C2C Forward Fellow, Data Infrastructure

100% Remote within California, Must reside in California 

Travel Requirement: All fellows will need to travel to Sacramento once a month for an in-person team meeting. We are looking to hire two fellows for each track.

The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) is recruiting experts to join the inaugural C2C Forward Fellows Program to work directly within the Office of Cradle-to-Career in advancing the work of bridging gaps in state-wide data. The Office of Cradle-to-Career Data (C2C) is a neutral source of trusted information that links siloed data across the state to answer questions on what happens to students once they enter and leave our school system and beyond.

 C2C Forward is a fiscally sponsored program of the Foundation of California Community Colleges. As C2C Forward Fellows, leaders and experts from across sectors can contribute their knowledge, experience, and innovation to support Cradle-to-Career Data System’s growth and long-term success.

Fellows will gain hands-on experience creating and maintaining a P20W data system while applying their expertise in domains such as TK-12 education, post-secondary education, workforce outcomes, economics, user center design, data visualization, data file preparation, and more. Fellows will be placed at C2C, as an integral member of the Data Programs or Data Infrastructure team to advance the work of C2C’s annual workplan, embracing cross-sector collaboration, and gaining insight into underlying governmental structures and partnerships. As a fellow, you will gain a depth of experience and a wealth of knowledge that can be applied at institutions and beyond to advance research that will better serve Californians in the future. 

C2C is required by statute to produce data insights such as dashboards, data reports, query builders via CSV files, a research request process via secure data enclave, and query builders. With the aptitude and bandwidth of the fellows, C2C will be able to produce more useful and necessary tools at a more rapid speed while enhancing the data system infrastructure with up-to-date best practices and most current privacy and security features. 

In addition to the projects assigned to fellows, fellows will engage in a work culture that values equity, collaboration, transparency, accountability, and curiosity. C2C staff and leadership take pride in implementing values in the day-to-day work and expanding the team with individuals who also share these same values. Fellows will be empowered to take initiative and responsibility for their work in a safe, fun, and intellectually stimulating environment.  

Track 2: Data Infrastructure 

The Data Infrastructure (DIF) team is responsible for maintaining the data system, ingesting and linking data, and ensuring the system security and privacy protections represent cutting edge technologies and best practices. Fellows on the DIF team should be passionate about protecting data integrity, mitigating bias in data use, facilitating user-centered design, and conducting research to inform decision-making. 

As a fellow on the Data Infrastructure team, you will serve as a lead on data pipeline engineering. You will be a proponent for modern data stack approaches in the state. You will ensure that data is available as a service for warehouses, digital services, dashboards, and more. You will plan, develop, and document policies and best practices for the Office of Cradle-to-Career Data. You will also collaborate with other team members to help adopt modern cloud-based data practices and work closely with the Data Programs and Engagement team, transforming your knowledge, expertise, and hands on experience into practical guidance and toolkits. 

Applicant Profile:  

• Fellows possess a unique combination of technical and interpersonal skills, disciplinary backgrounds, and relevant experience. This includes many of the skills listed below:  

• You are a systems and platform thinker who loves enabling data teams with tools to do their work efficiently and effectively. The following captures the intersection of your interests and expertise: 

• You love engaging with people as much as engaging with data and technology 

• You are constantly learning and engaged in the modern data stack ecosystem and enjoy staying up to date on emerging and best practices 

• You have a knack for and enjoy communicating technical and architectural tradeoffs clearly to different audiences 

• You value simplicity and elegance in architecting solutions over needless complexity and have a sixth sense for evaluating platforms that are fit for purpose 

• You like keeping knowledge fresh on platforms and are willing to get in and support the team on testing and implementing platforms 

• You value good documentation and guidance to help others successfully use data platforms 

• You take pleasure in sharing your knowledge and experience with others to help them succeed in adopting modern data practices 

• You relish demonstrating the value of a cloud-first approach to data tools and the benefits of applying software engineering approaches to data work and are eager to hands-on engage with project work to ensure that value is communicated 

• You are excited about applying your talents to improve the lives of Californians 

Technical Skills 

• Tokenization: You have familiarity with synthetic data sets 

• Demonstrate strategic technical leadership, influence, and expertise that drives C2C use of technology toward constant improvement 

• Represents high level of expertise within Software Engineering, Information Security Engineering, Information Technology Project Management, and/or System Engineering domains 

• Advise management and executive level staff on governance and policy that support forward movement  

• Experience cleaning and merging complex and incomplete datasets. 

