WestEd Hiring for Education Systems Improvement Facilitator at San Francisco, CA  Full Time

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,000 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact – asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about . Come and join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION-Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee’s convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

About the Special Education Policy and Practice Team

WestEd’s Special Education Policy and Practice Team (SEPP) builds capacity for systems improvement at the district, regional, state, and national levels to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities by closing long-standing equity gaps. In addition to collaborating with state and local health, education, and human service agencies on systems change efforts, SEPP offers professional development; facilitates interagency team trainings that promote education and supports the State Education Agencies and local school districts to address students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The Opportunity

As a senior program associate in the Special Education Policy and Practice team, you will develop, facilitate, and support educational system improvement at all levels focused on improved outcomes for students with disabilities. In a period when educational systems are trying to recover from the disruptions brought about by the pandemic, you will have the opportunity to work alongside teachers, coaches, general education, and special education district personnel to support educational improvement focused on systemic thinking and data to thoughtfully plan and implement evidenced-based improvements.

Serving as a core member of the Special Education Policy and Practice District Support Team, the Educational Systems Improvement Facilitator will advance WestEd’s commitment to equity by ensuring your work in instructional coaching, professional development, meeting facilitation, tool development, and project management; illuminates and addresses disparities, values, and elevates diverse voices; and ensures equitable access for all stakeholders, participants, and staff. You will also utilize your content expertise in the development of proposals to expand this important work across the country.

Core Focus Areas

Educational Systems Improvement Facilitation (30%)

• Provide leadership and facilitation support for systems improvement and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) as a collaborative framework aimed at organizing resources through alignment of academic standards, behavioral and social-emotional expectations, implementation with fidelity, sustainability, and with the focus on accelerating the performance of all students toward proficiency.
• Ability to effectively coach all levels of leadership through culture shifts, collaborative team building, and creating inclusive and equity-based mindsets.

Training and Technical Assistance Provider (30%)

• Design and provide effective professional development and coaching with district and school leaders, faculty, and educational staff to support improvement of teaching and learning practices for all students.
• Design and provide institutes or academies for school and district teams to address school/district improvement practices with a focus on improving outcomes for students with disabilities within the overall school improvement context.
• Provide technical assistance and coordination for state and school districts’ improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with a team of professional development providers to analyze district and school needs and plan services that include professional development, coaching, consulting and other needed supports.

Proposal and Resource Development (20%)

• Coordinate and contribute to the creation of proposals and outreach that results in growth of WestEd services.

Team Management and Project Management (20%)

• Mobilize, encourage and support team members in carrying out improvement facilitation and technical assistance projects, establishing day-to-day plans and building relationships and supports needed to produce deliverables on time and on budget.
• Facilitate communication that is sensitive to the diverse perspectives of staff, clients, and stakeholders, and work with them to resolve conflicts when necessary.
• Oversee projects ranging from small-scale, short-term to large-scale, and multi-year that are financially sound, high quality and timely in delivery of services and resources.

What We’re Looking For

To help us make a positive impact on learners from numerous racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, we’ll need someone who has the following:

• minimum of master’s degree in Special Education, Education, or a related field
• at least five-year’s experience as a special education director/leader in a medium to large school district
• at least five-year’s experience as a special educator or related service provider
• experience in the provision of effective professional development and job-embedded coaching for diverse groups that include general educators, special educators, and English learner support staff
• familiarity with State Standards and evidenced-based practices for students with disabilities and other special populations including English learners, children from culturally diverse backgrounds, and other special needs
• familiarity and ability to provide professional development and job-embedded coaching in evidence-based practices/interventions to accelerate achievement for diverse student populations in reading, mathematics, and behavior
• familiarity and ability to provide professional development in areas of inclusive instructional practices, including co-teaching and collaborative special education supports within the core content, MTSS, and PBIS.
• familiarity with and the ability to provide professional development and job-embedded coaching around compliant standards-aligned IEPs
• ability to perform data analysis and interpretation

Other Degrees, Skills, Abilities, and Experiences of Interest

• excellent oral and written communication skills
• dynamic presentation, facilitation, and coaching skills
• ability to facilitate and bring to consensus diverse groups of stakeholders
• effective building and nurturing of professional relationships in and outside of the organization
• commitment to inclusion of diverse populations in school reform and improvement
• commitment to ensuring high quality products and customer service
• ability to handle multiple priorities under time-restricted conditions
• necessary application skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• ability to travel extensively within the U.S.

Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level H, is $86,900 to $149,000 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $99,360 – $124,200. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs.

In addition to the base salary, benefits include:

* 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment

* Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts

* All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date

* PTO: 3 weeks vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year

* Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary

* Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives

* Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more detail about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid