Position Announcement: Program Officer, San José
Title: Program Officer, San José
Business Unit: Silicon Valley Programs, Sobrato Philanthropies
Status: Full-time, Hybrid, 4 days in the office
FLSA Status: Exempt
Work Location: Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, San José
Date Submitted: March 2026
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Senior Program Officer (SPO), San José, the Program Officer (PO), San José plays a critical role in advancing Sobrato Philanthropies’ place-based economic mobility strategy, serving as a strategic anchor for education- and housing-related policy, advocacy, and systems-change efforts in San José. The PO will support cohesive strategy implementation, grantmaking, and portfolio management with a particular focus on communities experiencing the highest levels of social and economic vulnerability, including East and Downtown San José.
The PO brings deep local expertise in San José’s civic, political, and community landscape and demonstrates strong knowledge of promising strategies that advance a holistic, multi-generational approach to economic mobility. This includes strengthening pathways to economic opportunity that improve financial security, well-being, and community cohesion across education, housing, and workforce systems.
The PO will support with the cultivation and stewarding of public–private partnerships, work with government agencies and local community leaders, and play an active role in policy and advocacy-aligned efforts that support systems change in San José. The role requires experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and using strategic facilitation and collective impact approaches to align partners, elevate community voice, and move shared agendas forward.
Working closely with colleagues across Sobrato Philanthropies, the PO ensures effective planning, budgeting, grants management, reporting, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). The successful candidate centers equity and community voice, manages multiple workstreams with clarity and discipline, and thrives in building authentic, trust-based relationships with grantees, public partners, and cross-sector collaborators.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
Job Responsibility 1: Grantmaking Support and Portfolio Management
30% of Time
- Identifies and cultivates potential grantees and aligned initiatives across education, housing, and economic mobility systems in San José.
- Conducts due diligence on grant proposals, evaluates alignment with strategy, and prepares clear, compelling, Board-facing dockets and funding recommendations.
- Conducts site visits; provides strategic guidance, technical assistance, and thought partnership to grantees; and maintains strong, ongoing relationships grounded in trust and accountability.
- Advances proposal application, renewal, and amendment processes in close partnership with the grants management team.
- Supports capital investment processes when aligned opportunities arise.
- Applies an understanding of public–private partnership models, policy levers, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen grantmaking strategy and recommendations.
Job Responsibility 2: Program Implementation, MEL, and Administrative Support
30% of Time
- Monitors the San José community, policy, and program landscape, staying current on research, local and state policy developments, and trends related to education, housing, and economic mobility.
- Implements and adapts the foundation’s place-based, community-centered approach, grounding work in local context, lived experience, and organizational capacity building.
- Conducts research and synthesis to inform program recommendations, including background analyses of community needs, policy environments, prospective partners, and ecosystem dynamics.
- Supports implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework, including identifying learning questions, tracking progress, and applying insights to strategy refinement.
- Scopes, coordinates, and partners on assessments and learning activities that inform continuous improvement and systems-level impact.
- Monitors grantee performance through report review, site visits, and regular check-ins.
- Develops annual goals, work plans, indicators of success, and budgets as part of the foundation’s planning and budgeting cycle.
- Manages multiple, concurrent workstreams, balancing strategic priorities, timelines, and partner needs in a dynamic environment.
- Participates actively in team meetings to coordinate work, surface insights, flag risks, and share learning.
- Utilizes strategic facilitation skills to design and lead convenings, learning sessions, and collaborative planning processes with diverse stakeholders.
Job Responsibility 3: Community Engagement, Relationship Building, and Network Cultivation
30% of Time
- Implements and supports the program’s community engagement strategy, including site activation and place-based collaboration.
- Serves as a connector and trusted partner to grantees, developing a deep understanding of organizational strengths, challenges, and community priorities.
- Leverages the foundation’s full range of tools, including grantmaking, policy engagement, capacity building, SPRE (social purpose real estate), and PRIs (program-related investments), in partnership with colleagues to support impact.
- Acts as an anchor for San José focused policy and advocacy efforts related to education and housing, engaging with local decision-makers, coalitions, and advocacy partners.
- Builds and sustains strong networks with government agencies, philanthropic partners, nonprofit leaders, and community stakeholders to align strategies, funding, and action.
- Participates in or leads collective impact tables, multi-stakeholder collaborations, and public–private partnership efforts, representing the foundation’s values and strategy.
- Represents Sobrato Philanthropies externally through participation in conferences, meetings, and community forums.
Job Responsibility 4: Other Responsibilities as Assigned
10% of Time
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS (KNOW HOW)
Education / Training
- Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent combination of education and experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management, education, housing, public policy, or the public sector.
Experience/Technical Skills
- 5+ years experience in grantmaking, strategically investing grant funds and other resources with due diligence and high accountability.
- Experience in program implementation in the philanthropic or nonprofit sector, with excellent project planning and management skills, ensuring deliverables are well-executed, on-time, and on budget.
