Ascendium Education Group (Ascendium) has helped millions of learners pursue postsecondary education since 1967, when it was formed to help fulfill the promise of the landmark Higher Education Act of 1965. Over the years, Ascendium has grown to become the nation’s largest federal student loan guarantor, providing information, tools and counseling to help millions of borrowers nationwide avoid default and keep the door to re-enrollment open. We’re looking for an experienced grantmaker to advance our postsecondary education in prison focus area. Senior program officers are responsible for leading work in a particular area of Ascendium’s strategy by designing and leading complex grants and partnerships, gaining deep expertise in their strategic focus area, and serving as a thought leader to advance learning and scaled impact in the field.

These are some of the qualifications we’re looking for:

• 5+ years of experience as a strategic nonprofit leader, with proven expertise in higher education, prison education, or related fields, and/or experience as an impact-driven grantmaker focused on systems change
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational, problem solving and coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to manage a diverse and demanding workload

Ascendium staff are temporarily working remotely from their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the construction of new headquarters in Madison, WI, opening in January 2022.

This role will be based in Madison.Ascendium Education Group, Inc. (Ascendium) provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, creed, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. We are strongly committed to this policy and believe in the concept and spirit of the law.

If you would like assistance with the application process, please contact us at hr@ascendiumeducation.org. We invite all applicants to complete the Voluntary Affirmative Action questions when submitting application materials. The questions are found at the end of the online application process. To learn more about our commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity, please visit ascendiumeducation.org/careers. Ascendium has contractual obligations that require criminal, employment and education background investigations as a condition of employment.