year universities and $500 per year for those attending two-year colleges or trade schools for high school graduates attending a public school in the City of Stockton.

In addition to financial support, Stockton Scholars offers mentorship, leadership development, and annual summits to help students transition to and thrive in college. The initiative is rooted in equity, community engagement, and a commitment to long-term impact. Through strong partnerships with school districts, higher education institutions, and local organizations, Stockton Scholars is creating lasting pathways to opportunity for Stockton's youth.

Position Description : Reinvent Stockton Foundation is seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly motivated leader to serve as the Director of Stockton Scholars. Reporting to the Vice President of Programs & Community Initiatives (VPPCI), the Director will provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and management of the Stockton Scholars program, advancing its mission, establishing programmatic priorities, and ensuring the program achieves its intended outcomes and long-term impact.

As the senior leader of Stockton Scholars, the Director will oversee all aspects of the program, including scholarship administration, student recruitment and outreach, scholar engagement and success, alumni development, strategic partnerships, and program operations. The Director will lead strategic planning and execution, establish measurable goals, strengthen systems and processes, identify opportunities for growth and innovation, and cultivate relationships with schools, colleges and universities, funders, government agencies, and community partners. The Director will exercise independent judgment and decision-making authority over the program's strategic and operational direction while collaborating with organizational leadership on broader organizational priorities and resource commitments. The ideal candidate brings significant program leadership experience, a strong understanding of postsecondary access and completion, and the ability to lead teams, manage complex initiatives, and build strategic partnerships.

Work is currently performed in a hybrid format, with a combination of remote and in-person work at San Joaquin Community Foundation’s office located at 6731 Herndon Pl, Stockton, CA 95219. This arrangement is subject to change at the discretion of the organization based on operational needs. Reliable transportation is required. The role occasionally requires availability during non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends, to support programming and events.

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Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Program Direction (15%)

- Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Stockton Scholars, ensuring the program advances its mission, vision, and long-term objectives.

- Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the Stockton Scholars strategic plan, translating organizational priorities into measurable goals, strategies, and actionable plans.
- Identify opportunities for program growth, innovation, and improvement based on student needs, community feedback, program performance, and emerging trends in postsecondary education.
- Evaluate progress toward strategic goals and use program data, research, and stakeholder feedback to inform decisions regarding program direction and priorities.
- Anticipate challenges and opportunities within the postsecondary landscape and position Stockton Scholars to adapt and respond effectively.
- Partner with the VPPCI to ensure alignment between Stockton Scholars' strategy and the broader priorities of RSF and SJCF.

Program Leadership, Management, and Execution (20%)

- Provide strategic and operational oversight of the full Stockton Scholars portfolio, including scholarship administration, programs, services, and operations, ensuring quality implementation and alignment with strategic objectives.
- Lead the development and execution of strategies to increase scholarship applications, activations & renewals, college access, persistence, and postsecondary completion.
- Ensure programs, services, and pathways are responsive to student needs and informed by the experiences and perspectives of scholars and their families.
- Establish and maintain effective systems, processes, and operational standards that promote consistency, efficiency, accountability, and a strong student experience.
- Ensure program workstreams are coordinated and integrated, proactively addressing operational challenges and resolving issues that may affect program quality, student experience, or overall performance.

Team Leadership and Organizational Development (20%)

- Lead, manage, and develop the Stockton Scholars team, establishing clear roles, expectations, and accountability while empowering staff to independently lead their respective areas of work.
- Provide ongoing coaching, mentorship, and professional development to strengthen staff capacity, leadership skills, and performance.
- Foster a high-performing team culture grounded in collaboration, trust, accountability, continuous learning, innovation, and a shared commitment to the program's mission.
- Oversee performance management processes, including goal setting, regular check-ins, performance evaluations, and professional development plans, ensuring staff have the support and resources needed to execute their responsibilities.
- Assess organizational capacity and staffing needs, leading recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention efforts in partnership with the VPPCI.

Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement (15%)

- In partnership with the VPPCI, serve as a primary representative and ambassador for Stockton Scholars, building relationships that strengthen the program's visibility, credibility, and impact.
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with school districts, colleges and universities, community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to advance college access, postsecondary persistence, degree completion, and career pathways.
- Lead the development, negotiation, and management of partnership agreements, including memorandums of understanding (MOUs).
- Partner with SJCF's Development team to cultivate relationships with philanthropic partners and funders, identify funding opportunities, and strengthen the program's long-term sustainability.
- Represent Stockton Scholars at community meetings, public forums, and other external engagements, ensuring community engagement reflects the needs of students, families, and partners while supporting the team in maintaining strong external relationships.

