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 WestEd’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 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.

Content Area or Department Brief Description

The Early Childhood Integrated Systems (ECIS) content area addresses systems and policies for children ages birth to eight and their families. Projects in this area build the capacity of state-level or large-scale mixed-delivery early childhood systems through cross-sector, integrated service delivery, policy guidance, system building efforts, and initiatives to support the whole child, whole family, and whole community.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a senior early childhood systems and technical assistance expert who can advise state and local level leadership on equitable early childhood system development. This position will lead and develop projects that positively affect outcomes for young children, their families, and the providers who serve them.

The ideal candidate will apply equity-focused expertise and experience in early childhood to bring together interest holders, actively facilitate systems design, and work to co-create a vision for integrated, equitable early childhood systems with state and local level leaders and interest holders.

Primary duties include but are not limited to leading and organizing projects; serving as a partner and liaison to state and local level leaders and other interest holders through the planning and implementation process; contributing to the assessment and design of equitable early childhood systems, including but not limited to workforce development, professional learning, and training, sustainable funding, access, facilities; and encouraging innovation with attention to continuous improvement and performance.

The ideal candidate for this position brings:

• Understanding and experience leading and/or collaborating with state, regional, and/or local early childhood agencies and organizations to implement and sustain system improvements.
• Leadership in the policy and/or management of equity-focused early childhood initiatives.
• Strong communication (written and verbal) skills to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience applying personal passion and commitment to address equity of opportunity and outcomes for young children and their families.
• Successful design and implementation of innovative, equitable early childhood systems and services that meet the needs of young children and their families and the providers who serve them.
• Experience engaging diverse interest holders in policy development and decision-making processes.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to undertake a variety of engaging and challenging projects within a forward-thinking environment.

Core Focus Areas

• Work with the Early Childhood Integrated Systems Director and leadership to create and manage a vision for our work and inform our long-term planning for WestEd’s broader early childhood portfolio.
• Develop and maintain relationships with high-profile clients, partners, and funders characterized by trust.
• Provide expert technical assistance, consultation, and strategic planning support for clients to help them design and implement quality, equitable early childhood systems.
• Develop products and resources that build and enhance the reach and impact of WestEd’s services.
• Provide leadership and day-to-day management project support to clients, state and local level leaders, and other interest holders.
• Oversee and manage project team activities and coordination of staff, managing subcontractors and partners.
• Proactively identify and facilitate the resolution of project issues.
• Ensure project required deliverables are provided on time and of high quality.

What We’re Looking For

The successful candidate will:

• Be a strategic thinker and planner with deep knowledge of early childhood systems, including the quality, funding, and accountability systems necessary to build accessible, equitable early childhood systems.
• Have an established track record in coaching others to provide high quality technical assistance services to state agencies and/or other early childhood organizations.
• Understand how to manage projects and human resources to ensure work is of the highest quality and impact.
• Possess knowledge of research best practices, policies, and trends in the early childhood field influencing state, public, and private systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage contracts and budgets; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse staff.
• Be able to lead diverse teams and individuals across and outside the organization to reach established goals, including strong competencies in facilitation, consultation, and coaching.
• Possess an advanced degree, with knowledge in early childhood development, family support, and public policy preferred.

Other degrees, skills, abilities, and experiences of interest

The successful candidate will preferably be:

• Extensively familiar with the equitable early childhood systems in Southern California.
• Located in Southern California to support facilitation of work in this region.
• Bilingual (Spanish-speaking preferred).
• Bi/multicultural with extensive experience serving bi/multicultural populations.

*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:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level 12, is $105,400 to $180,600 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $105,400 to $150,500. 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 the first of the month following the 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 details 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