• Advanced statistical and data skills, including experience handling large data sets 

• Practical Skills 

• Experience working with government programs, policies, operations, and/or data 

• Has professional or educational experience in education, workforce development, policy, economics, or similar social science field or within government 

• Excellent project management and organizational skills 

• Ability to communicate results to diverse audiences, both in text and in graphical form 

• Behavioral Skills 

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills 

• An interest in designing and participating in project processes that incorporate both quantitative and qualitative research methods and practices 

• Curiosity and willingness to learn about state agencies and the role they play  

• Flexibility, self-motivation, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently in a team 

• The ability to continually track large numbers of projects and tasks and to juggle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. 

Education and Experience | Eligibility 

• Qualified candidates have a minimum of 5 years of experience in one or more of the the following criteria:   

• Demonstrated portfolio that you have implemented analytical and/or digital tools such as dashboards, user-center design, research request tools, secure data enclaves, modern data stacks, and more.  

• Experience Staff employed in higher education labs focusing on education, economics, public policy, or relevant areas of research  

• Curriculum development for interacting and engaging with public facing data tools  

• Computer science background and/or ability to code in one or more languages 

• Experience building and/or maintaining large databases 

• Quantitative research and analysis  

• PhD in applied research  

• Master Public Policy alumni  

• High profile innovative projects  

• Experience with tokenization of sensitive data elements  

• If you have experience with Tokenization of sensitive data elements, provide a detailed description of your relevant experience in your cover letter.  

Additional position requirements   

• Fellowship requires a full-time two-year commitment   

• Must be able to accommodate a January 2027 start date  

• Fellows will be responsible for advancing the work outlined in Cradle-to-Career’s annual work plan. Fellows will be prohibited from conducting any personal research project or advancing any personal research agendas. 

Attributes for Success   

These values define how the Office Cradle-to-Career Data interacts with each other and stakeholders.  

Advancing Equity: Equity is our north star. We’re recruiting for mission-driven, passionate, equity-minded individuals with a strong desire to impact and change people’s lives for the better 

Transparency: Our work holds great weight and responsibility, and the opportunity to impact the lives of millions of individuals in California. Transparency enables us to build trust with the public and with each other.  

Accountability: We are committed to an emphasis on shared leadership, to ensure growth for employees and the organization overall. When we experience success, we collectively acknowledge the result of our work. When we experience setbacks, we collectively solve problems.  

Collaboration: Team members are hired for their expertise in niche areas across our areas of impact and higher education overall, and for their knowledge of business, philanthropy, technology, communications, and more. Multiple perspectives from each other and the public transform good individual ideas into innovative and creative accomplishments.  

Curiosity: We’re recruiting for mission-driven, passionate, equity-minded individuals with a strong desire to impact and change people’s lives for the better. When our work gets tough, we get curious. 

Working Hours, Location, and Travel requirements: 

• Working Hours: Full-time position, 40 hours per week, with additional hours needed to address the organization’s needs.  California-based with the flexibility to work remotely (in California).  Fellowship requires a full-time two-year commitment. 

• Location: California-based with the flexibility to work remotely (in California). 

• Travel Requirements: All fellows will need to travel to Sacramento once a month for an in-person team meeting. (Travel costs covered by FCCC.) Fellows will have more opportunities to join in-person meetings with C2C and its data partners if they reside near Sacramento.   

• Must be able to accommodate a January 2027 start date  

• Fellows will be responsible for advancing the work outlined in Cradle-to-Career’s annual work plan. Fellows will be prohibited from conducting any personal research project or advancing any personal research agendas. 

What we Offer 

FoundationCCC is fully committed to a “remote-first” philosophy, and recruits and hires talent across the state in fully remote positions, where virtual work is possible. Our headquarters are located in Downtown Sacramento, just blocks from California’s State Capitol. Fellows will have more opportunities to join in-person meetings with C2C and its data partners if they reside near Sacramento.   

Benefits 

• Competitive compensation, generous PTO, and paid holidays  

• Medical, dental, and vision plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Wellness offerings 

• CalPERS retirement program and optional 403(b) and 457 Retirement plans 

• Carrot reproductive health and fertility support  

• Tuition reimbursement 

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer  

How to apply: 

Applicants may apply online by visiting insert website link. The following should be included for your application to be considered:  

• Resume/CV 

• Cover letter 

• Writing Sample  

• 3 References   

• Identify as a subject matter expert in one of the following categories: 

• Early childhood education 

• K-12 Education  

• Higher Education  

• Labor Economist/ Workforce Development 

• Health and Social Services  

• Computer science, data infrastructure, software engineering, cloud computing  

After the application has closed, selected candidates will proceed through: 

• A pre-interview task to complete. 

• A formal interview with a panel of FCCC, C2C staff, and C2C leadership via Zoom or in-person  

Budgeted Annual Salary Pay Range:

Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.