Barberton, Ohio — Barberton Community Foundation has created a Program Officer for Education position to advance its cradle-to-career vision and strengthen the systems that support Barberton residents from early childhood through post-secondary education and throughout their careers.
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in school, pursue post-secondary education, and build a stable career. When residents thrive, families grow stronger and communities prosper. Through scholarships, grantmaking, partnerships, convenings, research, advocacy, and community initiatives, Barberton Community Foundation invests in opportunities that help residents succeed at every stage of life.
That work is already taking shape. Recent efforts include strengthening kindergarten readiness through the Barberton Preschool Collaborative, supporting long-term planning for Barberton's early learning system, investing in scholarships and leadership development, and expanding access to education, training, and career pathways.
The new position will help build on that momentum while supporting the Foundation's Strategic Plan, which focuses on four community priorities: Early Learning (Birth-to-5), Career Pathways, Downtown Revitalization, and Basic Needs.
“When fewer than one in four children enter kindergarten demonstrating readiness, we know there is work to do,” said Josh Gordon, Executive Director of Barberton Community Foundation. “The same is true when students face barriers to post-secondary education access and success, or residents struggle to access pathways to stable careers. This role is important because lasting change requires someone who can connect partners, analyze data, understand what it reveals about our community, identify opportunities, and turn insights into action. We’re looking for an accomplished professional who wants to do meaningful work and help create stronger outcomes for Barberton residents.”
Working closely with schools, childcare providers, nonprofit organizations, employers, training partners, and public leaders, the Program Officer for Education will help strengthen collaboration, guide investments, and advance initiatives designed to improve outcomes across the cradle-to-career continuum.
The Foundation is seeking an experienced professional with a background in education, child development, career pathway initiatives, workforce development, community development, public policy, social services, or a related field. The ideal candidate is a relationship builder, systems thinker, and strategic problem solver who is energized by meaningful work and motivated by the chance to help shape the future of Barberton. Strong candidates will be comfortable analyzing data, identifying trends, translating insights into action, building and managing a portfolio of grant partners, and measuring progress toward long-term community outcomes.
Interested candidates may view the full position description and apply here.
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About Barberton Community Foundation
Established in 1996, Barberton Community Foundation has awarded over 8,500 grants and scholarships totaling more than $109 million since its inception. The Foundation strives to improve, now and forever, the quality of life for Barberton residents by providing leadership on vital issues, fostering collaboration and creating a legacy of giving to do good. The Foundation strengthens the community for current and future generations by proactively directing its grant dollars to the community’s greatest needs. To read more about Barberton Community Foundation, visit www.barbertoncf.org or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/barbertoncommunityfoundation.