Job Description:

Description

About WestEd

As a community of over 800 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. Please review our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Come and join us!

The Opportunity

As a Senior Program Associate focusing on organizational development, the Organizational Development Specialist will get to design and deliver technical assistance that builds internal management practices and service delivery capacity to improve systems of support to benefit traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities in education. This position will be responsible for projects with a high degree of organizational, political, and client/stakeholder complexity.

Most of the work is within the Region 15 Comprehensive Center project, which is based at WestEd's Sacramento, California office and serves the state education agencies of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. The federally funded regional technical assistance center provides capacity-building technical assistance, content expertise, and other services to effectively support SEAs in these four states, along with their regional and local stakeholders. In addition, this position will coordinate and contribute to the management of fee-for-service contracts designed to support organizational capacity building of local education agencies (LEAs), regional education associations (REAs), and other SEAs.

Core Focus Areas

Organizational Improvement Strategy, Analysis, and Support (90%)

• Provide direct organizational improvement assistance to SEAs, districts, and schools through grants and fee for service activities including, but not limited to, serving as a thought-partner and strategist to build clients' internal management practices and service delivery capacity


• Partner with clients and colleagues to identify and support implementation of effective process interventions


• Engage clients and a broad range of stakeholders in using processes such as stakeholder engagement, system assessment, process design, consensus-building, visioning, and strategic planning


• Design and implement complex organizational analyses and interpretation that generate advice and recommendations to improve program quality, organizational structure, staffing, and resource allocation efficiency and effectiveness


• Analyze program and federal and state requirements to support the development of policies and protocols to increase productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency


• Serve as a trainer, coach, and strategist to build clients' internal management practices and service delivery capacity


• Facilitate conversations across organizations and with clients and their partners, analyzing group and power dynamics and responding accordingly in real time

Proposal and Resource Development (10%)

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

Candidate may work from home office, but must live in AZ, CA, NV or UT. This position travels to WestEd offices, especially in Sacramento, CA, and state education agency, county office of education, or district sites within this region on an as-needed basis.

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION - Currently, all staff at WestEd are working from home until further notice. Once we return to offices, this position will be based in one of WestEd's offices. Candidates can submit a request to work from home.

What We're Looking For

To help us make a positive impact on the systems that create the conditions for learners from numerous racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to attain improved outcomes, we'll need someone who has:

• An abiding commitment to equity, excellence, and having an impact on the lives of children


• Masters degree or equivalent education/experience in a relevant area


• 5-7 years of experience supporting organizational development and/or improvement work in a variety of educational contexts preferred


• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities in education


• Experience thoughtfully coaching clients to outcomes that advance educational equity


• Experience in providing workshops, institutes, virtual learning, and making presentations to state education agencies, districts, school boards, teacher leaders and/or community groups


• Demonstrated ability to create an environment of psychological safety by working collaboratively and effectively with diverse staff, colleagues, and clients


• Experience leading a diverse team to accomplish an agreed-upon goal


• Ability to navigate complex projects, managing multiple tasks, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment


• Experience incorporating the perspectives of people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process


• Demonstrated ability to manage contracts and budgets


• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse staff, colleagues, and clients from across the organization and across the nation


• Superior communication skills, including excellent writing and powerful presentation skills; comfort with large and small groups, including diverse audiences and policy makers. Experience in product development (e.g., strategic or master plans, interview protocols, training materials, etc.), and writing for publication


• Experience working on politically-sensitive and/or publicly high-profile projects

SALARY AND BENEFITS:Salary for this role is competitive, set at WestEd Level H 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.