Job Description:

Description

WestEd is a nonpartisan, nonprofit agency that conducts and applies research, develops evidence-based solutions, and provides services and resources in the realms of education, human development, and related fields, with the end goal of improving outcomes and ensuring equity for individuals from infancy through adulthood.WestEd has more than a dozen offices nationwide, from Massachusetts, Georgia, and Washington, DC, to Arizona and California, with headquarters in San Francisco.

Throughout WestEd's over 50-year history we have maintained a strong commitment to staff diversity. Individuals of different ethnicities, races, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations, as well as from different cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds work at all levels of the organization. We value the range of perspectives provided by this diverse workforce and the ways in which those perspectives enrich and inform our agency and the work we do. Read more aboutWestEd's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Description of Position

WestEd seeks an experienced English Learner expert who is prepared to immediately guide, develop, and grow school, district, and state services to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for English Learners and Dual Language Learners especially as districts continue to address COVID-19 challenges. Our ability to realize this focus requires a strong leader with expertise in English Learner programs, policies, and professional development to join WestEd to engage in business development and leverage multiple strengths.

Overall responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serving as a thought leader and English Learner expert to contribute to WestEd's work in this area, knowing trends and market opportunities and building on an existing external network


• Developing work for self and others, and serving as a project director who can successfully conceptualize high-quality implementation, and define and measure outcomes for capacity building and technical assistance work at the federal, state, and local levels


• Contributing to plans for growing new work with federal, state, local, and foundation clients and identifying new opportunities, cultivating funding sources, conceptualizing and writing/leading proposal development, and conducting critical technical reviews of major proposals


• Conducting a variety of eminence-building activities to make WestEd's work in serving English learners more internally and externally visible

Strong preference will be given to candidates with an established track record of working at and/or with state education agencies and/or local education agencies to develop and improve English Learner programs, policies, and professional development, with the ability to cultivate national visibility, and leverage relationships with strong networks in the field.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree is required, and PhD or ED is strongly preferred, with a minimum of 15 years of experience and 5 years in a leadership/management role in the field of teaching English learners


• Deep knowledge of one or more of the following: research, policy, and/or practice on effective teaching of English learners, including systems improvement, instructional practices, teacher/leadership professional development, resource planning -- any of which have shown evidence of significant and sustained impact


• Bilingual ability strongly preferred


• Abiding commitment to excellence, equity, and having an impact on the lives of English learners, dual language learners, and/or immigrant communities


• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and writing skills, including the ability to use applied research skills and produce and present complex materials clearly and effectively to educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders


• Demonstrated ability to develop rapport with and lead mission-driven teams with both internal (staff) members and external (subcontractor and consultant) members to execute large complex projects, including budget management


• Established networks in the field (federal, state, local, foundation) with a willingness to draw on, cultivate, and expand relationships on behalf of WestEd


• Track record of conceptualizing and writing winning proposals, including those for federal or state agencies and/or for philanthropy organizations


• Experience supervising personnel, conducting performance monitoring as well as providing coaching support and providing direct feedback to staff


• Excellent collaborative skills, including the ability to problem-solve and move stakeholders to consensus on complex educational policy and practice issues


• Willingness/interest to travel - requires extensive travel (30-50 percent time; post-pandemic)

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

SALARY AND BENEFITS:Salary for this role is competitive, set at a WestEd level I salary grade, and commensurate with experience. WestEd offers a very generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as Life, AD&D and Disability insurance.We also offer various retirement plan options and Flexible Spending Accounts for medical, childcare, and commuter expenses. WestEd offers generous paid holidays and paid time off (PTO), among other benefits.