Executive Fellow

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

EdTrust-West seeks an Executive Fellow for its 9th cohort of Russlynn Ali Summer Fellows for 2026. The Russlynn Ali Fellowship program, named in honor of the founding executive director of EdTrust-West, aims to support people entering policy and advocacy leadership by laying the foundation for current and future policymakers, researchers and advocates to become lifelong leaders within California’s P-16 education ecosystem. Fellows will gain exposure to the issues, policies, and politics of the current California landscape through a cohort experience and will work on a project with the team to advance educational equity and racial justice.

The Executive Fellow will work directly with our Executive Director to design and plan a new advocacy leadership development program. The Fellow will play a critical role in shaping the program’s vision, structure, engagement strategy, and implementation roadmap. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is passionate about education equity, leadership development, innovation and building programs from the ground up.

EdTrust-West, the California-based office of EdTrust which is headquartered in Washington, DC, is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from transitional kindergarten through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.

This role will be based in Oakland, CA or remotely from June 15 through August 21 for a term of approximately 10 weeks. Earlier start/end dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis to be determined by the students and academic school schedules. Fellows must reside in the state of California and report to the EdTrust-West Oakland, CA office within three days of hire for employment verification. Fellows will be expected to travel to the Oakland office 1-2 times during the summer term, June 16 and August 18.

ABOUT THE INTERN ROLE

Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Program Research & Design: Analyze best practices for leadership development and affinity-based programming in advocacy and nonprofit sectors.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct interviews and gather input from internal teams, partners, and community leaders to inform program design.
• Implementation Planning: Develop a detailed roadmap for the pilot year, including timelines, milestones, and evaluation strategies.
• Curriculum Development: Draft core training modules and culturally affirming approaches for the program.
• Scheduling & Logistics: Identify dates for program activities and outline planning steps.
• Marketing & Outreach: Design draft marketing materials, including social media graphics, email content, and outreach templates.
• Presenter Identification: Compile a list of potential presenters, primarily from EdTrust-West staff, with recommendations for external contributors if needed.
• Final Deliverables: Provide a comprehensive program plan, curriculum, timeline, draft materials, and marketing assets ready for pilot launch.

IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Shared belief in EdTrust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity, with a focus on racial equity
• Experience with program design or project management.
• Familiarity with nonprofit operations or advocacy work.
• Basic design skills or experience creating marketing materials.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• At least a high school diploma or GED and currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate program in a relevant field (e.g., Public Policy, Education, Business, Social Sciences) OR teachers and educators
• Strong research and analytical skills with the ability to synthesize information into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated interest in education equity, leadership development, or social impact.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

COMPENSATION

The salary for this position is $26 per hour for 37.5 hours/week. Sick leave is accrued in this role.

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, PLEASE APPLY

To apply: Please submit your updated resume and cover letter in ADP by the deadline of March 17th.

EdTrust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.