Budget, Financial Management, and Development (10%)

- In partnership with the VPPCI, lead the development and management of the Stockton Scholars annual budget, ensuring alignment between programmatic priorities, resources, and strategic objectives.
- Oversee budget performance, monitor expenditures, and make recommendations regarding resource allocation and financial sustainability.
- Ensure appropriate financial management practices, internal controls, and accountability systems are maintained across the program.
- Oversee the management of consultants, contractors, and external service providers, ensuring deliverables, performance expectations, and contractual obligations are met.
- Partner with SJCF’s Development team to identify funding opportunities, support donor and funder relationships, and help secure financial resources for the program. Provide strong lateral leadership to ensure cross-functional priorities are aligned and commitments are effectively executed.
- Support the development of long-term financial plans for scholarship commitments and program sustainability.

Data, Evaluation, and Impact (10%)

- Establish and champion a data-informed culture that promotes continuous learning, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
- Oversee systems for collecting, analyzing, and using accurate data to measure program effectiveness, outcomes, and progress toward strategic goals.
- Use quantitative and qualitative data, research, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate program performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and inform strategic and operational decisions.
- Oversee the development of impact reports, assessments, and presentations, partnering with SJCF's Impact and Development teams to communicate program progress, outcomes, and impact to leadership, funders, and community partners.

Organizational Alignment, Reporting, Compliance, and Other Duties (10%)

- Maintain consistent communication with the VPPCI regarding program progress, performance, challenges, opportunities, and resource needs.
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, grant requirements, contractual obligations, and organizational policies, and oversee the timely preparation and submission of required programmatic and grant reports.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the VPPCI.

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Skills and Qualifications

- Education:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Master’s degree in Education, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

- Experience:
- 6–10+ years of progressive professional experience in nonprofit, education, higher education, workforce development, or community-based organizations.
- Minimum of 5 years of management and leadership experience, including responsibility for leading teams, managing managers or senior staff, and overseeing complex programs or initiatives.
- Demonstrated success setting strategic direction, translating organizational priorities into actionable plans, and leading initiatives from development through implementation and evaluation.
- Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, develop managers and senior staff, establish clear performance expectations, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing program budgets, allocating resources, and making strategic decisions to support program effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
- Experience leading college promise programs, postsecondary access and completion initiatives, or other large-scale youth-serving programs strongly preferred.
- Deep knowledge of Stockton or similar communities and its educational landscape, or a demonstrated ability to quickly build relationships, trust, and an understanding of the local community.

- Technical Skills:
- Strategic planning, program design, implementation, and evaluation.
- Organizational leadership, team management, and performance management.
- Program budget development, financial oversight, and strategic resource allocation.
- Strategic partnership development and relationship management.
- Data analysis, performance measurement, and impact evaluation.
- Project management, organizational systems development, and continuous improvement.

- Knowledge:
- Postsecondary access, college enrollment, persistence, degree completion, and student success initiatives.
- Equity-centered program design and community engagement practices.
- Nonprofit management, organizational leadership, and change management.
- Data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement, and impact measurement.
- Leadership development, organizational culture, and performance accountability.

Compensation & Benefits:

At RSF we use market data and compensation best practices to determine pay. Alongside our competitive non-profit pay scale we offer a generous benefits package.  All RSF staff receive a generous annual wellness fund stipend to promote healthy lifestyles, creativity, and work-life balance.  Includes provisions or reimbursement for Medical, Dental, Vision, and retirement plan contributions.

This role offers a starting pay scale of $122,400 - $165,600 per year independent of location. Placement within this range is determined by our compensation philosophy, which prioritizes competency and experience over credentials.

During the interview process, candidates will have the opportunity to showcase key core competencies, including: project management, strategic thinking, cultural competence, and problem solving. Following the interview, our assessment of these competencies will guide final salary placement within the specified pay scale.

As we continue refining our evaluation processes, we reserve the right to review and potentially adjust pay after 90 days in the role, based on additional insights.

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Reinvent Stockton Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, ethnic background, sex, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.