About WestEd

As a community of over 1,300 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.

Culture of the Literacy Team

The Reading Apprenticeship team is part of the Literacy Content Area at WestEd. The Literacy Content Area seeks to strengthen WestEd’s position as a leader in literacy-focused professional learning, research, and evaluation. We are driven by our desire to improve equitable outcomes for students. We seek to help education leaders understand the deep connections between literacy, content-area achievement and equity and ensure that our flagship service, Reading Apprenticeship, consistently and equitably results in measurable impacts on teacher practice and student learning. We are known for quality supports and trusted partnerships that hold the value of leading from research and practice, and that are responsive to changing conditions.

The Opportunity

As a Program Associate in Literacy, you will facilitate and grow the quality and impact of Reading Apprenticeship and general literacy professional learning services. Reading Apprenticeship works nationally to improve teacher practice and adolescent literacy outcomes, especially in historically underserved and underrepresented communities. You will report to the Director of Professional Learning and work closely with the Literacy team to contribute to the ongoing development and high-quality implementation of Reading Apprenticeship and the creation of new materials and services related to literacy and professional learning at the secondary level.

Focus Areas and Responsibilities

Professional Learning Design and Development (40%) - Collaborate with the Literacy Team, active teachers, and thought leaders to develop new and refine existing professional learning centered on the integration of research and practice that meets the changing needs of adolescent and adult learners. Grow the articulation and realization of equity objectives within our approach to professional learning and instruction and honor the expertise of teachers and students.

Facilitation (30%) – Lead and deliver high-quality Reading Apprenticeship professional learning in-person and online. Motivate and manage teams of facilitators working together to support teachers. Communicate effectively and promote an effective learning and culturally sensitive climate with a range of stakeholders (teachers, administrators, district and state leaders). Provide feedback to the professional learning team about the successes and challenges of professional learning, what we are learning informally about classroom implementation, and the quality of facilitation.

Resource Development and Finance (10%) - Support the conceptualization and writing of large, multi-year proposals to federal and state agencies and foundations; prepare descriptive reports, analyses, and evaluation reports. Grow work aligned with Literacy’s Strategic Plan. Develop and cultivate strong relationships with new and existing funders, partners, decision-makers, and key influencers in the field of literacy and learning.

Institutional Collaboration (20%) - Participate in WestEd continuous improvement initiatives. Help shape decisions about future program development informed by school and district needs, funding opportunities, ongoing research, strategic goals, and feasibility. Serve as a content expert at conference presentations and with client outreach, as needed.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience delivering Reading Apprenticeship professional learning in person and/or online.
• Experience designing and facilitating professional learning for teachers, principals, district administrators, and/or other educators.
• Experience coaching teachers.
• Current or recent teaching experience in middle or high school.
• Strong understanding of adolescent and disciplinary literacy, professional learning, curriculum and instruction, and equitable student outcomes.
• A Bachelor's in education, literacy, or a related discipline such as psychology or sociology.

Other degrees, skills, abilities, experiences of interest

• A Master’s (completed or in progress) in education, literacy, reading, or a related discipline such as psychology or sociology.
• Fluency with learning management systems and digital tools for online facilitation.
• Experience using digital texts with learners.
• Expertise in curriculum development.
• Experience developing adolescent literacy curriculum
• Experience with multi-lingual learners.
• Expertise in writing instruction.
• Expertise in foundational literacy skills.

This position can be a home office or in one of WestEd’s offices but must be able to travel to offices and project sites on an as-needed basis. This position requires up to 50% of travel.

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

WestEd conducts a criminal background check and education verification for all new hires. Any offers of employment will be contingent on receiving a clear background check in accordance with applicable law.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary for this role is competitive and commensurate with experience. The position is considered an internal level 10. The full salary range for this position, WestEd level 9, is $78,800 to $118,200 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $78,800 to $98,500. 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

Perks and Benefits

In addition to WestEd’s comprehensive which include paid parental leave, multiple health care options, flexible spending health care accounts (FSAs), and commuter support, our team values flexibility and offers flexible work hours as well as the ability to work remotely. Whether you work on site, from home, or a variation, WestEd aims to provide you with a safe and comfortable work environment and even offers ergonomic evaluations to make your work environment the best for you! Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of ways to build community, including Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), affinity groups (e.g., WestEd Parents), and professional learning communities (PLCs) for Data Intelligence, Insights, Innovation, and Women in Tech, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more!

WestEd’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In our internal efforts to ensure that all staff feel supported and are able to succeed in their professional lives, we have specifically committed to:

• Assuming individual and collective responsibility for building an organizational culture characterized by acceptance, respect, support, and safety for all groups and individuals. • Creating diverse teams (e.g., by race, ethnicity, gender identity) in all aspects of our work, from responding to RFPs to delivering services.
• Ensuring that staff have equitable access to resources, technology, and opportunities (e.g., to participate in leadership, to engage in professional learning).
• Engaging in equity-focused self-reflection and learning to overcome our own biases in order to build an inclusive workplace. In our external work, we have specifically committed to: • Illuminating and addressing disparities by identifying and working to resolve inequities within the systems in which we work.

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! WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)