Education Program Director, Greater Good Education #88470

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Departmental Overview

The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley (GGSC) studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society. Over more than two decades, the GGSC has provided a bridge between scientists and the public, turning research findings into practical resources that support well-being for all. Since its founding, the Center has highlighted the importance of building social connections not only within communities but across groups, offering practical strategies for overcoming bias and prejudice, expanding one's circle of care, and promoting diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

The GGSC's Greater Good Education (GGE) program provides education professionals with practical, scientific insights to help them integrate the science of well-being and flourishing into their lives, schools, and classrooms. It draws on disciplines such as social-emotional learning, mindfulness, character education, and related topics. GGE's goal is to help education professionals better understand the roots of kind, helpful - or "prosocial" - behavior and emotional well-being, and how they can build those skills in themselves, their colleagues, and their students.

GGE resources include our pioneering Greater Good in Education website, which offers more than 350 actionable, research-based practices and has engaged several million users; a suite of online courses that support student and educator well-being; Greater Good articles that share the latest education-related research and its practical application in classrooms and schools; and Greater Good Educators, a community of practice program that brings together educators from around the world to learn with and from each other about the keys to individual and collective well-being in education.

The GGSC's organizational culture prioritizes independence, rigor, and the well-being of its members. Staff members enjoy autonomy and flexibility while working in a culture that encourages teamwork, connection, and collaboration. The GGSC welcomes a diversity of experiences and perspectives to inform its work and strives to operate internally by the values that drive its public-facing programs: empathy, compassion, joy, forgiveness, appreciation, and cooperation. Recognizing that the science we cover has been shaped by systemic biases and inequities, we aim to address and correct for these prejudices whenever possible.

Position Summary

This position serves as the Greater Good Education (GGE) Program Director, overseeing the program's mission to build kinder, happier schools where everyone belongs. This position leads the short- and long-term planning for GGE, shaping the program's goals, strategy, key activities, and funding model. Working closely with the GGSC's executive director, the Education Program Director manages fundraising for the program and ensures that the program's direction aligns with the GGSC's overall direction. This position supervises a team that includes the Associate Director, Program Coordinator, Director of Learning Communities, Director of Educational Partnerships, Marketing Specialist, and Communications Specialist.

The Education Program Director oversees all GGE program content, partnerships, and other activities, including training, evaluation, and communities of practice, while also overseeing the development of the new Greater Good Schools program, which focuses on integrating Greater Good values into the fabric of entire schools and districts. The successful candidate possesses extensive experience in K-12 education and a strong grasp of the science of social-emotional learning, mindfulness, character development, and other prosocial research in education. Additionally, this position requires an entrepreneurial spirit and a command of nonprofit strategy, development, and management.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is September 22, 2026. For full consideration, please apply by the first review date.

Responsibilities

Lead Program Strategy and Development

• Lead short- and long-term strategic planning for Greater Good Education (GGE), shaping the program's goals, strategy, key activities, and funding model, in collaboration with the GGSC's executive director and GGE program staff.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities for GGE, working in concert with the GGSC's executive director, deputy director, and development director.
• Write grant proposals to support GGE--in collaboration with the GGSC's executive director, deputy director, and development director, along with the GGE team--and oversee the implementation and reporting on grants awarded to the program.
• Lead the budgeting process for GGE and oversee the program coordinator's work, tracking program expenses.
• Develop and maintain educational partnerships, helping to field-build and nurture a strong network of experts and practitioners. Oversee and collaborate with the Director of Educational Partnerships on new and ongoing partnerships.
• Oversee and support the marketing and communications of GGE's offerings by the marketing and communications specialists.
• Contribute to short- and long-term strategic planning for the Greater Good Science Center as a whole, aligning GGE's goals with the Center's.

Oversee Program Activities

• Oversee the development of a new Greater Good Schools program as part of a two-year, grant-funded exploratory and design process, working closely with members of the GGE team who will be researching the opportunities, potential challenges, optimal model, and partners for the program.
• In collaboration with the GGE team, synthesize the findings from this exploratory process in a final plan for Greater Good Schools that includes its program design, target audience, potential collaborators, marketing plan, financial model, and basic evaluation plan. Then lead fundraising and implementation for this plan.
• Oversee and support the design, implementation, and evaluation of GGE's activities that offer direct support to educators, including its Greater Good Educators program (led by the GGE Director of Learning Communities), quarterly "community meetings" (led by the GGE Associate Director), and partnership with California's statewide CalHOPE Schools initiative.
• Stay up to date on the latest research in prosocial education and oversee content creation for the Greater Good in Education website and the Education section of the Greater Good online magazine (in collaboration with Greater Good's editors), ensuring that GGE meets its program goals and fulfills its commitments to funders and partners. Write or edit content as time permits.
• Oversee the management of the Greater Good in Education website by the GGE program coordinator, providing input on the site's design and development to ensure that they align with program goals and direction.

Management

• Manage the six-person education team, including supervising and supporting their day-to-day work, overseeing their schedules and priorities through regular check-ins, and completing performance reviews.
• Attend weekly GGE team meetings and monthly GGSC staff meetings. Participate in discussions about GGE and GGSC operations and strategic direction.
• Participate in monthly GGSC Directors' meetings and the GGSC's annual staff retreat.

Other Responsibilities

• Time permitting, attend and/or present keynotes/workshops at conferences.
• Work with the GGE team on metrics for evaluating the program's success. Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of program data, often working with an outside evaluator.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of the education field, especially the landscape of social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and/or character education, including research and best practices
• Knowledge of best practices for supporting students and school communities with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in K-12 school environments
• At least five years of experience designing and implementing educational programs, or comparable experience.
• Demonstrated experience working in K-12 education
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills
• Exceptional writing skills, including for grant writing and reporting
• At least five years of experience in nonprofit program or organizational management, or comparable experience.
• Experience with budgets and fundraising, particularly with foundations
• Strong people management skills, including the ability to set a positive tone; recognize and provide opportunities for team members to use their strengths; demonstrate a positive work ethic with integrity; communicate with transparency and kindness; resolve conflicts in a timely and positive way; solve problems and make decisions with input from the team; and hold, communicate, and implement the vision of the program
• Advanced degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other related field, and/or equivalent combination of skills/experience/training

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with evaluation, including survey, interview, and focus group design and administration, and quantitative and qualitative analyses
• Exceptional ability to make scientific research feel relevant, understandable, and inclusive to diverse, non-academic audiences, whether in written or oral communication
• Excellent public speaking and facilitation skills
• Experience and comfort working with Google Workspace and Zoom, or comparable systems
• PhD in education, psychology, sociology, or a related field

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $120,000 - $125,000.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for remote work (within the United States). Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/rx/index.html

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.