Senior Program Officer, Education, Walton Personal Philanthropy Group; WPPG

Position Overview

Senior Program Officer, Education, Walton Personal Philanthropy Group (WPPG). The Walton Personal Philanthropy Group (WPPG) provides services to the family of Sam and Helen Walton to support their individual philanthropic activities, including program and grant management, strategy consulting, and grant administration as part of Walton Enterprises – the family office of the Walton family. Walton Enterprises is seeking a skilled, highly motivated, and entrepreneurial individual to join the team as a Senior Program Officer for K-12 Education in Missouri. The ideal teammate will have a strong background and commitment to effective strategic philanthropy, utilizing performance measurement and evaluation to drive impact, adapt grantmaking approaches, and achieve educational excellence for students in Missouri. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging is reflected in our focus on hiring diverse talents and ensuring fairness, respect, and a collaborative environment for all associates.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert services related to K-12 education philanthropy for the Director and senior leadership, including developing and managing a portfolio of grants, fostering strategic partnerships, conducting rigorous due diligence, and evaluating the impact of investments.
• Grant Development and Monitoring: Conduct due diligence on organizations, their leadership, and capacity; work with prospective grantees to establish grant terms, expectations, and clear performance metrics; conduct site visits; and monitor ongoing operations through financial and narrative reviews to ensure timely payments.
• Implementation of Strategy: Execute the newly approved philanthropic strategy in K-12 education in coordination with the Director, ensuring a balanced approach tailored to Missouri’s opportunities and needs.
• Major and Existing Partners: Develop and manage major grant partnerships within the K-12 education portfolio by incorporating robust evaluation measures to guide grantmaking adjustments and overall strategy.
• New Partnerships: Identify and cultivate new partnerships with grantees, funders, and public stakeholders in alignment with the program’s strategic priorities.
• Grantmaking Best Practices: Understand and implement best practices in K-12 education grantmaking by drawing on direct experience and lessons learned from the philanthropic field.
• External Supports: Source and manage outside consultants specializing in charter school support, instructional quality, teacher and leader needs, and effective governance—including soliciting proposals, developing work plans, overseeing contracts, and ensuring high-quality deliverables.
• Internal Coordination: Manage workflow and processes through clear communication with team members and the Director, collaborating effectively with departments across Walton Enterprises.
• External Coordination: Coordinate with state and local policy leaders, funders, and organizations to advance strategic objectives and facilitate effective policy implementation.
• Commitment to Evaluation: Assess the success of K-12 education grants and their impact by applying robust performance measurement, continuously learning from research, grant outcomes, and expert engagement to improve future initiatives.