- Experience working with or alongside government entities, local leaders, or public agencies preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in public–private partnerships and/or cross-sector collaboration.
- Advanced written and verbal communication skills to effectively interact with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to drive key deliverables effectively and efficiently.
- Ability to be proactive and constantly prioritize responsibilities in a fast-moving and rapidly changing environment.
- Works well independently and within a team, demonstrating great initiative, flexibility, and collaboration.
- Exercises good judgment.
- Facilitation skills to guide discussions, support collaborative planning, and manage complex stakeholder dynamics.
- Nonprofit consulting experience or providing strategic technical assistance is a plus.
Desired
- Experience demonstrating program impact by aligning implementation with monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
- Track record in community development, community engagement, community building, or community organizing, understanding how to embed community voice, lived experience, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in recommendations.
- Familiarity with collective impact frameworks, ecosystem mapping, or collaborative community initiatives.
- Experience using Fluxx grants management software.
- Proficiency in Asana project management software is a plus.
- Proficiency in Canva graphic design is a plus.
- Established history of strong relationships with the East/Downtown San José community
- Familiarity with the local political landscape is a plus.
- Education and housing policy expertise is a plus.
ORGANIZATION
Reports to: Senior Program Officer, San José
Direct Reports: N/A
ALIGNMENT TO OUR MISSION, CULTURE, AND VALUES
We hire individuals who share our vision of building a better future through business and philanthropic leadership, impacting the lives of countless fellow residents of our region in a way that could be replicated in other major metropolitan regions around the country and affecting the lives of millions.
OUR MISSION AND VALUES
The Sobrato Organization’s mission is to build a more equitable and sustainable world through business and philanthropic leadership. We work to inspire current and future generations to steward family resources in service of others around the world. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community, and our values honor and promote this legacy:
Mutual Accountability: We earn trust by taking ownership of our work and honoring our commitments to each other, our partners and our communities.
Collaboration: We believe in the value of collaboration and partnership in achieving effective solutions. We treat people with respect and value the diverse experiences and perspectives of our partners, colleagues and investees.
Engagement: We recognize that lasting impact requires building deep relationships with our stakeholders and getting proximate to our communities and the work. We act with humility, respect and compassion.
Excellence: We focus on results, maintain a strong work ethic, and persist through challenges. We innovate, take risks, and embrace creativity and continuous learning.
Integrity: We endeavor to deal transparently, honestly and fairly. We strive to do what is right, especially when it is hard.
BENEFITS
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents on the first of the month following the hire date
- Short and long-term disability and life insurance
- Fertility program benefits
- Comprehensive mental health benefits for employees and dependents
- Retirement savings account with matching contributions of up to 10%
- Twenty PTO days in the first year of service in addition to paid year-end closure days between Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Eleven paid holidays
- Transit commuter benefits
- Tuition assistance and professional development initiatives for growth
- Technology allowance
- Employee matching gifts program
- Generous parental leave
- Flexible and inclusive work environment
- Enjoy a professional yet comfortable work environment with our business casual dress code
- Catered lunches, healthy snacks and beverages
- Acknowledgement for exceptional work as well as important moments in the lives of those we work with
COMPENSATION TRANSPARENCY
At TSO, base pay is part of a broader compensation package and is set within a range, allowing for growth as you advance in your role. The pay range for this role is between $129,000 and $149,000.
Salary offers are determined based on various factors, including experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, internal equity, and specific business and organizational needs. TSO is fully committed to complying with California's pay transparency laws to ensure fair and equitable compensation practices.
ABOUT US
Founded by John A. Sobrato in 1979 and led by CEO Tony Mestres, The Sobrato Organization remains a family-owned firm known for integrity and dedication, with no outside investors or joint venture partners. Since 1953, the Sobrato Family has played a pivotal role in shaping Silicon Valley through its real estate development. Its office, and R&D projects comprise 7.5 million square feet, most of which are Class A, mid-rise office buildings. TSO also owns 30 apartment communities totaling 6,700 units along the West Coast. Through Sobrato Philanthropies, the firm has donated more than $379 million in cash and real estate to the Silicon Valley community. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community and our values honor and promote this legacy.
The Sobrato Organization is committed to its mission of building strong and vibrant communities where we live and do business. To achieve this, we embrace becoming a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization that empowers our people. Our team remains at the core of what we do. We strive to consistently lead from a space of learning and strengthening our capacity for change. We understand our responsibility to cultivate a culture of belonging, appreciation, and respect. We believe that TSO must be a place where staff feel at ease in expressing themselves honestly and openly. Advancing these important initiatives is mission-critical to our ability to maximize our impact in the world.
The Sobrato Organization is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to building a team that represents a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills and to creating an environment and inclusion and belonging for all employees regardless of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. The Sobrato Organization is expanding, and we are passionate about growing our staff with people who have diverse voices with different lived experiences.
The Sobrato Organization participates in the E-Verify program as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.