Senior Advisor

Position: Senior Advisor
Department: Education

The Walton Family Foundation is seeking a skilled, highly motivated, and entrepreneurial individual to join its Education Program as Senior Advisor. The ideal candidate will bring leadership experience, a proven ability to execute at a senior level, and strong interpersonal and communication skills. They will demonstrate a respectful and analytical approach to supporting grantees, a commitment to expanding high-quality educational opportunities for students, and the ability to work effectively both as a leader and as a collaborative team member.

Our aspirations are as follows:

• Create an environment where we hire, retain and bring to the table people with diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and lived experiences to create a more successful organization.
• Ensure fairness, equity and access to success for all of our associates.
• Create an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, safe, able to engage honestly.

• Partner with the Program Director, Deputy Director, and leadership to shape and strengthen the Program’s culture, strategy, and impact.
• Provide counsel on current and emerging priorities, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s vision and goals.
• Contribute insights, data, and learnings to inform strategic shifts and long-term planning.
• Represent the Foundation internally and externally, modeling its values and inspiring collaboration across teams and with key stakeholders.

• Lead, coach, and develop Program Officers to design and implement innovative grantmaking opportunities.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture built on collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Promote seamless collaboration across the team, the Foundation, and external partners.

• Oversee and deepen relationships with current and prospective partners aligned with Program strategy.
• Provide proactive and responsive advising to grantees – anticipating needs, resolving challenges, and guiding strategies for sustainability, monitoring, and funding.
• Shepherd proposals through the Foundation’s approval process and support grantees in achieving meaningful, measurable impact.
• Identify and cultivate new opportunities, including due diligence on prospective grantees, funding partners, and coalitions that advance new approaches and greater impact.
• Convene grantees, funders, and stakeholders for learning and knowledge-sharing that strengthen the field.

• A bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree (master’s or higher) is preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in education, philanthropy, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing teams, including developing organizational strategy, shaping culture, and fostering high performance.
• Proven ability to coach, grow, and develop individuals and teams that value collaboration and accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, timely, and compelling materials for diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and execute effectively across multiple projects.

Personal attributes that support your success

• Ability to act as a trusted advisor to principals and colleagues, exercising discretion, and demonstrating expertise and integrity.
• You are helpful, a team player, and show respect while collaborating with others to succeed together.
• A lifelong learner, who is inquisitive and solves problems with bold thinking and innovation.
• You are results oriented and exercise sound judgment in your work.
• A visionary who plans for the future with imagination and wisdom.
• You are dedicated to achieving excellence and work with others to tackle the tasks at hand.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Benefits Information: We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401 (k) retirement plan and paid time off.